The Audre Lorde Project, an amazing organization for LGBTQ People of Color, put out this statement on the morning of President Obama's inauguration. An excerpt from A Different Kind of Morning:
We noticed that we were juggling multiple emotions - amazement, fear, skepticism, visions of a different future, and anxiety. We know that President Obama will inherit impossible expectations, the worst conditions that the U.S. has dealt with since the Great Depression, and the current versions of white supremacy which have never gone away. We also know that Obama ran as a centrist, and as someone who believes in neoliberal economic strategies.As a result, we write this statement as a commitment to not be paralyzed by disappointment and disillusionment, but to organize more strongly, deeply, and strategically from this day on. We acknowledge that this statement strays from the traditional policy agenda of the LGBT movement in the U.S., and that is because Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming (LGBTSTGNC) People of Color are everywhere - in refugee settlements and prisons, in factories and board rooms, in the service sector and the unemployment line, the picket line and protests in the streets. We are putting this out as in invitation to move forward on the lessons of the election, to continue to build local community spaces and transnational movements powered by the energy of many more people than we have seen before.
Read the whole piece here.
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One of our writers also had an interesting perspective on the inauguration: Letter from a Feminist After Attending the Inauguration
Not to be cynical about earnest advocacy groups, but LGBTSTGNC? WTF is up with that acronym? I'm from NY so am familiar with the strength and diversity that AL brings to the area's otherwise pretty mainstream LGBT&tc. culture, but really -- LGBTSTGNC? As far as strategies to engage with people unfamiliar with their agenda, a more accessible and catchy acronym, as opposed to one that looks like a failed attempt at a Scrabble high score, is probably a better way to go.
Also -- what is "two spirit"?
sarah--
I don't think acronyms need to be about being "catchy" all the time. That's useful when you're talking about the name/branding of an organization, but this is different.
When you're talking about being inclusive of all the populations you work for/with, it's not about being catchy but about including the terms that people use to identify themselves.
LGBT isn't catchy, it's just become the norm. But it doesn't include everyone. Inclusion is never clean or easy, but it's essential for this work.
Two-spirit is a term that comes from Native communities and has a particular meaning that refers to a gender identity. Try googling the term to find out more.
This excerpt echoes the message we heard at a gathering of Progressives in Butte, Montana this weekend. I was priveledged to participate in the Progressive Leadership Seminar Series, to be posted about soon. We heard from Progressive retired Representative Pat Williams and current Progressive U.S. Senator Jon Tester who pledged his support for rights protection and hate-crime legislation. We also heard from many Progressive state and local administrators and politicians. The primary message was a call to action beyond the elections. Certainly there is cause to celebrate but more importantly it is an example of why we need to commit to on-going participation and action to build progressive policies - our elected and appointed officials, can't do it without active public direction and support. Virtually all of our presenters said "I need YOU, citizens, to force me to create the policies you want, the budget priorities". The actions of our government are dependent upon the actions of its citizens - the Constitution makes it this way. And don't forget about the importance of serving on local government boards and governing positions.