In a move that has raised eyebrows among some of her constituents, State Rep. Ashley Carrick of Fairbanks used her official legislative newsletter this week to promote a drag queen performance and an event dubbed the “Gender Euphoria Party.”
Carrick’s taxpayer-funded newsletter, typically used by lawmakers to update constituents on policy matters, community meetings, or legislative developments, included enthusiastic promotions for two LGBTQ-themed events in the final days of Pride Month.
One promoted event was the Klondike Drag Pride Show, held Thursday, June 27, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks. Carrick described it in her newsletter as a way to “close out pride month,” highlighting “show-stopping drag performances,” free food, mocktails, and free HIV testing provided by the Interior AIDS Association. According to the newsletter, admission was $10 or free with a one-minute HIV test. Take-home test kits were also available.
The second highlighted event was the Gender Euphoria Party, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at the Pioneer Park Centennial Center Exhibit Hall. Carrick described it as “an all-inclusive event centered on queer joy,” and noted it would include free clothing, community resources, face painting, and a “catwalk competition.”
She promoted two other events — one for a canine festival and another for Independence Day celebrations.
While Carrick’s supporters have praised her for being an advocate for LGBTQ constituents, others in Fairbanks say the use of her official communications channel for these promotions reflects misplaced priorities. Constituents expect legislative newsletters paid for by the state to focus on public policy, the budget, and how their representative is serving them in Juneau — not invitations to burlesque shows or gender-euphoria themed parties.
For some Alaskans, the question is not whether such events can take place, but whether elected officials should be using their public platform to push them.
Carrick filed for reelection last month for the 2026 primary.
So… a medical dysphoria is in essence a positive gender euphoria. It’s all about “sex”, one of the pedestals of the Left. An identical dysphoria is anorexia, yet the state doesn’t demand or medicine encourage giving these patients Ozempic. What truly helps …. encouraging the dysphoria for all or trying to treat the underlying disease? I am using the original concept of “dis-ease”.
But the christian right thinks a lot about sex, about the discomfort of watching a drag show, whether a boy feels like a girl and how to end such a thought, masturbation is a sin, homosexuality is a sin, gay marriage will bring the end of days, unisex bathrooms are an affront too Jesus, birth control is an attack on god, abortion is a sin. Hypocrisy is one of the pedestals of the Christians.
Funny, I don’t recall reading in the DSM-5 that gender dysphoria is a construct of the “Christian right”. In fact the text is very clear with absolutely no references to Christianity (or any other religion for that matter) in either the clinical definition or the diagnostic criteria for this particular mental health disorder. I also didn’t read any reference to anything you are ranting about in Robert’s comment. So, what comment, exactly, are you responding to? I get it. We ALL get it. Your chronic display of vitriol toward religion (especially of the Christian flavor) and how you really feel is apparent for everyone to see. But again, pray tell me (see what I did there?), what does this particular episode have to do with Robert’s comment?
Robert wrote – “it’s all about “sex”, one of the pedestals of the Left.” That the only part of his comment that I responded to.
Also, this from Wikipedia:
The phrase stems from Old English where “pray” meant “to ask politely” and “tell” meant “to explain”. “Pray” was used to add emphasis to a request, similar to saying “I beg you”.
Cliche much?
Once again you ignore the central question here.
Should a legislator use their taxpayer funded newsletter to promote private events?
The character of the event here is not the issue, but her enthusiastic promotion does imply that she supports the theme being celebrated.
I get legislators newsletters and they contain new policy items or laws the legislator is working on and what their stance on federal/state issues are at the time. There may be a mention of when the legislator is in district and available to speak to at some event, but it generally simply lists date, time and location (like a booth at the fair or the Bear Paw)
Promoting private events is not acceptable, regardless, be it the pride festival or the canine event. That is the job of the promoters or event organizers not a state legislator.
As a side note I find the free HIV test especially creepy. Medical items off such as sensitive and life-altering nature, should really not be peddled at some festival in the park. If you are concerned talk to your doctor.
A Taxpayer–The Gender Euphoria Party is not a private event. It is a public event in a taxpayer-funded exhibition hall owned by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The event is co-sponsored by multiple local non-profit organizations, and is highlighted on the taxpayer-funded Explore Fairbanks webpage.
Hmm the last I checked the Fairbanks Queer Collective is NOT a government agency and I bet they are renting the Pioneer Park Exhibit Hall venue, same as a group putting on a Christmas bazaar or a sportsman show. It is a function organized by this private organization and co-sponsored by other non-profits and while it invites the public, it is not a government sponsored or supported event.
Explore Fairbanks sole function, as the tourism aggregator for the Fairbanks area, is to announce events and points of interest in the Fairbanks area and their page ONLY list the date, time and location.
So SA this is NOT a government funded event and organized and paid for by a private organization (Fairbanks Queer Collective), therefor the good legislator had no business promoting it in her newsletter. If she wants to gush about it on her private Facebook page that is her business, but the taxpayer paid newsletter needs to stick to policy and legislative informational news and is not the appropriate venue!
A Taxpayer–The Fairbanks Queer Collective is not a private entity. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the fiscal sponsorship of Native Movement. 501(c)(3) non-profits are supported by the government through tax exemption and government grants and contracts. There are no laws that prohibit AK state legislators from boosting info about community events that affect their constituents.
Oh good grief SA! Are you really this dense or just deliberately obtuse?
Last I check 501(c) non-profits are NOT government institution and taking money from the government does not make it so. If you are not government you are a PRIVATE entity. Student loans are government grants, does that mean that the students and schools accepting them are government entities? Clearly not!
Oil/gas companies get tax breaks and government contracts. IS the Rasmussen Foundation a government entity? NO they are an organization run by private individuals getting government grants.
Legislative newsletters are for legislative news not promoting events that have NOTHING to do with legislature business.
Many of the people that comment on here remind me of a story about Dr. Samuel Johnson, the man who wrote the first great English lexicography. Upon finishing this amazing work, he was visited by several delegations of London’s high class society. One of these was the respectable women’s group of London. “Dr. Johnson” they said, “we congratulate you on your decision to leave out all indecent words from your dictionary. Ladies, he replied I’m pleased to see that you’ve been looking them up.”
If people are determined to be offended about what they see as they are standing on their toes precariously from their own homes to look into other people‘s bathrooms, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Cman, when one is doing whatnot in the street, others don’t need to stand on their tiptoes, its simply offensive.
“…they are standing on their toes precariously from their own homes to look into other people‘s bathrooms,…”
Your imagery needs work.
There is no need for anyone to “spy” on these neighbors. It’s more like the neighbors having the garage door wide open and sitting in their lawn chair out front in their clown costume for all the world to see.
So here is a question for you cman.
Let’s say a legislator uses their newsletter to promote a church youth revival and invites all constituents to come and “Meet Jesus”. Then he/she goes on to describe all the events planned.
From your past postings I surmise that you would be up in arms and demand an apology, a retraction and censure and point out that the state funded legislator newsletter is not the venue for such a promotion.
Do I have that right?
Well the same rules apply here. This isn’t about the event per se, but the legislator’s abuse of a state funded resource in an OFFICIAL capacity as a representative of the government.
Your scenario is irrelevant from a constitutional perspective. The scenario described in this article is talking about a lawmaker promoting a non-religious event. Your scenario involves just the opposite, which is strictly forbidden in the establishment clause of the first amendment.
That being said, I wouldn’t be particularly enthusiastic about either scenario. however, I also wouldn’t see any moral outrage associated with the story described in this article.
You clearly have no historical concept of understanding of the establishment clause. Excising ones religion is permitted under the 1st amendment and may not be curtailed.
That being said I would have an issue if a legislator posted and gushed about a church revival in the legislative newsletter as well.
It should be pointed out that the transgender/lgbt… has many hallmarks of a religion. It is all about personal belief and the demand that others not only share but celebrate an biologically impossible personal belief or a personal attraction counter to biological norms. We are asked to belief what we can not see, measure or quantify based on individual statements and actions.
Arrgh! Spell check strikes again!
It should say “Exercising” not excising.
A Taxpayer–Regarding your hypothetical situation of a sitting legislator advertising a Christian event… Representative Jamie Allard is promoting JBER’s Christian Community Vacation Bible School on her official page. It’s quite common for legislators to promote events that their constituents might be interested in. There are no rules or laws to prevent legislators from promoting religious or other events that do not directly relate to their work as legislators.
Hmm when you say “her official page” what exactly do you mean?
Her page on alaskahouse.org does not show the event you are claiming. So help me out here. Are you talking about Facebook?
We are not offended cman. We are tired of it being shoved in our face and the face of young kids. It’s 1/10 of 1% of the population and it’s 35% of the news. Why do these people feel it’s so important to flaunt everything? Another thing who has time for all this nonsense I actually work 80 hrs a week, going out protesting non stop would not help me make payroll now would it.
You’re a little confused, Manny. I don’t need to be christian (and am not) in order to happily rattle a man’s teeth if he followed my wife or daughter into the women’s room.
The queer rarely sets the rules.
From the Police Foundation – Regarding bathroom sexual assault specifically, some research suggests that transgender individuals are more likely to be victims of sexual assault than perpetrators. Studies and reviews of sexual assault complaints have not found evidence of men entering women’s bathrooms under the guise of being transgender to commit sexual assault.
Take chances w/ your family, Nancy.
Some of us don’t like women being placed in harm’s way, particularly by the mentally ill.
– From the Responsible and Chivalrous Adult Male Foundation
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
– Mr. M. Tyson
BTW, you can drop the Manny BS as your written voice remains that of the caustic contrarian scourge you were banned for introducing to this site under a different pseudonym long ago. You haven’t changed a bit aside from having expanded your spamming efforts to other conservative sites like Joel’s.
No one wanted you around last time, either. Try some fentanyl.
Haha manny is definitely a female. Or was born that way. You’re right it’s Lucifer Lucinda. What a nut.
Wrong criticism for the Christian Right, Manny. If you are looking for a Blind Spot, it would be 1) the Christian contribution to the dysfunctional, single-parent family because of a divorce rate that pretty much equals the rate of the overall culture, 2) their convenient overlooking of what Christ said about divorce-and-remarriage, 3) their OK of contraception, and 4) an abortion rate that also roughly matches the overall culture. This applies to Catholics and Orthodox, too. So, reload your critique. Most Christians are eager to self-correct when they realize their sins, rather than celebrating them. We are, even now, witnessing a PROTESTANT re-evaluation about contraception. It isn’t noticeable yet, but wait and see. And that seemingly little issue is what has led us, since 1930, to homosexuality, divorce, promiscuity and a lowering of the institution of marriage. Would you believe that the Washington Post predicted it back then? The demonic fully understands human nature, and is very patient. But Grace can overcome much. Many reading this will begin their investigation and also a self-evaluation. It is truly AMAZING.
Robert wrote – “it’s all about “sex”, one of the pedestals of the Left.” That the only part of his comment that I responded to.
Manny,
NO, but we do think a lot about how you people became so mentally disturbed. Was it a bad childhood? Sexual abuse? Edipus complex? Low protein? Learned behavior from public school reproduction class? How did this homosexual mental illness begin?
Agree Kellee good comment.
Having lived in Fairbanks for over 27 years and loved my time there, I wonder what has happened to the community.
Fairbanks has a long history of respecting neighbors with varying ideologies, religions, hobbies and identities. Our history of making space for everyone is a whole lot longer than 27 years. But, if you haven’t noticed that characteristic in 27 years of living here, we really haven’t done a good job of showing the newcomers what makes this town great. Makes me a bit sad, honestly…
Agreed Dan. I lived in Fairbanks for 20 years and was always amazed by how people just let others be who they are. You won’t find anyone like that on here.
“Let them be who they are” , now that’s funny.
They are pretending to be something they are not and ask others to placate their delusions.
Enough of the lunacy.
You are wrong, cman.
Not a person on here called for canceling/protesting the event and I bet it went off just fine.
How often have you railed against people of faith?
You are also missing the point. This is not about the event, it is about some legislator abusing her official newsletter with a state seal to promote a privately organized event, that has NOTHING to do with legislative policy or law.
Just keep you effing drag shows in your own private home and away from my grandkids. Otherwise, there will be trouble for you.
cman, we used to live in the Fairbanks area and I distinctly recall establishments with signs that said: “Military not welcome” or similar messages making it clear certain groups of people were NOT welcome. So don’t give me this “how people just let others be who they are”.
“Having lived in Fairbanks for over 27 years and loved my time there, I wonder what has happened to the community.”
U of A Fairbanks is your answer. Wherever there is a liberal university culture, you will find this kind of stuff championed and propagated. Same with Missoula, Montana, whose official flag is now the “pride” flag.
Yikes.
Words fail me.
All will recall that it was [they] who threw live and let live out the window and decided to force themselves and their proclivities upon the general population. Seems they’re never going to figure it out until its to late.
“force themselves and their proclivities upon the general population.” Has any gay person forced you to kiss another man?
The most truly bizarre thing is that these people really, honestly don’t realize that they could just stay home. Their only actual purpose is to suck up other people’s money. The offices in Juneau could all stand empty; we’d all be much better off if that were the case.
Actually, some of those drag queens are better looking than Carrick. A little honesty here, goes a long way. Compared to the Republican women, the Democrats need a few chuckles and road kill to keep their base activated. Otherwise, if the real men start voting, Carrick may be reduced to putting on her drag queen outfit and looking for other work.
The inclination of public officials to abuse their political power and/or to slip into moral decadence is long acknowledged. Elected officials will be as degenerate as we preoccupied or overly-partisan citizens-voters will permit them to be.
I am often reminded of G. K. Chesterton’s observation given in 1921: “The men whom the people ought to choose to represent them are too busy to take the jobs. But the politician is waiting for it. He’s the pestilence of modern times… It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged.”
Wow. One of the best comments I’ve seen on here in a while.
I agree.
Spot on comment and quote. You look at the politicians, whether in the legislature or on the assembly, and most of them haven’t had anything close to a normal work career. Spotty employment and in some cases hardly any employment or none at all. And they are the ones telling us how to live. No wonder they come up empty on substance.
Legislators commonly use their newsletters to highlight events their constituents might be interested in. Jamie Allard, for example, is advertising the Family Freedom Festival being held at the VFW Auxiliary Post 9785 in her newsletter. She also included an announcement for the Mount Marathon Race which is sponsored by a mining corporation. Oh, and then there is her advertisement for JBER’s Christian Community Vacation Bible School. And a flyer for Military Appreciation Night at a local ballpark. None of these events are about policy matters, budgets, or legislative developments. I think most constituents appreciate their legislators keeping abreast of what is happening in their local communities.
Ashley and Maxine Dibert compete for the most clueless legislator title. They are good teacher union soldiers and just do what they are told.
Drag queening is pure mental illness for the participating. Sick!
Is Carrick promoting child sex abuse with this? We need a law enforcement investigation into her motives.
Mental Illness & this fool has it for sure!
I just read that 30% of liberals are on medication for mental health issues. I’m starting to think this could be correct. Which is a scary number.