News & Commentary

Today, Mayor Jim Matherly sent the clear message that it is okay to discriminate in Fairbanks by vetoing LGBTQ non-discrimination protections. The mayor has taken this deeply misguided action despite strong support from the Fairbanks City Council.

Fairbanks, AK — By passing Ordinance 6093 yesterday, the City Council took a major step towards stopping discrimination against LGBTQ community members in Fairbanks. We were disappointed the ordinance did not include stronger housing protections; as long as there are loopholes, our LGBTQ friends and neighbors will continue to face unequal treatment in housing.

ACLU of Alaska's February 25, 2019 testimony to the Fairbanks City Council on Ordinance 6093—adding LGBTQ protections to the city's non-discrimination code.

Anchorage, AK – Today, the Alaska Supreme Court struck down a state law and Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) regulation that would have severely limited Medicaid coverage of abortions for low-income women. The decision in State of Alaska v. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest held that the statute and regulation violated the equal protection guarantee of the Alaska Constitution by creating criteria for Medicaid coverage of abortions not imposed on any other service covered by Medicaid.   

Days after being elected governor of Alaska, Michael Dunleavy requested resignations from more than 1,200 at-will state employees. Those who didn’t resign were later fired. This kind of political retaliation against non-political state workers is an attack on the very foundations of free speech

I can’t begin to adequately express how proud I am of the ACLU of Alaska’s growth last year, and I’m excited to see what they’ll be doing in 2019.

The ACLU of Alaska today announced lawsuits against Governor Mike Dunleavy, his Chief of Staff Tuckerman Babcock, and the State of Alaska on behalf of three former state workers who were illegally terminated immediately upon the Governor taking office.

The ACLU of Alaska today announced the hiring of Legal Director Stephen Koteff & Policy Director Triada Stampas. Our dramatic growth in membership, activity, and visibility over the last two years necessitated separating the previous role of legal and policy director into these separate positions.

The ACLU of Alaska, independent expenditure group Dunleavy for Alaska, and Alaska resident Eric Siebels have won their lawsuit against the State of Alaska over the state’s enforcement of a statute barring political signs near roadways.