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» 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
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