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THE BLOG--HISTORY
"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.
Transition--Community Blog
In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.
While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!
**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!
**Note about comments** To comment on a story, click on the heading and then look for the "comment bar" at the bottom (it's light grey, I can't seem to change it). I believe the font color NOW permits you to see the "post comment" text.
YOUR BLOGMISTRESS
My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).
When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.
Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.
Origin of "Celtic Diva"
I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.
"Celtic"
"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."
"Diva"
"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."
I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...
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For the Alaska Community and beyond...
My daughter touched a Silver Medal!
USA Women's Olympic Hockey Team Star Kerry Weiland with our friend Isabella and my daughter Morrigan at St. Baldrick's Day
(Scroll down to find posts.)
(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
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Exodus 
Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 00:28:51 AM AKDT
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From outside Abbott Loop Community Church during the "Love Won Out" Conference.The first event on a busy day for progressives in Anchorage was to support our LGBT Community against those who claim that they should "Pray Away their Gay," namely "Focus on the Family" who were paying us a visit from Colorado Springs. Their conference, the misnamed "Love Won Out" conference promotes "recovery" programs from "gayness" like Exodus or Pure Life Ministeries. The conference took place at Abbott Loop Community Church and was also supported by Sarah Palin's Wasilla Bible Church.
The response didn't quite go the way PFLAG had planned.
Their idea had been to position us all between the parking lot and the doors of the Church. This was to offer troubled families the gentle, positive message that actual "acceptance" of their LGBT loved-one(s) is REAL LOVE rather than subjecting them to torture-esque behavior modification to make them "normal."
Unfortunately, the logistics of the church (and the threat of law-enforcement) prevented that from happening.
Even the infamous Alaska OMG-it's-September-and-it's-gonna-snow-soon-24-hour-7-day-a-week road construction conspired against us, forcing us across the street on the corner.
But, the point is that we had fun and felt like we were getting a positive message out through our presence!
It sure gave me interesting flashbacks to what publicly supporting gay issues in the late 80's/early 90's was like compared to now.
We got tons of honks...tons! There was one possible negative comment of someone driving by but we didn't hear it--and that was in 3 hours of standing out there! It sure felt different to the abusive language, slashed tires and obscene phone calls of my past! The only anxiety I felt was the reality of where I was standing and the fact that my bro-in-law and his family would all be driving by there that morning. (I purposely didn't look for them.) They are staunchly homophobic and Conservative Catholic.
It was also really wonderful to see the multi-generational aspect of this. When I got there about 7:30 am, the older PFLAG crowd was already there supporting the cause. As the morning wore on a bit, it was those of us middle-aged types who hung out and talked about the changes in Anchorage. Around 10:00am and when I left at 10:30, the younger folks were starting to come in...a whole new generation of social activism!
It warms the heart, I tell ya!
The coolest thing about all of this was I reconnected with some friends from the past and I met E. Ross! I also met Wayne Besen who is giving a great presentation at the Metropolitan Community Church today called "God Loves You Just as You Are" and "Truth Won Out," exposing the Exodus "Ex-Gay" movement as the money-making business and frauds that they are.
This actually turned out to be the perfect way to start a day of progressive social consciousness.
Off to the women's rally!
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