Video: A colorful day in the Democrat-run Alaska House, with slurs accepted, but ‘suicide’ not acceptable term

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Feb. 26, 2026 – A debate over artificial intelligence regulation on the Alaska House floor Wednesday took an unexpected turn when Rep. Alyse Galvin referenced a fabricated social media video that portrayed her using a highly offensive slur — language that may never before have been spoken in the Alaska House chamber.

Galvin was speaking in support of an amendment to House Bill 47, legislation aimed at restricting certain uses of artificial intelligence in the creation of child pornography, including deceptive “deepfake” content.

To illustrate the potential harm of AI-generated manipulation, she described a video circulating online that falsely depicted her saying, “If you’re a faggot, you should go to jail.”

Here’s the clip of that: Alyse Galvin

Galvin made clear that such language is completely uncharacteristic of her and directly opposed to her public record. She is widely known as a vocal advocate for LGBTQ Alaskans and has consistently supported policies aligned with gay and transgender communities. The example, she said, demonstrated how artificial intelligence can be weaponized to damage reputations and mislead the public.

Ironically, Galvin stood to talk about words people can’t say, and she repeated the word. A couple of times.

During her remarks, Rep. Jamie Allard raised a point of order, objecting to the use of the slur on the House floor. Allard argued that such language should not be spoken in the chamber, regardless of context.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon ruled that the term “faggot” was permissible because it was being quoted as part of a legislative debate about AI-generated content and was not directed at any member.

The ruling effectively allowed the word to stand in the official legislative record, a moment that may mark the first time the slur has been spoken during a formal Alaska House floor session.

Later in the day, another member of the Democrat-led majority caucus, Rep. Carolyn Hall, rose to address concerns about language used earlier in proceedings. She talked about how words can “trigger” people.

But the word she focused on was not the slur cited by Galvin.

Instead, Hall referenced the word “suicide,” noting that it can be triggering for some individuals. She encouraged anyone affected by the discussion to seek help and provided information about available resources.

Here’s the clip of that: Carolyn Hall

Thus, she was saying the word that was the “triggering” word.

In fact, research shows that talking to someone openly about suicide does not increase their risk of suicide, according to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

The juxtaposition of the two moments, a controversial slur ruled allowable in legislative debate, followed by a caution about the potentially triggering nature of another term, were highlights of the colorful, but extremely long day of House floor session, which was mostly taken up by at-eases.

Both Galvin and Hall are registered as undeclared voters, as is common among several members of the current majority coalition. However, both lawmakers caucus with the Democrat-led majority in the House and are acknowledged as Democrats.