Showing posts with label LGBTQIQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBTQIQ. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
10/06/10
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Eve of Justice
So after marching/participating in the rally to celebrate this Eve of Justice, I thought the most powerful thing that happened was a little girl falling.
No, not the thousands of people who came out and lit candles and marched, chanted, danced, played music, or just generally showed their support. It wasn't the awesome speakers, or the spirit of history in the making.
The most crazy awesome thing I saw was a 5-8 yr. old girl completely faceplant while running through the crowd. She was headed perpendicular to the flow of the march, and she caught her foot on the muni tracks in the street and fell forward. Now, this wasn't crazy awesome because some poor girl fell, but because when she fell she dropped her little plastic fake candle (the kind that has a lightbulb in it). As soon as she fell, instead of immediately crying, or clutching her hands, or whatever hit first, she shot her little hand out and snatched up the lost candle, making sure it was okay.
Although immediately following this she started wailing, I thought that it was pretty fucking amazing that even more important than her own well-being this little mini pro-queer activist kindergardener was concerned about her candle going out. I also noticed that she had a piece of paper safety-pinned to her shirt that said something like "My mom + mom love each other."
Maybe this sounds crazy or stupid, or maybe you just had to be there, but the look on her face when she scrambled to grab the plastic flame (combined with the protest note attached to her jacket) made me think that she honestly believed that the little shitty candle she held could really help keep her parents together. And that kind of determination and love is what it's all about.
No, not the thousands of people who came out and lit candles and marched, chanted, danced, played music, or just generally showed their support. It wasn't the awesome speakers, or the spirit of history in the making.
The most crazy awesome thing I saw was a 5-8 yr. old girl completely faceplant while running through the crowd. She was headed perpendicular to the flow of the march, and she caught her foot on the muni tracks in the street and fell forward. Now, this wasn't crazy awesome because some poor girl fell, but because when she fell she dropped her little plastic fake candle (the kind that has a lightbulb in it). As soon as she fell, instead of immediately crying, or clutching her hands, or whatever hit first, she shot her little hand out and snatched up the lost candle, making sure it was okay.
Although immediately following this she started wailing, I thought that it was pretty fucking amazing that even more important than her own well-being this little mini pro-queer activist kindergardener was concerned about her candle going out. I also noticed that she had a piece of paper safety-pinned to her shirt that said something like "My mom + mom love each other."
Maybe this sounds crazy or stupid, or maybe you just had to be there, but the look on her face when she scrambled to grab the plastic flame (combined with the protest note attached to her jacket) made me think that she honestly believed that the little shitty candle she held could really help keep her parents together. And that kind of determination and love is what it's all about.
Monday, March 2, 2009
If you haven't watched this by now, please do.
"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
Even though I am in a long-term heterosexual relationship (I'm engaged), my partner and I refuse to marry until Prop 8 is thrown out. Marriage to whomever you love should be a basic human right and denying them this love is a crime. If you live in the California, I hope you can make it to one of the Eve of Justice Events this Wednesday.
Let us stand together on this brink of history in the making.
In solidarity,
Ri.S.K.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Post-November 4th
I am amazed and filled with conflicting emotions. In a country that can get over their institutionalized racism and elect a half-black man to the greatest position in the country, anti-queer legislature was passed all around.
And California, I am so disappointed in you. While you did the right thing by livestock and animals raised for food, you went and stole the rights from a group of people. I've gotten over my anger and frustration and now just feel sad for those that voted yes on 8. You must be so scared of something - your own insecurity, sexuality, the idea of something different - that you would go as far as to outlaw something that made you uncomfortable.
Additionally, Prop K failed in SF, once again proving that sex workers are seen as less than human and undeserving of protection. Prop V passed, once again allowing military recruiters into our public school systems. Prop H failed, a resounding defeat for the environment.
Sigh. But, there is much to be grateful for. Prop 4 went down, safeguarding teen mother's right to choose. Prop 1A passed, which will help unify the state and create tons of jobs as well as get some cars off the road. Prop 7 and 10 failed - poorly written energy bills that deserved to fail. And of course, the Democratic victories in both the Senate and the House. And we can't forget Obama's victory - a turning point in history. As Eve and I watched his victory speech, I couldn't help but feel inspired and hopeful for our country.
But this joyful exhuberance of Obama mania is tempered by the fact that I don't agree with all of his policies. He does compromise, and whether or not it helps him get more things done, I still mourn the sacrifices that he makes. But his leadership is something remarkable - he is a man that can inspire hope in a broken country, that can make people question the status quo and to push people to give more of themselves to help others who aren't as fortunate. Even if this is not the revolution I've dreamt of - with the government toppling and a community raising up - this is definitely a revolution.
But with that, we cannot become complacent. Racism still exists. Sexism still exists. Homophobia, lookism, ableism, hatred, and violence all still exist and are alive and well in America. Yes, this is a victory to be celebrated, but for all those that want to protect everyone regardless of their place in society, our work is not yet over. And so we can look forward to continuing on the work that we do, the struggles that we face- but this time we can do knowing that we have a leader who is willing to listen and wants the same thing that we want: change.
And California, I am so disappointed in you. While you did the right thing by livestock and animals raised for food, you went and stole the rights from a group of people. I've gotten over my anger and frustration and now just feel sad for those that voted yes on 8. You must be so scared of something - your own insecurity, sexuality, the idea of something different - that you would go as far as to outlaw something that made you uncomfortable.
Additionally, Prop K failed in SF, once again proving that sex workers are seen as less than human and undeserving of protection. Prop V passed, once again allowing military recruiters into our public school systems. Prop H failed, a resounding defeat for the environment.
Sigh. But, there is much to be grateful for. Prop 4 went down, safeguarding teen mother's right to choose. Prop 1A passed, which will help unify the state and create tons of jobs as well as get some cars off the road. Prop 7 and 10 failed - poorly written energy bills that deserved to fail. And of course, the Democratic victories in both the Senate and the House. And we can't forget Obama's victory - a turning point in history. As Eve and I watched his victory speech, I couldn't help but feel inspired and hopeful for our country.
But this joyful exhuberance of Obama mania is tempered by the fact that I don't agree with all of his policies. He does compromise, and whether or not it helps him get more things done, I still mourn the sacrifices that he makes. But his leadership is something remarkable - he is a man that can inspire hope in a broken country, that can make people question the status quo and to push people to give more of themselves to help others who aren't as fortunate. Even if this is not the revolution I've dreamt of - with the government toppling and a community raising up - this is definitely a revolution.
But with that, we cannot become complacent. Racism still exists. Sexism still exists. Homophobia, lookism, ableism, hatred, and violence all still exist and are alive and well in America. Yes, this is a victory to be celebrated, but for all those that want to protect everyone regardless of their place in society, our work is not yet over. And so we can look forward to continuing on the work that we do, the struggles that we face- but this time we can do knowing that we have a leader who is willing to listen and wants the same thing that we want: change.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA!!!!
HELL YEAH!!!!!
Gay marriage was legalized by a California Supreme Court ruling of 4-3 today! I'm so happy when I heard I cried! It makes me feel a little bit safer in the world; that there is some sense of justice and equality left.
Although the bittersweet victory is that conservative jerkfaces are trying to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would overturn this ruling. We should hear by the end of June whether or not enough signatures have been collected, but if so, we'll just have to mobilize and get the voters to vote on the side of equality, love, and justice.
HOORAY!!
Gay marriage was legalized by a California Supreme Court ruling of 4-3 today! I'm so happy when I heard I cried! It makes me feel a little bit safer in the world; that there is some sense of justice and equality left.
Although the bittersweet victory is that conservative jerkfaces are trying to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would overturn this ruling. We should hear by the end of June whether or not enough signatures have been collected, but if so, we'll just have to mobilize and get the voters to vote on the side of equality, love, and justice.
HOORAY!!
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