Michael Burke, Episcopal priest on Anchorage's 2009 "Summer of Hate"

Send us Fan MailMichael Burke grew up in upstate New York and first moved to Anchorage in the 1980s. He has been the senior pastor of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in midtown for over 20 years. 2009 in Anchorage is colloquially known as “the summer of hate.” That year an equal rights ordinance was proposed by the Anchorage Assembly and conservatives came from near and far to testify against equal rights for the LGBTQ community. The measure passed the assembly, but was vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan, and there were not enough votes to override. Michael Burke  confronted a hateful angry crowd to speak in support of non-discrimination protections during a series of contentious assembly meetings. We discuss that "summer of hate," today’s divisive political climate, and how he came to be a priest in the first place.