Doug Frank moved to Alaska from the East Coast in the summer of 1974. Since the 1980’s, Doug has worked as a volunteer and leader in the GLBT community. Due to a strict religious background, he did not come out till his late twenties. A weekly gay and lesbian support group held at the first gay and lesbian community center helped in this process.
On a cold evening, December 1, 1988, at the Park Strip, a large globe with an interior light was presented as a symbol of a “world full of light and understanding as opposed to darkness and ignorance” (quote from 6-o’clock news). The first World AIDS Day, which Doug helped to plan, became a watershed moment that elevated AIDS to a topic of conversation. At the end of the event, Doug announced that a large portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which he saw at its unveiling in 1987, would be displayed in Anchorage in July of 1989.
In 1994, Doug and F. Ken Freedman, planned the first conference with the help of Rebecca Roger. The gay community had allowed their opponents to define the debate and dialogue concerning equal rights for too long. To reflect this shift, the theme of the first conference was “In Search of… A New Vision for Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals.”
Doug never dreamed that equal rights for equality would evolve at such an accelerated pace. He is proud to have known many, if not all, of the brave individuals who have fought for equal rights in the Last Frontier. Doug hopes that the next generation of gay men and lesbians will live in a community that is closer to one with a sense of hope, inspiration and purpose. more...