Anchorage LGBT Community ‘Floats’ from the Ashes
Early Friday morning, the Butner family awoke to discover their detached garage in flames…and the fire was spreading to their home. The family got out safely and thanks to the Anchorage Fire Department, most of the home was saved…though damaged. However, the Pride Float for The Imperial Court of All Alaska (ICOAA) that the Butners had housed and helped create for many years was completely lost.
The above picture is what’s left of the float. Below, thanks to this photo from Mel Green, is the float in all of its glory just last weekend at the Anchorage LGBT PrideFest Parade.
Channel 11 provided excellent coverage of the fire on Friday.
Thanks to folks in the community, I met Paula & Ken Butner and took pictures of the damage.
The picture below shows the portion of the home that caught fire…right next to their daughter’s room. She was awakened by the sound of paint cans exploding and was able to wake up the rest of the family.
The Butners are quick to say that the investigation is ongoing so at this time calling this a “hate crime” is premature. If you watch the KTVA coverage, Paula Butner describes her neighbor’s view of the possible arsonist and until they find the kid and talk to him, they don’t know anything for sure. However, I’m guessing that many folks out there (like me) think that this would be an awfully big coincidence.
As soon as the news got out to the LGBT community about what happened, it spread like lightning across Facebook and email. Tons of folks got together and decided to build a new float. They originally thought about using the burned one, but the Butners didn’t believe it was salvagable plus the investigation by the Fire Inspector is ongoing. So, an amazing number of folks donated materials, money and elbow grease to the task. Community leaders like Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz and Elvi Gray Jackson showed their support. Folks didn’t forget the victims of the fire in all of this. An account was opened for the Butners under their name at Wells Fargo and donations started flowing in (and are still needed). They also had a fundraiser at Mad Myrna’s Friday night.
Today, the results of the float efforts were realized (Fire-survivor Paula Butner is the blond woman sitting and waving behind Emcee Daphne DoAll LaChores):
Here’s a picture of the amazing float without the people on it (from Daphne’s Facebook page). It was completed in mere hours:
Supporters joined them on the parade route:
More supporters were featured with the adorable Identity kids float which preceeded the ICOAA float…with (of course) some adorable kids:
And more adorable supporters…
Like Anchorage’s butt-kicking Rage City Rollergirls…
I also saw several familiar Alaska-blogger-like supporters (yes, I was the one cheering and yelling at all of you on the corner of 10th and E):
One of the most beautiful results of that Community support…the Imperial Court float won the 4th of July Parade’s Grand Prize!
I had my own personal “moment” around the float when the folks behind me (who later screamed and shouted for the 2nd Amendment people) were making snide comments. I turned around and told them the story of the fire and why the float was a big deal. The woman was stunned into silence but her husband managed to say “That’s terrible.”
I guess that’s the silver lining…or the “Phoenix Rising” …winning hearts and minds one float at a time!
*****UPDATE*****
Commenters are requesting information on how to donate to the Butners. Thanks to Colleen Crinklaw for having the account info on her Facebook–it’s an account at Wells Fargo Bank. I can’t figure out how to donate on their website http://wellsfargo.com but I have the phone number for the Northern Lights Branch: (907) 265-2805. The account number is: 9297382088.
“Love all, serve all”
Thanks AKM! Great story, and I’m honored to “know” you through this blog. Happy 5th of July!
I wrote this one but I’m honored to know AKM as well
Linda, I’m so sorry! I love your work too! PA~John
Thank you for covering this “story” Linda. The article is well written, and a joy to read this morning! I wasn’t able to make the parade, and so glad to be there, through you. I love that you were able to “educate” your sidewalk neighbors too, also.
i’m glad nobody got hurt but it is terrible. The rebuild float looks great floats
Thank-you Linda, for covering this story, and the pictures, too. What a lovely bunch of supporters.
I hope they catch the arsonist and that he faces the harshest punishment possible. And that if he’s underage, that his parents are liable for his actions.
Oh, I live in Utopia. I assume that justice is swift and sure and right. I get let down a lot. Hopefully not this time.
Stay strong, R’ipley– look at all of the people who joined efforts to rebuilt a better float. Warm hugs and good vibes to all who suffer from hate and discrimination. We can only change one mind at a time-
Thanks, Linda, for your coverage; pictures are worth a thousand words- and that’s saying a lot, coming from a retired English teacher
Hey, kid, I live in Utopia with you and get let down a lot, too. Rather be a hopeful person than a negative one, so let’s stay there, ok?
Many of us live in Utopia, Ripley – just look at the wonderful response to this hateful act. Wouldn’t you far rather be disappointed once in awhile rather than live a bleak life, expecting the worst?
My love and support to all who believe in righting wrongs.
Thanks for this story. Nice pictures, too. How wonderful that so many came together to make the new float.
Thanks for the story Linda. This incident is getting legs, it was on our local news here in CA.
Thank you Linda!
Bless all those who worked so hard to make the new float and support it in your parade…
Bless the Butners …
( still shaking inside some for the near miss they had themselves…)
The best won change DOES come one heart and mind at a time, it’s slow but solid.
…..When hate is expressed with Vandalism, public reaction to it is often lukewarm or excused… however, when the threat to life by it is added, most people tend to sit up and pay attention to not only the action, but to the reality of what such hate could lead to.. let’s all be grateful no one was injured, and that the person responsible is apprehended quickly.. and many thanks to the those who responded to the victims needs, and to not letting this action intimadate them …
…a great “lemons=lemonade” story….excellent….and the lady gay-gay was a fun spin…..
I too, am grateful no one was hurt…….I am a gay advocate..but many years ago I was simply a bigot..my attitude changed faster than you can snap your fingers, and the reason??…my love for a dear friend was more important than my hatred…! This was a soul-changing experience, because it changes the way you see human beings…and some see this as a scary thing….it is not scary, it simply means that we can listen to the ‘better angels’ of our humanity..and THAT is always a good thing!
Rocky, I think if more people truly loved, they would find that not only could they also accept but rejoice in all our differences. Good for you and your dear friend. And thanks for a great article Linda.
Your reason for change is one I have cautioned many who voiced a ‘dead-set against’ attitude to…they need to hope they are not faced with the choice in their life.
They usually stop for a second and realize THAT might well make a difference in their opinion.
I know my life has been enriched many times over by the range of people and their ‘gifts’ that I have been exposed to.
One person at a time and if we each can just help one person open their eyes we might stand a chance!!
Linda …you are a jewel and thanks so much for sharing this with us…and caring enough to do it!!
Thank God no one was hurt, the new float is awesome! Glad you were able to lend a clue to the clueless making snide comments. Does anyone have any details on the fund set up for the family – website, bank address, etc?
Pat, I got hold of the account information and put it as an **update** at the end of the piece. Thanks for reminding me…I meant to do that originally but wasn’t thinking clearly at 3:00 AM!
Do Track and Willow have alibis for that night ? Did they ever solve the case of the church fire a year or so ago ? Whomever did it, I hope they catch them and “parade them” in front of TV cameras.
Thanks for the photos and story Linda. I was shocked and sad when I heard about the fire, and delighted to see the rest of the story. My “inner brat” is dancing and singing “Neener neener! Love wins!” Grin.
Great photo essay, Linda.
People could have died in that fire. What is the world coming to? I hope they find whoever did this.
Linda, you made me all teary eyed with this uplifting story. This helps me believe that Anchorage really is OK, there is love in the city. I really hope the float fire & damage turns out to be an accident. What a great way to start the day, thank you!
Isn’t it (shall I say) ‘interesting’, how easy it is to condemn, disparage, and judge “other” *UNTIL* we are confronted with something about “other” with which we can, personally, identify?
And isn’t it flat-out *amazing* how, once a personal connection –no matter how tenuous– is made to that ‘something’, attitudes towards “other” slowly, slowly, slowly begin to make a monumental shift?
Thank you, Linda, for the story and the pictures. Even more heartfelt: Thank you, Linda, for sharing honest words that allowed that couple (or at least the man) to –maybe, maybe, maybe– understand that “other” is not a boogieman, the enemy, someone to be feared…that “other”, when all the is said and done, is just the ho-hum “same” as anyone and everyone else.
I raise my virtual glass in a toast to the day when an individual person is personally disliked (by another individual) because they have proven their self to be a stinky-rotten, no-good sort, and not because they are [blanket] “other”. beth.
–and a gigantic “Woot!” for the good folks of Anchorage who came together to get the 2010 LGBT float on the road! b.
I’ve never understood people who are so narrow-minded and fearful of those who are not exactly like themselves. If those people realized how many LGBT folks are either in or touch their lives already, they might be surprised. Just because their neighbor, coworker or second cousin doesn’t fit what they believe is the stereotype of a LGBT person, it does not necessarily mean that they’re straight.
I’ve had many friends and coworkers who were gay, but people who worked with them who were just casual acquaintances had no idea because they kept their private lives just that…private.
If we all opened our minds and our hearts to the people around us, we’d all be a lot happier.
Thank goodness no one was hurt by this fire and I applaud everyone who came together to make something positive out of a potentially deadly situation.
Yeah I’m pretty sick of conservatives sticking their noses into other people’s private lives and trying to regulate it in some way.
But heaven forbid we try to actually use government to help the poor, the unemployed, kids who need an education, the underfed and malnourished and those who need healthcare. THAT would be horrible. But sure, let’s oppress people who are different from us and allow the government to tell you who you can and should be sleeping with and who you can and should be married to. And oh, let’s not forget to allow the government a front row seat in a private CHOICE about what to do with a pregnancy.
I’ve never spent the 4th in Anchorage.
Now I want to.
Quyana so much for this story.
Glad to see how people came together for both the family and the float. I’ll bet that arsonist had no idea what power he or she unleashed. Positive Power, that is. Thanks for that report and glad to hear that the word is getting out to other states.
Thank you.
I’m glad you set it straight to the folks behind you. People should shut the hell up and get the facts before opening their stupid mouths.
I am really REALLY getting sick and tired of Ignorance and Stupidity being the traits to aspire to in certain parts of this country. REALLY sick of it.
You could hear people cheering for this float all along the parade route. And I don’t think most of them had a clue that the first float had been burned. Anchorage really is more accepting and progressive than the right wingers want to admit. We just have to convince them to get out and vote more often.
I’m glad the Butners are all right, I’m glad there’s a fund set up for them, and the new float is lovely.
Excellent article, Linda.
I really appreciate all that you and our other allies have been doing for equality for so many years. So many people who are extremely involved are not actually gay or lesbian themselves, which folks who don’t know them often presume. . Daphne is of course, a guy who is married to the woman who was carrying the right end of the ICOAA banner in the picture. John and Heather Aronno, who carried the Alaska double eagle rainbow flags in front of the Identity LGBTQ youth float, also loaned their vehicle to pull it. Levi who rode shotgun in the truck is also an SA. (that’s straight ally)
For info on the funds set up, I would refer people to the Facebook pages of THE IMPERIAL COURT OF ALL ALASKA, and Daphne DoAll LaChores, the MC, and who has been the main person behind building the ICOAA floats in the Fur Rondy, Pride, and Fourth of July parades for decades, and who owns the trailer that was burned.
Thank you Linda for writing a wonderfully imformative piece on our fire. It is true that the fire is under investigation, but only after i called APD, after we were allowed into the burned garage to start writing our inventory of its contents. They were some things that were definitely “out of place” and needed to be investigated further. The fire department had all left with one glaring mistake made. The AFD inspector was very inquisitive and called in the State investigators.
We lost our trailer and all of the sound equipment, tools and supplies as our two families have been the leads on producing the floats since 2002. Ken and Paula came in after that offering their garage. Ken and I started to upgrade the space into a workshop and storage facility to house all of the decorations and scraps of previous award winning floats. Its all gone now.
Now comes the insurance paperwork process. Ken, Paula, Lisa and I are amassing our past photos, receipts and model numbers of items lost to try and recover from this. Ken and I have planned a better garage shop during the re-build, as the building is a total loss. We plan a bigger wider door to be able to contain the float, as compared to parking and tenting it outside, higher ceilings, and of course better insulation and security cameras.
Thank you to all have posted your positive comments. As Lisa and I were walking the Parkstrip yesterday after the parade, hundreds of people wanted pictures taken with me. Only 1 man absolutely refused to shake my hand as I introduced myself after he had snapped a picture of his wife and I together. I told him I loved him and moved on. He is the image in my mind as I awoke this morning, I am sure his wife gave him the cold shoulder after that, as he could have been abit more polite.
That’s the point of all of this. My “ministry” is that we love each other, not judge each other and to just get along. Now, I have someone beating at my door wantng to run me for Mayor of Anchorage! (terrifying!)
Love to all,
Daph.
Daphne for Mayor–I’M IN!!!!
Thank you so much for commenting and for all that you do for the community.
I’d vote for Daphne.
This whole incident just proves how strong our community really is, and how driven we are. All we need now is to get ourselves out to the voting polls in these kinds of numbers.
I bet anything that if last summer’s Ordinance 64 were before the Anchorage Assembly right now, we’d at LEAST have all eight votes needed to beat Sullivan’s veto.
Linda – Thanks for the wonderful story and photos! This is a great post. Anchorage’s LGBT community is strong, and they have big hearts. So do thier supporters. I think back to last summer and how many people turned out in support at the public testimony for Ordinance 64.
Congratulations to the Phoenix float, rising from the ashes and to all those who made it happen.
And many warm thoughts to the Butner family who have been through such a trauma. So glad nobody was hurt – physically anyway.
Pretty amazing they could build such a great float in that short period of time, but I’m glad they did, if not just to show the bigots they will not be stopped by their act of hate. By doing so, they also proved to the community they can’t be stopped and will not be bullied by bigots or the far right wing evangicals. I wish the Butners the best of luck in refurbishing their home and I’m glad noone was injured in the hatefull act. Perhaps the community should start a reward in the capture, arrest, and prosecution of the individual or individuals involved. That would be the ultimate resolve to this act of hate, and perhaps also reenforce to the community that this type of behavior is not just wrong, but also criminal.
ICOAA has been putting floats in the Anchorage Fur Rondy parade since the late 70′s, the creativity and effort that has gone into them has won many grand prizes. (I rode on one in ’79)
Great story, Linda. Phoenix Rising, indeed. There are times when I’m very proud of the people in this town (with exclusions, of course, and we all know who they are)
I wonder if the arsonist realizes that they just did what the LGBT community has had so much trouble doing, bringing the community together. The plan backfired (sorry for the pun).
That person could have killed someone. Did they really hate so much they were willing to kill someone for being different, or even someone else’s accepting of people that are different? I am so glad no one was hurt and a float was re-built.
Had my husband and I lived nearby, we would have been there to help too. See, I probably would not have wanted to pitch in if it wasn’t for that mean and hateful person. Sometimes in the midst of hate comes love.
I am so proud of everyone who came together. That is true friendship.
I thought you might be interested to hear what is going on with LGBT rights in Ireland. I don’t follow it that closely, but I did sit up and listen a week or so ago when this bill went before the Dail. One politician told the Catholic Church to shut up and stay out of it. I’m sure we are miles behind the US in terms of rights, but the difference is, no one here is really against it.
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/ireland-passes-civil-partnership-bill.html
Having said that, there is a fine old debate going on tonight on the tv about how it affects children to be raised by gay parents. Nothing nasty so far!
The church has no credibility left.
Thank You Linda!
The 1st part makes me ill. The 2nd part uplifts me. I will head on down to Wells Fargo (though I don’t like to go in there) to deposit support to the Butners.
I hope dan sullivan will pay attention, though I doubt it.
Absolutely wonderful “Phoenix Rising” float.
This..rising from the ashes..uplifts us all..thank you to those..who chose to be..Educated, Loveing, Nurturing..and wise..in the way..The Real World..is made. Here..in Oregon..my apple orchard is a ‘park like’ setting for the political action and community Bar B Que..of the local chapter of the good people we honor ..on this thread…each and every late July or early August. I make certain to mow and trim and tidy..so that it is..an oasis!
I am so happy to see the Phoenix rise, roll and WIN
the kids float was awesome too<3 My guy & I stopped by on saturday to try to lend a hand. I had no clue where new float was being built (4obvious reasons) i was thinking someone there could tell me, they where very busy eleswhere, so i left some beads & a note to show support. we drove back home w/bags of art supplies & heavy hearts.
Thank you Linda for your uplifting post /pics!
Thank you to the LGBT community for showing everyone a very fine example of overcoming ignorant adversity. An act of faith, in the face of haters.
KUDOS to all
ps~ imho, homophobes really are afraid/hate a part of themselves they dont accept. thats what makes them angry & hateful…not news to mudpups i am sure.. one tribe..peace be with you all
revised PS;)
me thinks that the tiny minded arsonist may have been sparked to dispicable action by its own homo erotic dream..
Thanks for the exceptional reporting, Linda!
This is a powerful story that won’t end until the Butners’ home is repaired and everyone responsible for the damage is caught and tried.
As someone said yesterday on Immoral Minority, I wonder if Mayor Despicable Dan now understands the need for Ordinance 64? The “Phoenix Rising” float is beautiful. I hope they catch the perpetrator soon and that the Butner’s are made whole financially at least. Good work Linda with the coverage. Thanks.
It is very hard to understand why someone would burn down someones garage and possibly their home just because of a float whether it be gay or straight. Had to be a lot of hate there.Thank you Linda for bringing this forth. Shows how people coming together can get things done.We need to see more of this around opur country.
Does anyone remember Anchorage 2001? It seems time to dust off the “Not in our town” bumper stickers and signs.
The people who own the trailer had their house egged last night. No one else in the neighborhood was egged. Good Lord. Enough.
Great job, Linda!
Thank you for posting this Shannon. Yes, that’s right. We got egged. I waited all day for APD to get here, but was told by dispatch that they were “dealing with life and death issues!” So Lisa and i wrote a nice letter to the reponding officer about our connection to the ICOAA and the Butners, and took a drive to Wasilla Wings and Things.
We just arrived home and found a very warm letter written by the responding officer in apparent complete knowledge of our situation that has promised more patrols for our home and the Butners.
It is not what I expected to read. I will update more if necessary.
Love,
Daph.
Glad to hear that and love your name. I’ve both the “what’s wrong with people?” and “thank goodness” reactions on this entire episode. Stay strong and stay safe.
What a horrible thing to have happen. But isn’t it stange how sometimes something good (the outpouring of support) can come out of something so bad.
It is very curious that someone was seen so close to the fire damaged area. It reminds me of a school that burned down when two kids got in, played with matches which set the old stage curtains on fire. It was accidental, but so stupid and so preventable. I hope this turns out to be something of that sort, rather than a hate crime. If it is the latter, it is even worse that lives could have been lost as well.
My heart goes out to the family and to the community. It speaks well of all of them that they came together so quickly in support of one another.
Great post, Linda.
The story of malicious destruction of the original float followed by creation of the beautiful, transcendent second float echoes the ongoing struggle and passionate resolve of the gay rights movement itself. Very powerful message for the whole community.
Congratulations to all involved.
Excellent writing and pics Linda! Thank you.
Grateful that nobody lost their life in this catastrophe. Heartwarming how everyone came together to build the BEAUTIFUL new float in mere hours – which then won the award. Given the graceful Phoenix Bird & meaning behind it, I’m not surprised they won.
I’m hopeful that the vandalism will open some minds and hearts in Anchorage, especially after that horrible debacle last summer.
fishingmama, the 2001 ‘not in our town’ was a good concept, but it sort of fizzled when it came out that the man very likely vandalized his own print shop.
The organization that was principally behind it, Bridgebuilders, has had some leadership whose embrace of diversity does not include sexual orientation.
It was my impression that the folks with that group avoided even looking in the direction of the ICOAA float and group at the staging of the parade yesterday. I was between them.
If that wasn’t a hate arson what other kind could it have been? To put a home and people in danger is one sick dude.
The new float is simply lovely. Did they name the phoenix “Fawkes”? (Yes, I’m a Harry Potter fan; and a Harry Dresden fan too!)
When they find the perpetrator(s), I hope a long prison sentence is handed down.
Why do people feel as though they are entitled to actively HARM others? Don’t they have their own lives to deal with?