Street roots
ffliïnvrfa
14
Juñe 24, 2011
A friendship shares a path to different lives, shared values
n the early 1990s, while Aimee Santos-
Lyons. was at the University of
Philippines, she developed a deep
friendship that would continue until today.
~
_____ His name is
George, and Aimee
described, “We
instantly fell in love
and knew that we
UNITI NO would always be
COMMUNITIES there for each
other.”
Am y L am is the
In 2000, both
Development &
Communications
Aimee and George immigrated to the
Associate a t the
United States. Aimee made her new home
Western States
in Portland while George landed in New
Center, which aim s to
York City. Aimee and George were having
build a progressive
very different experiences based on their
movement by.
supporting grassroots
identities. She, a straight woman, married
organizations. The
her partner and became a citizen. George,
Center’s Uniting
gay
and undocumented, found no easy path
Communities project
toward citizenship. George relied on the
works with
organizations based
underground economy where he became a
in communities o f
sex worker and contracted HIV.
color to advance
A couple years ago, George’s HIV
LG BTQ equality.
infection developed into AIDS.“I was afraid
for him,” said Aimee. “Knowing what
George has to go through is why I am
committed to the success of our Uniting
Communities project I want to leverage my
privilege as a straight immigrant to advocate
for better protection, for all people
regardless of their identity, status and
nationality.”
Aimee was surprised that George feels
isolated in New York City, a place with a
plethora of organizations who have done
important historical work and activism in
immigrant rights and gay rights. “The fact
J
that George feels so excluded by both those
movements tells me that these movements
don’t intersect, don’t interface, don’t
recognize their shared constituencies and
common ground.”
Aimee has been working to carve this
space for marginalized communities for
more than 20 years, beginning in her native
Philippines. She was raised in a strict
Catholic household in the projects of Manila
•surrounded by poverty, crime and drugs.
While she was a high school freshman, she
witnessed the People Power revolution in
1986 that opèned her eyes to the larger
world around her.
At the University of Philippines, a place
that Aimee described as a “breeding ground
for activists and revolutionaries,” she
submerged herself in activism through
community-based theater. “I was raised as a
community organizer by my mentors,” Î
Aimee said of her time at university. After
graduating from University she started
organizing communities to address urban
poverty, domestic violence, health care and
sexuality that youth faced.
Since 2007, Aimee has helped guide
organizations through Western States
Center’s Uniting Communities project in
advancing LGBTQ rights. The goal of
Uniting Communities is to support
organizations of color to recognize the
multiple identities of their members and to
begin taking a stand on LGBTQ equality.
“To build common ground and create a
space where everyone has a voice and feels
included and valued. This is the foundation
of my work,” said Aimee. “Being excluded
and invisible is one of the worst feelings
that can happen to someone.”
“I love the work I do through Uniting
Communities, and the way we do it at the
Center. We are intentional and committed to
do transformative work that has lasting
ripple effects. In the end, we want to
produce better
organizations,
programming and
policies.”
"The fact that George feels
Throughout
so excluded by both those
Oregon, Uniting '
movements tells me that
Communities has
these movements don't
supported 10
organizations based in intersect, don't interface,
communities of color
don't recognize their shared
to integrate LGBTQ
constituencies and common
equality into their
existing work. Earlier
ground."
this year, the Center
expanded the project
beyond Oregon. The
Center sSso works
with the National Network for Immigrant
and Refugee Rights, National Latina
Institute for Reproductive Justice, Mobilize
the Immigrant Vote in California and
C -rcator 'Rirm incrbam lVTinietrips in A labam a.
Aimee’s contribution to the Center and
Uniting Communities will help shape à
landscape where both George’s and Aimee’s
humanity are respected, regardless of their
nationality, sexual orientation or health
status. After all, that’s what defines justice
and equality for all.
To fin d out more about Uniting
Communities and Western States Center, go
to: www.WestemStatesCenter.org
I’m Still Alive
By Fay Kaylfus
Last night, a man jumped from punk tower.
He looked older, street
that’s a tall fall at 4th and Flanders in Old Town.
I step out to a stack of squad cars.
I’m behind police lines op the wrong side,
the inside
crumpled corpse at my feet.
I thought he got stabbed
maybe by that guy I saw shooting tweek.
Tell tale, no shoes on his feet,
dents on roof of a car parked on the street
I look deep at the crushed legs,
he’s not street anymore.
He canceled it
done and done.
go-ahead
blame society
he must have slipped past the guard of the tower
twisted corpse pushed down on the concrete.
I place an old nail by his feet.
It is aU I have,
for he must pay the boatman, Charon,
to get across the River Styx,
People are somber,
excited there’s something to see.
A carnal pleasure in these passersby,
we are still alive.
It is that easy just to die.
Comfort in knowing it’s that easy to get away
step off a precipice into a beautiful view
taller than the steel bridge.
White rubber gloves,
white plastic sheet goes over a ghost face.
¡Shoes knocked off, placed on his chest.
His boat pulls away.
Forensic shoots a snap.
Everything’s better now
Everything’s OK.