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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2002)
26 » novembflt 1.2002 think through how we are going to get the change we need if we don’t think large enough to engage allies and attack the underlying roots of hatred and bigotry. For instance, we all believe in the concept of safe schools and stop ping harassment of LG BT kids. But snipping harassment requires training, and training requires money. War, deficit, priorities? The safe schools movement has to join forces with the larger educational equity movement that is try- I ing to get funds to those schtxil districts that most need them— almost all of which are in low-income communities of color.” Jean says it is no surprise that racism operates on an individual and institutional level in our movement because our community is simply a microcosm of a larger, racist society. She believes that this racism has hindered our effec tiveness internally and externally and that the right wing is taking advantage of it. “It’s morally and ethically important" to face racism, she says. “It’s tactically and strategically important. This issue has become even more acute as the religious political extremists who are driving the anti-G LBT movement in this country have begun targeting communities of color into their anti-gay crusade. If our commu nity doesn’t have its own house in order, it is all the more difficult for us to build the coalitions with predominantly heterosexual organizations of people of color— coalitions that will he nec essary for our success. a Creating Change 2 0 0 2 Host Committee “We deeply and sincerely hope that this year’s conference will help to promote real, seri ous, compassionate, intellectually honest, impor “The work is about more than our queer tant conversations about race, racism and build ness,” Vazquez says. “We must finally put an end ing an anti-racist G L B T movement. We hope to identity politics as the central strategy of our that Creating Change will propel not only the political work. Yes, we need places of safety and conversations hut that it will give birth to spe places to heal. But what are we healing ourselves cific actions and strategies that will contribute for? So we can leave the world in the same mess to our success in building an anti-racist move we found it? ment. The conference has served as such a cat “It is reductive,” she continues. “We reduce alyst for important issues in the past, and it can our struggle to that which can he understcxxl do so this year as well.” JH only within identity construction rather than placing our identities within the context of the The 15th annual CREATING CHANGE conference larger struggles for social and economic justice. will he held from Nov. 6 to 10 at the DouhleTree We must put an end to all the posturing around Jantzen Beach, 909 N . Hayden Island Drive. The being ‘inclusive,’ which really means we put a registration rate is $250, hut people who commit to black or brown or trans face on the program hut four hours o f volunteering can attend that day’s never really change the agenda. sessions for free. Duties include handing out “We must treat each other with respect for workshop evaluations, staffing registration tables, our social, racial, ethnic, physical and political greeting out-of-town guests and patrolling the area differences. We must continue to acknowledge to make sure rooms arc secure. All volunteers must the many painful ways we have internalized attend an orientation starting every hour between sexist, racist and homophobic messages in noon and 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at the hotel. For more order to move heyond the limitations of how information call 503-282-1542 or e-mail we have been conditioned,” Vazquez contin creatingchange02@yah(X).com. For a complete ues. “It does no gcxx.1 to say we’re not racist or schedule o f events visit www.creatingchange.org. we’re not up to our eyeballs in class inequities. We are so.” K im S t e p h e n s o n is a Portland free-lance writer. Sweeney adds: “I ask that LG BT people Getting the House in Order Continued from Page 25 with a vision of tomorrow that goes beyond tol erance to a genuine celebration of humanity’s diversity have innumerable fronts to fight on. Homophobia is one of them. But there are many, many others.” Because there are so many fronts to fight tin, it is hard to know where to begin. But the con ference’s speakers have a few ideas about getting out of our safe spaces and spurred to action. “W hite LG BT folks can proactively seek out and join social and economic justice groups and efforts happening where they are,” Carter says. “I think it’s important for us to move from our ‘safe spaces’ in our LG BT groups and move ments and venture out to where other folks are doing work for equality and justice. We should get away from the assumption that if it’s a peo ple of color organization and/or campaign that white folks aren’t welcome. As an out black les bian, I’ve been active in bridge building for years between people of color and white communi ties. We need white bridge builders between the white community and people of color commu Cecil Prescod consults with a volunteer during nity,” she says. meeting earlier this year arter also suggests the sexual minorities either is helping or stopping social and eco community needs a larger pool of trained, nomic justice for U.S. people of color; deter paid organizers to place around the country. She says we should take a comprehensive look, mine and advertise lawmakers’ positions; and get out the vote. at all local, state and federal legislation that Suzanne Pharr, Highlander Research and Education Center executive director, and Paul Akio Kawata, National Minority AID S Council executive director, also will speak during the conference IMPROVE YOUR PHYSIQUE! Lose inches while eating the foods you love! eight Management . 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