How Walls Are Built.

What follows is a thread I started on a networking site (www.tribe.com).
The people who responded to my initial post were members of a "Tribe" called Rainbow Racism. They were a group of Bisexual, Gay Male, Lesbian, and Trans People of Color who were interested in discussing issues around racism in the "Queer" communities.

My reason for sharing this is because what followed was a very use-full discussion that revealed issues I have heard before from Gay People of Color but never seemed to make it to the broader Activist communities.

Pedro Angel Serrano


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May 20, 2005 - 05:40 PM

How walls are built.

The names Pedro and I'm a homosexual man of
Puerto Rican decent. I'll be 46 in a week and a day.
In New Jersey I've been doing radio program for the Bisexual, Gay Male,
Lesbian and Trans communities for over a decade.
A few years ago I started producing for another progressive
Queer radio show. This collective is small right now but
we're in the middle of a campaign to get more members.
The white male members are especially concerned with diversity.
As a step towards developing a relationship with the local communities of color, fliers were made and sent out to local community groups asking that they let us know of any events that they were going to do.
An announcement came from a queer Asian group about there fund raising event. The member of the collective whose job was to receive these announcements didn't want to announce it on the show.
I asked why. He said "Because it's competition."
The Queer Asian group was putting on a beauty contest. No seriously.
That's why he didn't want to announce this event by a queer Asian group to raise money for Tsunami relief. It was for TSUNAMI RELIEF !!!
He disapproved of an event that promoted competition as well as "...reinforced a narrow definition of beauty."
I asked why he felt the need "...to be judgmental." He said he felt we
"...had every right to be judgmental." I was starting to get hot under the collar.
I won't go into the arguments I gave. The announcement did go over the air but it was just read. No production treatment was made for it though.
I want to point out that this man defines himself as a "radical-queer."
He is not a racialist. But if that announcement had not gone over the air due to the political dogma of a group of (at the time) mostly white gay men, would that have seemed racist? I think it would have.
I've noticed over the last 5 years how a lot of intelligent, committed, and
passionate white gay activists unknowingly build walls between themselves and communities of color, not over racism but through dogma.

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May 21, 2005 - 02:18 PM
Alexandra

Re: How walls are built.

>> The white male members are especially concerned with diversity.

I've been there, another place, another time, another radio
station. They seem to be surprised that communities of color and
women's communities aren't running to join their club, be it "progressive", "radical" or whatever dogma they impose.

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May 21, 2005 - 02:22 PM
Michael

Re: How walls are built.

As a person of color I notice at "Radical" events there are certain
things that might inadvertently reduce the number of people of color
participating --like an event being scent or deodorant free, or
serving only vegan food.
In your situation Pedro, if the group in question was one of a small handful of people of color putting on events, it might be perceived as racist. Otherwise, if word got around about why its event was rejected, it would still make your organization look bad--petty and overly dogmatic. Sometimes I wonder why the left often seems to lack an organizational pragmatism ("we don't want to work with them---they wear leather!"), which prevents it from really building
success full infrastructures and coalitions.

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May 21, 2005 - 02:27 PM
Alexandra

Re: How walls are built.

good examples too, Michael.

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May 21, 2005 - 02:30 PM
Alexandra

Re: How walls are built.

I have explained to groups like that that their process is enforcing their own privilege and they get defensive. Like their group/institution isn't NBC or Time/Warner so how could they have privilege.

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May 21, 2005 - 03:22 PM
-robin

Re: How walls are built.

having a scent free environment is for the ever increasing number of people for whom chemical scents make them sick. I have a few friends like this who put a lot of work into things, but their chemical sensitivities are such that a person wearing scents
(especially perfumes and colognes)
can cause asthma attacks
and migraines. studies show that these scents are also responsible for
emotional outbursts in people and for triggering worse ADD behaviors.
chemical scents can also aggravate fibromyalgia and CFS and IBS.
if POC will not attend an event because of this "dogma" which is
all about making the space safer and healthier for participants I
cannot understand why? also what is wrong with vegan food?
I know lots of POC who are also vegan. i have not generally met many POC who hate vegetables. vegan just makes it accessible to all. making the event such that you can never bring in your own food (including mea or dairy, especially half and half) goes too far i think, but supplying a simple basic common denominator food like vegan food, that pretty much everyone can eat, seems to make sense to me.

-robin

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Monique
Re: How walls are built.

robin--
We could sit here all day and debate the utility of creating scent
free/ meat free/ dairy free/ organic only, etc. spaces. But prior posts are apt to point out that these types of
spaces bear a symbolism that is often distinctly construed as white and privileged. "Vegan" is associated with much more than eating habits; it's symbolic of elitist culture.
This is a very interesting discussion.

How do organizations employ cultural relativism without compromising
their core values?

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May 21, 2005 - 10:24 PM
angel

what is the sound...
of a nail being hit on the head?
Because I just heard it.
Monique, thanks for saying this so succinctly. I was trying to figure out how to say it correctly without resorting to stereotyping. I try to be empathetic to those folks who want to/need to have things a certain way, but honestly I see it as more exclusionary than not. i personally don't know too many poor vegans or other poc who don't at least have a snort for the scent free ideology. Seriously though, when it comes down to holding space for one group without pissing off another, well....maybe, um, compromise IS the answer? scent-free areas? vegan options? Everybody not being so uptight? I don't know maybe I am starry-eyed just suggesting such a thing...

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May 22, 2005 - 02:55 PM
Michael

Re: what is the sound

kudos to Monique for her eloquence.
I totally agree there is room for compromise on all these issues. When it comes to scents: have a scent free area, encourage people to use natural scents, encourage those who don't wear scents to bathe, etc. When it comes to food, have vegan, vegetarian & meat dishes. Also, make sure whoever is cooking the vegan dishes knows how to cook--there are plenty of Indian, Mediterranean, and Asian vegan dishes that are plenty good--bulgur tofu loaf with parsley probably
won't cut it.

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May 24, 2005 - 11:54 AM
Pedro Serrano

Re: what is the sound

I think understanding is a painful process. I'm looking for any suggestions
that can make it less painful for progressives
to do some self examination.

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May 24, 2005 - 06:31 PM
Monique

Re: what is the sound

Hey Pedro,
If you have a few groups in mind that would like to work collaboratively
with your cooperative, maybe orchestrating some sort of panel
discussion between members could help elicit self examination, and
determine ways of promoting that are beneficial to everyone.
BTW, thanks Angel and Michael for your responses to my post.
Glad to see others feel the same way.

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The Thread ended there.

So, when does compromise become being compromised?
How do organizations employ cultural relativism without
compromising their core values?

How conscious are we of our priorities?

When do our politically correct values come between us and those
we want to be of service too?

I know that some of the folks reading this will take up the discussion.
It won’t happen over night but I can see a future where people who know social progress is possible, will go beyond forging a common language for themselves and learn the skills necessary to translate our human values and ethics, to help move us all forward.

Pedro Angel Serrano

Respond to This Article.

Compromise With Out Being Compromised? "Old Man Pedro" Angel Serrano



Bayard Rustin philosophical mentor to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who with out e-mail, cell phones, or My Space, organized of The March on Washington, and described by Maya Angelo as "A great hero of the civil rights movement." said "Activism is about no compromise. Politics is all about compromise."
He was not being judgemental.
He was describing his experience .

I heard it once, and new it to be a truth, what with having been involved in activism since my late teens, I came to know that "No Compromise" is the essence of the activist mind.
Mr. Rustins statement also made it easier for me to like politicians. Well, it made me recognise what a good politician was; someone who could compromise, without being compromised.
Recently during a conversation about activism a friend said it was also a description of a "good person." I agreed.
But what to do with an activist turned politician?
My first questions would be,
"Is this compromise equal to being compromised?
Is it compromising the communities the activist turned politician represents?"
A recent activist post by a Mr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson on the Huffington Post revealed these numbers; "In 1996, 65 percent of blacks were opposed to gay marriage. A decade later a Pew Forum poll found that 64 percent of blacks still vehemently opposed it."
Why no real progress in understanding in the African American community? There is a long list of things I have no direct control over. Since I can't speak to Black clergy about there scriptural interpretations I don't see a point to discussing it. I acknowledge it then move on to those things I have control over. Myself and how I communicate as an activist.


Barak Obama began as an activist with the "No Compromise" spirit. But as a politician he must now struggle with the goal of compromising with out becoming compromised.
This Sunday he faces this challenge and in my opinion has gotten little to no help from his staff or from Gay activists.

The cry of "No Compromise" has manifested in the ultimatum of banning a Black Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin who has expressed his personal beliefs that Gays are not Gods "intention".
Why God insists on continuing to crank out more Gay folks is an interesting question raised, but for now, I think a better one would be how to compromise on the upcoming Gospel concert on the 28th with out compromising the Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Inuit, etc...Communities.


My idea is to not drop, ban, or censor Mr. McClurkin but to simply balance out the bill by having three Out Gay Gospel performers for every One performer who has publicly expressed anti Gay sentiments.
Why three to one? Ummm...
There's a Lot of catching up to do folks!
There's a Lot of educating the African American Community has been denied.
Yes, denied.
Here's those interesting stats again.
"In 1996, 65 percent of blacks were opposed to gay marriage.
A decade later a Pew Forum poll found that 64 percent of blacks still vehemently opposed it."
Why such a glacial shift in acceptance?
In part it's because to many Gay activists either don't know how to communicate the links between the struggles of the Gay Communities and the African American Communities. Another is the lack of imagination they demonstrate. Someone says something, well... stupid, suddenly freedom of speech is no longer an absolute.
That's for another post.
But as I type I'm listening to a CD by Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian Gay Gospel Choir. The song now is "There is Room Enough." It never fails to bring up the "Liquid Macho" in my eyes.
"There is room enough in Paradise to have a home in glory."
That is the message the audience needs to hear from Gay men and women who look like them.
Love all.

Rev. Pedro Angel Serrano

Advice For Barak Obama

• So now Barak Obama is in hot water with Gay activists.
  
  Acording to the re-post below "A gay rights group on Monday urged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to cut ties with a gospel singer who they say spreads false information about gays and lesbians...."
• My advice is this: If enough people repost this, some body who knows some body, who knows some body who knows some body, who knows some body who knows some body, who knows some body who knows some body, who knows some body who knows some body, will know some body who knows some body that had sex with somebody the knows Barak Obama will get this.
• So here's my advice.
• For every homophobic singer the Obama Campaigne has on the roster. They should have no less then Three Out Gey performers sharing the bill. Freedom of speach I feel is an absolute and kicking someone off the bill for what they think is wrong. If this gospel singer was homophobic and selling crystel meth to the Gay community then throw him off and send him to jail. But being stupid may not be a right but expressing it is.
  
  "Old Man Pedro" Angel Serrano
• From Ontopmag.comTo Obama: Drop singer from tourGay Rights Group Urges Democrat Barack Obama to Cut Gospel Singer From Campaignconcert TourANN SANNERAP NewsOct 22, 2007 18:35 EDTA gay rights group on Monday urged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to cut ties with a gospel singer who they say spreads false information about gays and lesbians.Donnie McClurkin is among several gospel singers scheduled to raise money for the Illinois senator at a concert in South Carolina this weekend.McClurkin has drawn attention from gay rights activists for his views on homosexuality."I don't believe that it is the intention of God," McClurkin said Monday in a telephone interview.McClurkin said he does not believe in discriminating against homosexuals. "What people do in their bedrooms and who they are as human beings are two different things," he said.Obama's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment."We strongly urge Obama to part ways with this divisive preacher who is clearly singing a different tune than the stated message of the campaign," Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, said in a statement.At a forum on gay issues in August, Obama argued that civil unions for same-sex couples wouldn't be a "lesser thing" than marriage. Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ, which supports gay marriage, but Obama has yet to go that far.In a telephone interview Monday, Besen said he admired Obama, but wasn't ready to endorse him, especially considering McClurkin taking part in the campaign's "Embrace the Change" concert tour."
  I think he'd be a great president. But I think it's going to drive away support from people who are on the fence such as myself," Besen said.McClurkin, a Grammy Award winner, performed at the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Happy "Islamo-Facism Awareness Week"

You Know You're Being Manipulated
When a new buzz word/Sound-Bite is being marketed.

So it's my pleasure to announce the new term you're going to have blasted at you a LOT between now and November of 08. "Islamo-Facism"

The use of the word "Islam" is supposed to refer to the basis for terrorists principles.
As if you can find reasons for shooting doctors in the Bible. Oh wait. You can.
The word "Fascist" is to refer to "There" system of government.

But what is Fascism anyway? Well for me it's in part a leader who acquires more and more power over time by instilling fear in the population, suppresses opposition and criticism and emphasizes an aggressive nationalism and racism. I know that all sounds familiar to a lot of folks reading this.

Personally I don't like to use the word Fascism. It is linked to a specific time and place in world history. I prefer to use the word authoritarian. It's more about a way of thinking. Also it has a lot of syllables. A lot of folks seem to think you know what you're talking baout if you use big words.

Anyway this term has been tested out for about a year now and it seems to stick in folks heads. So now the big marketing push is under way.

I know this because a friend sent me the post below.

Leftists all over the country are going to start complaining...
Oops... I mean protesting the National Islamo-Facism Roll Out Tour.
I personally expect them to screw it up and just help promote it
by seeming to be against free speech.

The statement below,
"We stand for free speech, not hate speech." it just another sound-bite term to justify shouting people down or prevent them from talking.

Maybe events revealing how free speech in the US has been comproomised, how the Patriot Act has been abused by spying on U.S citizens, and how the power of the Presidency has been increased to levels never before seen in the history of this nation.

They could title it "Fighting Fascism Abroad and at Home."
Hmmm...
I like that.
The Neo-Cons will end up doing it first.


RE: Speak Out Against "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week"


Action Alert endorsed by Jamaat al-Muslimeen
Take Action: Speak Out Against "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week"
Anti-Islam Jewish Zionist and Christian Zionist Groups Swing into Action
[Check the list of hate mongers and propagandists at the end of this post.]

During the week of October 22-26, 2007, right-wing and neo-conservative political forces led by the David Horowitz Freedom Center are calling for "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" events on campuses across the U.S. (for a list of campuses and speakers, see below).

While some people might dismiss the neo-conservatives as fringe elements who don't impact on U.S. policy, the truth is much more disturbing. They are part of an alliance of forces that work to maintain the war against Iraq, escalate the standoff with Iran into military conflict, and cement Israel's hold on the occupied Palestinian territories and violations of Palestinian human rights through a system of apartheid rule.

The stakes are simply too high to ignore, and we should respond to the so-called "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" - and to all such provocations - pro-actively, not defensively.

To learn more about the forces driving this agenda, read "Understanding Why Islamophobia is on the Rise," the analysis by Phyllis Bennis, fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, and member of the U.S. Campaign's steering committee.

By defending basic freedoms of thought, speech and belief, we underscore three simple messages:

We stand for free speech, not hate speech.

We stand for tolerance, not bigotry.

We stand for education, not demagoguery.

SPEAK OUT FOR FREE SPEECH, TOLERANCE, AND EDUCATION!

This is the list of the most active Islam haters and bigots active in America who are irresponsibly pouring out a steady stream of lies, abuse and disinformation about Islam.

"Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" speakers and venues:

Berkeley -- Nonie Darwish, October 22
Brown -- Robert Spencer, October 24
Cal Poly -- Greg Davis, October 25
Cal State Fullerton -- Nonie Darwish
Clemson -- Mike Adams, October 25
Columbia -- Phyllis Chesler, Ibn Warraq, Christina Hoff Sommers
Columbia -- Sean Hannity, David Horowitz, October 26
DePaul -- Robert Spencer, October 25
Emory -- David Horowitz, October 24
George Mason -- Luanah Saghieh, Alan Nathan, October 22
Lawrence Univ. -- Jonathan Schanzer
Maryland -- Michael Ledeen
Michigan -- David Horowitz, October 23
Northeastern -- Daniel Pipes, October 24
Ohio State -- David Horowitz, October 25
Penn -- Rick Santorum, October 24
Penn State -- Rick Santorum, October 23
Rhode Island -- Robert Spencer, October 24
San Francisco State -- Melanie Morgan, October 24
Stanford -- Wafa Sultan
Temple -- Rick Santorum, October 24
Tulane -- Ann Coulter, October 22
UC Santa Barbara - Dennis Prager, October 25
UC Irvine -- Ann Coulter
UCLA -- Nonie Darwish, October 24
UCLA -- Frank Pastore, John Ziegler
USC -- Ann Coulter, October 25
Virginia -- Frank Gaffney
Washington -- Kirby Wilbur
Washington -- Michael Medved, October 25
Wisconsin -- David Horowitz, October 22

Historian David Carter on Promoting Education and Activism

The following is a small portion of a much longer discussion with David Carter author of “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution.”
The book has been optioned for a major motion picture. In this portion of the interview Pedro had brought up the issue of disconnect between the activist communities and the Gay population in general. David Carter provided two ideas that he believes could help connect Gays to there historical past and inspire progressive political action among
Bisexual, Gay Men, Lesbians, Queer and Trans folk.
Pedro Angel Serrano
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David Carter: Well it seems to me that we under-utilize some resources that are available to us.One story I tell in the book (Stonewall the Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution”) the bar scene wanted to keep people quite, happy, ignorant; because the more ignorant you are the easier it is to control you. So it was a fight that the Gay Liberation Front took on to go into the bars and to say “You have to have our news papers here, you have to let us leave our news papers here, and you have to let us leave information here.”

Pedro: They had to fight for that.

DC: They had to fight for that! People today take it for granted. But they wouldn’t even agree to distribute this stuff from under the counter. That’s how bad it was. And to this day like it or not, it’s a reality, probably our main social institution to this day is bars.Now here’s a true story. When Mathew Shepard died, an activist I know went to every Gay business on Christopher Street. We had the Mathew Shepard funeral, right, we had the protest of his death and so forth. So this person carried fliers to every Gay business on Christopher Street. Not one of them would put it in the window.

P: Tell it Brother!

DC: One of them agreed to put it on a side door entrance, but not one would put it in the window. OK?
That includes gay bars and every other Gay business on Christopher Street.”
And it’s an irony that because of the success of the Gay movement we’ve created a Gay culture that is so consumerist.
And I notice that when I go into Gay bars they would usually have essentially the publications that publicize Gay bars: HX, Next, and I’m not saying those publications shouldn’t be published or that they don’t provide a service to the Gay community, they do. But when I was an organizer back in Madison Wisconsin, We used Gay bars for Political Organizing Honey! We asked people to donate money to us. We have information to give out “You should write to this legislator.” We did voter registration cards. Since I’ve been in New York City, it’s been 21 years now, I have yet to enter a bar and see a table of political activists!

I think what should happen, this is my grand vision.
It seems to me that what we should do is try to have a program where we encourage people to go to Gay bars to give back to the movement. And I would say, “You’re going to give back 1% or 5% of your door or your drinks sold, something, back to the Gay community. And you have to provide access to us: at least once a week, what ever. And you have to provide access all the time for our publication, our hand outs. And create some kind of foundation that would receive these funds and distribute them. You’d have it well audited, so there’s no scandal, and really represent the community. And then bars that did that would get a sticker. Just like they have these stickers in the window that says “The music we play here is reported to the people who collect royalties for music.” They would have to have a sticker to encourage people to go to those bars. And using such an outline with what we’ve done in our past with The GAA (Gay Activist Alliance) and GLF (Gay Liberation Front) they would be willing to do that.

The other institution I think which is wide spread, you might say ubiquitous now is the commemoration of Stonewall. Which most people don’t even know is what we’re dong. We’re commemorating the Stonewall riots as Gay pride. Folks Hello Out There! Why are you marching in June, Hello! (Laughs) Darlings! (Laughs)
It’s to commemorate the history of the Stonewall Riots. I’ve thought about this a lot. Craig Rodwell who had the idea for creating for what is now called Gay Pride; it was originally call, um… What was it called? Christopher Street Liberation.
He did talk about it as a tool for increasing political awareness and political activism. But he also talked about it as a Gay holiday, as a Gay Carnival. But today I see it as 99.5% carnival and holiday and half of one percent activism. And I think it’s great to have a Gay carnival, as if the Academy Awards and Halloween aren’t enough! (Laughs) But when we have so far to go still to achieve our rights, I think that Pride commemorations should still be geared towards education and activism.

I’d like to see it changed here in New York, like it is in Europe. For example, as I understand it, in Europe I’m told that when you have a big public demonstration, there’s a manifesto published which states “this march is in support of these goals.” And by marching you have to say you support those in order to march. I think there should be a statement put out for Gay Pride marches “This march is in support of these things. For example, Gay Marriage, More funding for AIDS and you have to sign a statement that you support those goals before you’re allowed to march. And then if you betray that by your actions, if a politician doesn’t support Gay marriage, they should not be allowed to march! And it’s ridiculous! They should not allow these politicians to join in after Saints Patrick’s Cathedral. To me that is a great act of disrespect to our history, our community, and our people. That should not be allowed.

P: A politician is an employee. And if you’re not satisfied with the employee’s performance, then you’re not allowed to the party. It’s as simple as that.

DC: Yes. It’s a very simple concept to say “This year we want to emphasize Gay marriage.” Or “This year we want to emphasize passing an anti discrimination bill.” And say you can’t march unless you say you support this. And if your actions past or future don’t show that or “You said you supports this last year then you voted against it this year, sorry you can’t march.” So there, are two ideas I think that could use existing institutions more effectively.

Pedro Angel Serrano host Generation Q on 88.7 WRSU fm and Is a contributor to Out-FM on 99.5 fm WBAI in N.Y.