Recently in Events Category
Bush and McCain share cake for McCain's 69th birthday as Hurricane Katrina hits Gulf Coast.
With all the election news and the impending landfall of Hurricane Gustav, let's not forget that today marks the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Salon has an interview with Phyllis Montana-LeBlanc, who appears in Spike Lee's documentary about Katrina, "When the Levees Break." She describes her experiences:
Yeah, just as we were getting up to leave, a helicopter came by and we were like, "We can go now, we're saved." They came right in front of our faces, and the [pilot] looked at me, but they left. I couldn't believe they were leaving us and they were that close. But my thinking afterward, after reason hit, was that there was only 5 feet of water [where we were] and they had to go and get other people who were in more dire need. I understand that now. And I have great respect for those people, the Coast Guard, because they helped us a lot. They're heroes. But when you're in a situation where water's rising, and you don't know whether people are drowning, it's a different story.So we were stuck there, looking at two blocks of water, before we could get to higher ground. It was me, my husband, Ron, my sister Catherine and my mom, and she can't swim, and we've got my nephew Nicholas, and he's autistic and he can't swim either. We had to get to higher ground, so we got them on refrigerators, and facing us was the longest two blocks I've ever seen in my life. And then there were the alligators and snakes that we'd heard about being in the water, eating bodies and stuff. It was beyond horrific. There was just two blocks, but you're thinking you may not be able to make it even two blocks. And the water smelled horrible. I can still smell it to this day.
Think Progress has a timeline of how events unfolded -- including a mention of the fact that Bush and McCain were eating cake together on this date three years ago. It helpfully illustrates the extent to which the Bush administration fucked up -- but I think stories like Montana-LeBlanc's are even more compelling. It's no wonder New Orleans is still struggling to recover.
Our NYC Feministing Happy Hour starts in just an hour, so if you're in the area and want to join some friendly neighborhood feminists for some end-of-the-summer cocktails, we'll be at Dove Parlor from 5 - 8 pm. You can see details also on our Facebook event page.
Hope you can make it!
For those in NYC, our summer happy hour will be at the fabulous Dove Parlor in the village tomorrow from 5-8pm. That'll give you plenty of time to get home or to your watch party to see Obama's acceptance speech for the nomination! Some of us will be heading to NARAL Pro-Choice New York's Watch Party at The Skinny afterwards. RSVP here if you're interested in going!
Check out our happy hour on Facebook!
Hope you can join!
For those in NYC, we're celebrating (and mourning) the end of the summer (and my birthday!) next Thursday with some cocktails and good old fashioned feminist fun at Dove Parlor in the village.
Hope you can join us!
P.S. See our event on Facebook!
Ann and I had a blast at the happy hour this past Wednesday. Thanks to everyone who came out, and we hope to make this a more regular occurrence. Special thanks to Latoya from Racialicious who made a surprise appearance. (There are plans in the works for a future combo Racialicious/Feministing happy hour in DC. Stay tuned).
The highlight of the night was when the bar manager came up to me and asked "How can we make this happen again?" Totally.
A few pics after the jump.
After Janna was so awesome to blog for us from the XVII International AIDS Conference (IAC) this week, the conference comes to a close today, but not without some things to take back with us.
International Planned Parenthood, Young Positives, the UNFPA and the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS collaborated together to release a new guide in an effort to improve HIV prevention among girls and young women.
The guide, "Make It Matter," focuses not only on increasing reproductive and sexual health services for girls and women, but addresses other problems that contribute to millions of women who have HIV every year like socioeconomic status and child marriage. Download the report here.
Heads up, Minnesota feminists!
"I was a formally homeless Mother who once lived in an abandoned building". This was my introduction to Cheri Honkala, Executive Director of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC), a coalition of organizations from across the country united in the mission to "abolish poverty everywhere and forever".As Cheri's words came through the phone I felt an instant connection to her. Having grown up with a Mother battling addiction - evictions, hunger and instability were my constant companions.
Cheri and the PPEHRC foster that same connection in poor people across color lines and across the country. She has been organizing with other poor folks for the last twenty-five years, and on September 2nd, the second day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul Minnesota, over a year of Cheri's full time efforts will come to fruition as the PPEHRC embarks on "The March For Our Lives", what will be one of the largest poor peoples marches ever to take place.
The March for Our Lives schedule is here.
The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign also has blog, where they're chronicling the process of putting together this mega-march. Check it out.
Contributed by Janna A. Zinzi, Guttmacher Institute
The XVII International AIDS Conference (IAC) officially kicked off on Sunday as 25,000 delegates from all corners of the world descended upon Mexico City for an intensive week of learning, activism and dialogue. My Guttmacher colleague, Joerg, and I arrived a few days before the main event to participate in the aptly-named Fuerza Joven de Mexico (Youth Force of Mexico), a three-day pre-conference gathering for young advocates aimed at raising the visibility of youth HIV/AIDS issues before, during and after the IAC.
More than 300 young people, many connected to international NGOs, make up this vocal coalition promoting youth participation and youth-adult partnerships. Under this year's theme of "Rights, Respect, Responsibility, and Resources," Fuerza Joven's focus is advocating for early, comprehensive, evidence-based sex education to prevent the spread of HIV among young people who make up more than four in 10 new HIV infections. A number of sessions also focused on gender issues as well as the needs of marginalized groups, such as sex workers and gay youth.
Thanks to some extra awesome feministing readers (shout out to the Feminist Majority Foundation interns), Ann and I decided it was time for another DC feministing happy hour!
So come next week to Chi Cha lounge and chat with the others readers, commenters and lurkers at Feministing. An extra special invitation to all the interns in DC for the summer, who can hopefully make it before they head back to their respective schools and cities.
My fellow Missouri Feminist Mafia™ member, the incomparable Katie Spencer, gave me a heads up about this awesome conference. More info below from the organizers... --Ann
What: Femme2008 Conference: The Architecture of Femme!
Who: Femme Collective, along with speakers Dorothy Allison, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha and Julia Serano
When: August 15-17, 2008
Where: Chicago Wyndham O'Hare
How: Register online! Registration is still open, and is $95. You can get all the conference details at www.femmecollective.org.
Guest post by Charlotte Albrecht, Femme Mafia Twin Cities
For months now, I have been looking forward to attending Femme2008: The Architecture of Femme this August in Chicago. It has been just a few years since I started to claim a femme identity and only in the last year that I began to find community and connect with other femme-identified and femme-supportive people. As a mixed race light-skinned femme who grew up steeped in middle class white American culture, my models for femininity were clear and, like many other girls, I learned to examine all the ways that I deviated from this norm. When I started to acknowledge my desire for female-bodied people to myself and to those around me, I found myself wanting to be visible to those I desired. This desire coupled with my longstanding understanding of myself as "not feminine enough" added up to a gender presentation that was not true to myself. It wasn't until a few years later when I met femmes of my age who encouraged me to embrace whatever feminine parts of me there were, that I ceased apologizing for dressing up and accessorizing, and, more importantly, started to think critically about the relationship between my own femininity and my sexual desire.
So, first of all, apologies to those not living in NYC or DC for how geographically biased my event posts are. As the majority of us are based in those two cities, our event posting tend to be geographically weighted. Apologies, and a reminder that the community blog is a great place to post about events in your area!
Next week, the Feminist Majority Foundation is hosting a Congressional briefing on funding for reproductive rights.
The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) invites you to attend a briefing on Capitol Hill on July 24, 2008 from 9:30 AM-11:30 AMThe event will feature Members of Congress and leaders in the global and domestic women's health communities. Speakers will discuss the critical need to increase U.S. assistance for international family planning. The panel will expose the ways in which cuts to family planning funds both domestically and globally are killing thousands of women every day.
Space is limited and available to first respondents. Light refreshments will be provided. To reserve your spot, please RSVP online.
Questions? Call (703) 522-2214 or Email ahossain@feminist.org
Ann and I are planning on going, so hopefully we'll see some other readers there to support the event!
H/t to the awesome FMF interns for the info
I will be repping Feministing at Y-Pulse today. If you are there please say hello! Here is the information and expect some live blogging.
For those in or around the NYC area, next week holds a couple of cool feminist events. On Wednesday the 16th, NOW NYC is holding a forum with financial planner Diane MacPhee where she'll be talking about the economy affects women and how to take a hold of your moneys.
That weekend on Saturday, July 19th, the inspiring Girls for Gender Equity are having their 3rd Annual Gender Equality Festival (check back on their site for more info) and a fundraiser, "Get Down 2 Get Up" with DJs spinning dope beats at Sputnik in Brooklyn. Click here for more info.
I'm sad to say I'll be on vacation joining Jess in Martha's Vineyard that week, but I highly recommend you join the summer feminist love.
Some of you may remember that last year the awesome bloggers at Feministing were awarded by Choice USA at their Generation to Generation Celebration. Well it's that time of year again, and they are awarding a new and great group of young activists. If you are in Washington DC you should make sure to make it out to this great event!
On July 17, Choice USA will host it's annual GENERATION-to-GENERATION Celebration and they're bringing folks together to celebrate six stellar individuals: Deborah Arrindell, Amanda Harrington, Kym Lovell, Amber Madison, Asal Sadatrafiei and Alisha Thomas Morgan - winners of the 2008 GENERATION Awards.
LEFTBANK
2424 18th Street NW
Thursday, July 17
VIP Reception: 6-7pm
Main Reception: 7-9pm
Tickets: $50
Student tickets: $35
The Women's Media Center has posted some great little clips from the panel I was on a few weeks ago at The Paley Center: From Soundbites to Solutions: Bias, Punditry, and the Press in the 2008 Election. Patricia Williams is especially amazing. Thanks to my friend Sean for the miso-ginee story.
One of my childhood best friends, Jen, is in town visiting me and she showed up with a pile of ridiculous notes from our junior high days (quizzes, up-to-the-minute emotional check-ins, and boy crazy posturing included). Stuck in among the pile of spiral notebook history was a letter I wrote to the debutante committee in my hometown, Colorado Springs, rejecting their invitation. A few choice snippets of my hyperdramatic take-down:
I write in order to decline your invitation to be a 1998 debutante...I believe that the Debutante fanfare is a glazed over form of outdated discrimination...The simple fact that there are still organizations, like yours and the Jolly Jills, who spearate black and white young women as they brink on the edge of their adult lives, is a sad, sad message...To uphold tradition and validate family and giving are wonderful values to introduce into society. But, if in the process, you also introduce notions of socio-economic discrimination and racial segregation. What an unnecessary shame.
Wow. I felt things deeply (um, yeah, and still sort of do). In any case, it got me thinking...is this tradition still around? In the haze of purity ball coverage and insane proms with post-proms and post-post prom breakfasts, I've lost track of the ladies in white dresses. Has anyone been a debutante? What was your experience like?
Feministing friend and author of Odd Girl Out, Rachel Simmons, wanted to let ladies know that she's speaking at an Omega conference in September on Women & Courage. There are scholarships available for young women here. Deadline is July 15th, so don't sleep on it. Speakers include Isabelle Allende, Tara Brach, and Queen Afua, among others, and the conference material reads, in part:
The classic myth of the hero traces an arc of death-defying adventure and violent battle. Yet, on our interdependent planet-with no territory left to exploit and no war that can be won-empathy, love, and wisdom have become the most heroic of all adventures.
It is time to change our definition of what it means to be a brave and daring human being.
I can definitely get down with that. Thanks for the heads up Rachel.
So, did anyone do any pride-related events this weekend? I'm sad to say I missed the NYC march...it looks like it was as fun as ever despite the rain.
When: Friday, June 27, 2008 - 3:00pm
Where: Starting rally at City Hall Park, Manhattan, NY
Today is the Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice, which is organized by the TransJustice working group of the amazing Audre Lorde Project. So if you're in the New York area, come out and march for trans justice.
I'm about to head back home from the very cool city of Toronto, and I just wanted to say a huge thanks to the Miss G Project for bringing me out here (especially Anne-Marie for her general fierceness). Not only did this feminist organization put together an amazing panel, they also hooked me up with the most hilarious hotel room of all time. (A young Ralph Macchio watched over me while I slept...)
So thanks, gals - and thanks to all the folks who came out (I'm talking to you nerdalert!). I had a great time.
I'm heading to Toronto next Wednesday for an event sponsored by the very cool Miss G Project.
I'll be at the Camera Gallery from 7pm till 10pm (more details here). Hope to see you there!
Hey all you women's studies devotees, it's time to gather round the proverbial fire and swap theories. Jessica and I are off to the National Women's Studies Association's annual conference tomorrow. This year the title is "Resisting Hegemonies: Race and Sexual Politics in Nation, Region, Empire" and it is in Cincinnati, Ohio. The keynote is (awesome, awesome, awesome) Patricia Hill Collins.
I'll be part of a roundtable on the election led by Ellen Bravo on Friday afternoon, and then Jess and I are doing a panel, along with my friend Amada from Princeton's Women's Center, called "Swinging Back to Center: Balancing Judgment and Empathy within the Women’s Studies Classroom and in the Feminist World Beyond" on Saturday. We hope to see old friends there and meet plenty o' new ones. Please introduce yourselves to us feministing readers!
Read more if you want a sense of what we're going to be talking about at our panel on Saturday...
Just wanted to say a happy (belated) daddy's day to all those great fathers out there! My father is a huge feminist and was definitely a tremendous influence in my politics - so thanks, Dad!
Also, as you can see from the pic below (my Dad is on the far left) - there were other things I inherited from him as well.
(And for anyone who's interested, the babe in the middle with the long hair is my mom.)
Feel free to share Dad stories in comments!
I'm humbled to be part of a really interesting event next Tuesday called "From Soundbites to Solutions: Bias, Punditry and the Press in Election 2008" over at The Paley Center. It's co-sponsored by The White House Project, the Women’s Media Center and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Here's the rundown:
Keynote: TBA, but might be Christiane Amanpour
Political Panel (from 9:30 to 10:45)
Callie Crosley (moderator) Harvard
Celinda Lake, National Pollster
Patricia Williams, Columnist, The Nation and Professor of Law, Columbia University
Ron Walters, Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland
Sue Carroll, Senior Scholar, Center for American Women in Politics
Courtney Martin, Author and online columnist for the American Prospect
Press Panel (from 10:45 to noon)
Geneva Overholser, Director School of Journalism, University of Southern California (moderator)
Pamela Newkirk, Associate Professor of Journalism, NYU
Juan Gonzalez, Columnist, NY Daily News
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Director, Annenberg Public Policy Center
Catalina Camia, USA TODAY Political Editor
Mika Brzezinski, Anchor, "Morning Joe" on MSNBC
If you want to register, go here. It's free, but I hear it's already standing room.
In case you're wondering what you missed at our four-year anniversary bash, we got some cool local press from Chelsea Now. Check it out - maybe it will inspire you to come next year!
By the way, that's me above with Gwynn Cassidy, Feministing friend, president of Girls in Government and director of the REAL hot 100. Gwynn was having contractions that night but still came to the party. She gave birth to the super adorable Gideon Jude that weekend. (Congrats, lady!)
Chelsea Now photos by Jefferson Siegel
I love NYC in the summer. There's always a ton of amazing feminist events going on, and it seems to have begun. This weekend kicks off with Rock for Young Women, an event to support the New York Metro Chapter of the Young Women's Task Force.
Then Monday, the amazing Girls for Gender Equity will be partnering with HollaBack NYC for a post-show talk back about subway harassment after a special showing of the play Standing Clear, described as "an ensemble piece that digs deep into the personalities we commute with each day."
Support and enjoy three awesome organizations in one week. If you're in the NYC area, be sure to check em out.
The chat is over, but you can still read it. Some of it was even more upsetting to me than the original article. A number of things really pissed me off. Here’s just a quick sampling.
An example suggested to me is that women of color are subjected to pressure NOT to reproduce -- one such report spoke of long term norplant type stuff as a condition of parole. This is different from the pressure TO reproduce that is the subject of much choice energy. The women's movement must protect women of color from this particularly female oppression, if the reports I received are true.
If??? Exhibit A of why a real knowledge of and concern with intersectionality is necessary. A prominent feminist doesn’t know if the fact that women of color are pressured, tricked, bribed, and who knows what else into not having children is disgusting.
In response to a question about reconciling feminism with “the fact that racism, poverty, etc., disproportionately affects women of color and poor women vs. men of color and poor men?”
I do not know that racism disproportionately affects women of color vs. men of color or poor women vs. poor men. It would be interesting to think about how you weigh the oppressions. Men of color are disproportionately in prison and disproportionately subject to the death penalty. [Emphasis mine, I’ll come back to this later]Well see, that’s the point. Because race and gender intersect for women of color, and you can’t leave class out of this either, there’s a bigger bang to that oppression buck. Which you would be aware of if you weren’t so busy concentrating on the oppression of “women” by which you clearly mean middle class white women. Because if you didn't know, you could ask somebody.
And, to clarify what I thought must surely be a misstatement basically blaming black women for Clarence Thomas being on the Supreme Court, she says
Several news sources, including the New York Times reported that polls showing that black voters backed Clarence Thomas were influential in determining the vote of the southern Democrats to confirm. It is a demographic fact that more black voters are female than male.
The same is true for white women. Yet I don’t see Hirshman taking the blame for Samuel Alito and John Roberts. I wonder why…
And, one last thing. I could do this for a long time, but I’m worried about experiencing a rage blackout.
In comments about making the choice to have a family Hirshman states
the heterosexual reproductive family is a fount in inequality. I think motherhood and family should be a central concern of feminism, starting with insisting that men shape their lives with the expectation that they will bear half the burden of child rearing and home making forever.
Right. But how does this ideal work with some men you specifically mentioned earlier? Men of color who are more likely to be incarcerated and given the death penalty? How can those men “bear half the burden of child rearing and home making forever”? What about their partners? You can’t share half the work with someone who is in prison or dead. But I guess that’s just a side note to be bargained in a coalition meeting.
At 1pm eastern on WashingtonPost.com with Linda Hirshman, here. You can submit questions now. Jill’s take on Hirshchman’s article over at Feministe is wonderful, so go check it out.
A movement that uses intersectionality as a lens but banishes white, bourgeois, corporate older women might be a vehicle to glue what remains of feminism together, but it will struggle to achieve social change for women.
Er, bullshit. First of all, demanding that someone make room for you is not the same as forcing them out of the way. And, if your social change only helps rich hetero (etc.) women, your definition of success needs a lot of work.
Just a little reminder that tomorrow not only marks the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut, but unfortunately will bring out a slew of anti-choicers to protest at Planned Parenthoods across the country for American Life League's totally misleading and horrendous campaign, The Pill Kills!
Many targeted clinics will be needing support tomorrow. If anyone else knows of on-goings in their areas, post in comments. Otherwise, check out your local Planned Parenthood and find out about what they're doing, and if there's anything you can do to help.
For more info on "Protest the Pill Day," check out Dr. Dana's Stone recent guest post.
Don't forget that this weekend is Girls Write Now's Spring Reading. If you're in NYC, you really shouldn't miss it: June 8 at 4pm at the Barnes and Noble in Tribeca
A plug for an event (and organization) in Washington DC. The group is called the Women's Information Network (WIN) and it is a "Political and social network of young, pro-choice, Democratic women that provides a forum for advancement, mentoring and leadership opportunities."
This Thursday is their main event, Women Opening Doors for Women, which is a networking reception followed by a bunch of smaller themed dinners. If you're in DC, think about checking it out! I'll be speaking at the New Media, Same Old Boys Network dinner about blogging and new media.
It's our 4th anniversary party and are celebrating Jessica's second book in NYC. Come show some love and indulge in the raffle prizes, book signings, good drinks, great music and even greater company - Samhita and Ann are taking the trip into NYC to celebrate! Huzzah! See details here.
And for those who can't make it or aren't in the area, we'll miss you and will be sure to put pics up next week...
Hey crew, I've been asked to do a talk back after Neil LaBute's play, Reasons to be Pretty, on Tuesday, June 10th and the nice folks over there agreed to give feministing readers a discount if anyone wants to go. He's done a lot of controversial stuff, including 2005's Fat Pig and, prior to that, was kicked out of the LDS Church for a one act he wrote that starred CaIista Flockhart. Who knows what feathers he might ruffle this time around. Info below:
$35 tickets Tue, Wed, Thu eves; Sat, Sun matinees
$45 tickets Fri, Sat eves (regular $59)
Click here and use code FEMI.
OR call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 and use code FEMI.
MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street (New York, NY)
Many of you already know that I'm involved an incredible organization called Girls Write Now, which pairs at-risk high school girls with professional women writers as mentors and writing coaches. If you're in New York, they're having a reading on June 8 at 4pm at the Barnes and Noble in Tribeca. You can find all the information here and the invite here.
Here's a taste of the amazing writing you'll be hearing...
See more GWN videos here. I hope to see you at the reading!
I'm excited to announce this upcoming Washington DC event for three reasons. One, I helped to organize it. Two, it brings together two of my favorite topics, birth and abortion. Three, it happens to fall on my birthday!
Intentional Motherhood: Connecting Abortion, Pregnancy, and Birth
Considering the full range of women's reproductive rights:
The right to affordable birth control. The right to parent. The right to choose abortion. The right to midwifery care. The right to determine a birth plan. The right to prenatal care.
Our Bodies Ourselves has provided indispensable information on women's health and sexuality for more than 40 years. Their newest book, Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth addresses the questions and needs of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the "fourth trimester" of early motherhood.The DC Abortion Fund is excited to host a a book signing and discussion to explore the many connections between these issues.
Featuring Judy Norsigian, Executive Director, Our Bodies Ourselves Alexis Zepeda, Board Member, DC Abortion Fund Jill Morrison, Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center
Wednesday May 28, 6:30 pm Hawk 'n' Dove, 329 Pennsylvania Ave SE Capital South MetroSuggested Donation: $20
All Proceeds Benefit the DC Abortion Fund
If you have questions please contact Betsy Illingworth at betsyillingworth@yahoo.com or Dina Morad at dinamorad@gmail.com
Hope you can make it!
Miriam already acquainted you with the Wanderlust Reproductive Justice Bike Tour with the fabulous Nora Dye and the Pro-Choice Public Education Project. Well, this week they're holding a fundraiser in NYC to support the awesome bikers taking part in this trip for justice, so get your wallets out and drinking hats on and show Wanderlust some love. (Or donate if you can't make it!) In the meantime, check our their travel blog.
* Wanderlust 2008: A Benefit *
featuring Mint Juleps and Southern Burlesque
Thursday, May 15th
from 6:30 to 11 PM
@ Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher Street at 7th Ave South
$10 - $20 Sliding Scale donation requested
(all proceeds go directly to the Wanderlust bike tour)
9 PM raffle with fabulous prizes from yoga studios, Good Vibrations, and more!
Click here to see full flyer.
For anyone who is in NYC this weekend, there's a party tomorrow that can't be missed.
A lot of you probably know about Drinking Liberally, the organization with over 240 chapters across the country that brings progressive folks together over drinks. Well, they've grown into Living Liberally, the umbrella organization that holds together Drinking Laughing, Screening, Reading, Eating & Crafting Liberally. (Whew.)
On Saturday, they're having a big old fundraiser to help support their amazing efforts - it's going to help them increase their number of chapters, national programming, online presence and impact during this election year. Plus, it will be super fun.
So if you can afford to, dig deep into your pockets and head on over. You can buy tix here. I know it's no small amount, so if you can't afford a ticket (or if you're not in NY), consider getting involved locally and reaching out to the chapter in your area...
I had the most amazing 30th birthday ever, which included a tasty dinner, huge party and hugs and kisses from people from so many different parts of my life. My lovely, amazing friends got together and gave me a huge joint present to do something nice for myself. I almost had a heart attack. Anyway, this is a picture of me shocked by the strength of the vibration from a mini-sex kit that another friend gave me. Beware of the silver bullet people.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Turning 30 is AWESOME. Don't believe the conventional wisdom.
So I had to plug this event because it looks so bad-ass. I have been really busy lately, but I am going to try and promote more Bay Area events, since there is so much bad-ass stuff going on around here. And please put more events in comments!
Bibi Chic * Queer Middle East Shake Those Hips!
An unprecedented fundraiser for Six International Charitable
Queer Middle-Eastern and North African Organizations
San Francisco's Premier Queer Middle-Eastern and North African Charitable Dance Party will sweep into San Francisco again for our fourth major event since June 2007 Pride. On Saturday, April 19th, an incredible lineup of artists of the music and performance variety will be tantalizing your hips and senses at Bibi Chic!
Bibi Chic will feature an unprecedented performance by a collective of local, queer, performance artists and DJs performing a mixture of classical and fusion style Go Go Belly Dancing, and music spanning the entire Middle-Eastern and North African region.
Best Feminists Forever!!! Comix women Desiree Burch and Kambri Crews
Thanks to all the readers who came out for our monthly NYC happy hour and to check out the fabulous ladies of the Hysterical Festival on Monday night. They were all absolutely hilarious. Check out more pics after the jump.
I'm heading to Los Angeles tomorrow to go hang with the awesome ladies of California NOW, and speak at their conference, Women in the Public Eye.
If you're in the LA-area, come on down - it's going to be a great event and you can register on -site!
At the V to the 10th in New Orleans, activism is the word of the weekend.
Playwright and founder of V-Day, Eve Ensler, informed us that "Our destiny will not be changed by the people on top." In other words, this weekend was all about the grassroots movement. We can no longer rely on elected officials to eventually come around and see the light on issues that affect women worldwide; we must take back the power, motivate allies to increase our strength in numbers, and develop our own solutions.
Besides visiting the amazing Activist’s Lounge where a ton of feminist and environmental groups were giving out information, we sat in on a number of panels, one being the fantastic discussion "From New Orleans to the World: Women in Conflict Zones."