NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/soc/motss/48559

Text File | 1992-11-19 | 17.9 KB | 338 lines

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From: [e-mail] (Robert Kelly)
Subject: NGLTF Creating Change--My Experience
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Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 05:17:15 GMT
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NGLTF conference comments

or

How I got to L.A. and kissed Harry Hay

The summary of this long article:
Conferences needs to be held in small towns as to not culture shock conference
goers, kissing Harry Hay was like being hooked into an electrical socket and I
have a new cultural/spiritual viewpoint of the roles of Queers in the world.

I took more than the Vow: Sister Power Hungry Bitch and Sister X of the
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are really saints and if you are "gay," be
respectful of your history--these queens deserve every bit of respect we can
muster.  Plus, they are the nicest, sweetest, most socially aware and fun
people I have ever hung around with.

The long article
I flew into L.A. on thursday night and immediately tried to get my car.  Do
not believe Alamo Car Rentals when they say "Your reservation is..."  In fact,
if you're from a small town going to a conference in a large city like L.A., be
smart, stay at the conference hotel.

So I drive out to Long Beach--a pretentious neighborhood that holds two of the
cheesiest gay bars I've ever seen (and I come from a town with only five gay
bars--Bob knows cheesy.)  I stay at the bar, Floyd's, until 12:30 and decide
that I'd rather pay for a motel rather than fall asleep at the bar.

I awoke at six a.m. to witness a white female crack-addict try to kick down a
door while the korean hotel-owner screamed to call the police.  As if they
would help.

Plenary One:
Urvashi Vaid, the Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force (NGLTF) kicks things off by reading a thank you letter from none other
president elect Bill Clinton for the Queer support.  With a record attendance
from 43 states, over 1200 people registered for the conference.  A large--very
large--number of Queer Nations and college student groups were there.  Urv, as
the insiders call her, said an important part of this war was, and has been:
"This is a pro-sex movement."  We do not need to be so caught up in the fight
to stop having sex--after all, that is why we are fighting.

John Preston, author, and Margaret Cerullo, professor of sociology and
feminist studies, spoke on the necessity of inclusiveness and the need for
taking care of volunteers.  Immediately I became aware that this conference
wasn't being held for a "conference"  -- it was a training session for all of
the volunteers, it exists for me and that these people are not making a killing
with it.

Preston said something extremely important: when volunteers become involved
with a group, for whatever reason, they are saying they have a need.  It is up
to the group, the organization they are volunteering for, to fulfill that need.
 This information is really important for all Queer volunteer-based groups.

Inclusiveness is tantamount to our movement.  I was amazed that I did not
experience, as I have in the past, a bunch of whining White Male Queers saying,
"That's not misogynistic" or "That's reverse discrimination."  They were,
instead, saying, "Let's do something about it" and "What am I doing wrong?" or
"How can I stop it?"  To those of you who have said these things, to those of
you who balk at "political correctness"1 because you're afraid of giving up
what little power heterosexism has given you.  But I do have a strong resonant
feeling that saying such things like, "I'm not sexist but..." is stupid and
hurting political movement, not only ours but others.  I've seen it work, I've
seen not be questioned but embraced and it works so incredibly that I see it as
mandatory for us to learn.

If gender parity is "reverse discrimination" then Queers do not need "special
rights."  Do us a favor and move to Colorado.2

What I attended on Friday
Workshop 1--Media Skills 101: Elements of PR
David Smith of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and two
others, all of whom know incredible amounts.  This was a basic info session
about dealing with the media and how to get them there at your actions.  Much
was said but two things were stressed: media skills are based on making the
journalist's job easier and never use jargon.

I ate lunch at the Hilton with a friend from Santa Fe.  Gak.  Expensive.  I
had no time to find out what there was available so I couldn't just fly out of
there and expect to find some food.  There is nothing like having a conference
packet larger than some of my text books--I had little time to read about the
schedule, let alone the local eating areas.

I wanted to go to a brown-bag lunch session with Animals in AIDS research, but
I didn't think my stomach would hold up.

Workshop 2--Media skills 201: Advanced tactics
Robert Bray, the Director of Public Information for NGLTF, is an incredibly
sharp and knowledgeable media person.  The focus of this workshop was sound
bites, distilled messages for the media to quote, and spin, where a news story
is tailored to a reporter.  Also emphasis on networking, providing resources,
and "never lie to the media" was stressed.

I had to choose between Sexism in the Movement, Artists Organizing, Leadership
Development and Securing Grants in this workshop slot.  I hope to buy the rest
of the other's tapes for my library.  It was a hard decision, but I feel well
worth it.

Workshop 3--ACT UP, Queer Nation: What's Next
You know I had to pay some attention to Queer Culture.  This was meant for me
to have fun, and it wasn't at all.  Lots of ego about "Are we a movement?" "Who
are Twe'" "Queer bashing by gay assimilationists is occurring."  I spoke once
and only once (shocking, I know.)

What I said:
        Continue to gender fuck
        Read your feminism... gender roles and gender fuck are intricately
tied together
        Don't let anyone tell you "You're too angry."  You have a right to
your anger.
        Help others.  Other movements, other Queers, other anyones--not only
is it great PR, but you get to be queer OUTSIDE the queer movement for an
entire other reason.  It is good to get a break.
        Export queerness to other movements.  Just as we have pulled from the
Native American, the Jewish, the African American, the Women's, the Chicano,
and the Labor movement, they should be allowed to pull from ours.

Everything I said here, with the exception from the last, was taken quite
well.  The moderators, on the other hand, tried to use the time as a "What is
our movement?" and "Who are we?" discussion.  I left half-way through.  We were
getting nowhere.

What I could have gone to: Attack on Queer Art (censorship) and Coming Out as
an Activist (By Lynn Sheppold of National Coming Out Day, located here in Santa
Fe).

I was exhausted.  I went to the quiet room for a break and stayed there until
some networking sessions happened.

Networking/Special Interest
I dropped in on the GLAAD Networking group to firm up some interests and grab
business cards.  Lots of things were talked about, the room was unbearably hot
and I went to hang with the Queers at the Performance Art downstairs... only it
was all over.  This was where I met the Sisters for Perpetual Indulgence for
the first time and several other activists, most notably the media specialist
for ACT UP-Los Angeles.  Probably one of the most nerviest and sharpest of
people I've met in a long time.

I still hadn't reached my rooming situation, so I drove out near his house,
left a message on his answering machine as to where I was and told him that I'd
be sleeping in the car.  He came and got me at 2 a.m., we talked until 4:30 or
more, I woke up at 7:30 and drove to LAX Hilton.

One thing about LA, if you don't like driving on crowded roads, driving for
what seems like hours, or not understanding turning rules, then just stay away
from LA.  It is a nightmare.  On the other hand, you can go anywhere, any time,
and not feel hindered by the size of your community.

Saturday began with four individuals speaking.  Most poignant was Richard La
Fortune, a Yupiit Nation member--located in Alaska--and works for National
Native American AIDS Prevention Center, about how many Native American tribes
possessed positive roles for Queers and how destructive xtianity and anglo
culture has been to them.3

I left that speech crying.  I went to the restaurant and relaxed as much as
possible.  For more personal notes, which I am willing to share, please contact
me.

Workshop 4--Survival of Indigenous People.
This is where I got to kiss Harry Hay, the practical founder of our movement.
While I don't like a some of what Harry Hay has said, I do respect a lot of
what he has done.  His biography is a little romanticized.  He stilll, and
always will, remain an inspiration.  Harry and Richard La Fortune hosted this
communication, and this is where I met Amy (Aimee?) from Queer Nation Seattle.

Many people were educated even further about what Richard spoke of in the
Plenary and Harry wove a tale of how he met the leader of the Ghost Dancers.
If you don't know about Ghost Dancing, if you don't know about Harry Hay, or
Wounded Knee... I encourage you to read as much as possible about these and
other subjects.

Lunch Brown-bagger--Time management for Activists.
This was good, but not great.

Workshop 5--Police/Gay Community Relations
I went to this thinking, "Gosh, this will help us deal with the cops in
Albuquerque.  Well, the smallest city represented on the panel was St. Paul,
Minn. which isn't all that small--plus, they have a police chief who has a
lesbian daughter.  Does anyone want to go recruit Bob Stover's daughter or son?
Gak.

Well, it was a nice panel, but not effective for what we are facing in
Albuquerque.  There are some class issues which I believe exist here in
Albuquerque which are unique to our city also.

Workshop 6--Queer Culture: TZines, Queens and Scenes
Another unguilty pleasure for me at the conference.  The people doing this one
were great.  One was the editor for Better Homos and Gardens (now Turbo Queer),
who is now being sued by Better Homes and Gardens.  One was a body piercing
performance artist.  One was the layout/designer for Tantrum, another Tzine.
The moderator, GGreg Deborah Taylor, was the owner of the Product in West
Hollywood or San Fran or somewhere, a Queer bar.  He dressed in these
incredible spandex/lycra things that look as if they walked right off the Star
Wars set.  He was sharp, intelligent, witty and wrapped in plastic.  What more
could you ask in a man?

He also explained his outreach drag fest he had at Disneyland, that bastion of
progressive thought, which had us all rolling on the floor.  All-in-all, an
excellent session.  Presidential Candidate Joan Jettblack was supposed to be
there, as well as Elvis Herselvis, the Dyke Elvis impersonator.  But they
weren't so it was a little annoying.

I missed a lot of other sessions on this one: first, the Countering Religious
& Right Wing Rhetoric, Care and Feeding of Volunteers, Lesbian /Gay images in
TV/Film (by GLAAD/LA).

Networking
I went to see the computer people, where one member of the NGLTF requested how
we can educate each other via computers.  I met Ron Buckmire there, which is
now the fourth motss-keteer I have met outside of my own city.

I then jumped over to Queer Nation networking group to meet some fellow
queers.  I was amazed at the organization of the people of QN:Atlanta and
QN:Seattle, and other people there.  QN's have deploded all over the place, but
these folks have strong dedication keeping them together.  Hailing from the
quasi-defunct Albuqueerque Tribe, I am happy to know others keep at it.

I then ate at a nice Italian restaurant with my friend, Mark Eggert, in Long
Beach.  I decided to go to an ACT-UP LA benefit in Santa Monica and I knew I
just couldn't drive all the way back to Long Beach.  I mentioned this to Sister
X of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  He said that he'd just have to wrap
me up and take me home in a doggy bag.  Somewhere during that day or that
night, I agreed to be an altar boy for the Sisters the next day.  I had no
idea, but what the hell, you only live once.

I have always admired Drag Queens and their ilk to go out there and bust some
societal walls.  I went out of my way to talk to several of the piercers and
the queens that were at the conference.  Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch made
me feel welcome and we had a great time.  I have never felt "gay" or totally
"bisexual" but Queer, that does define me well.  The definition didn't matter
to the Sisters, they liked having me around--or at least said they did.  And it
was very wonderful to be in that environment.

The only other environment I have been in like that was a Lesbian feminist
forum.  While they distrusted my sex, all-in-all, I felt welcome there to be
myself.  It was very nice.  So why can't my student group be like that?  So
couldn't our Queer Nation be like that?  We'll see.

At four a.m., I got two hours of sleep to awake to Sister Bitch standing above
me (I was sleeping on a futon on the floor).  There is nothing quite like a
tall thin man wearing neck to ankle zebra-striped spandex.  Quite a sight, I
must admit.

For the next hour, I and Jean-Yvves, a Sister from the Paris branch, watched
amazingly as X and Bitch transformed themselves.  Jean-Yvves, who has only been
doing drag for two years, was amazed that they could do all of their make-up
under on hour.

Workshop 7-- Drag Activism
Originally I was going to go to the History of Censorship forum, but since I
said I would be an altar boy, I was going to be a good altar boy.  Having none
of my leathers, I was the most tame of the entire bunch.  Also, the other altar
boy, had a pierced tongue.  Curious, I asked what it was like to kiss someone
with a pierced tongue... he obliged.  My experience? definitely a plus.

The sunday service was a calm one presented to a packed house.  Basically, it
was communion, where instead of wafers and Welches Grape Juice, they gave
condoms and "I took the Vow" cards for free.  Many of the Drag Queens, the
Queers, young and old--one was there, the Duchess, from her imperial court,
even attended.  All-in-all, I am very proud and happy that I have been an altar
boy for the Sisters.

I skipped Paul Monette--the closing plenary--but from what I heard, he did the
Sinnead thing and ripped up a picture of the Pope.  The Catholic Queers were,
of course, duly offended.  Personally, I couldn't care less either way.  If the
word got out that the world really does ignore the Pope, rather than playing
lip service to him, it would be a lot more damaging.

I hung with the rest of the burnt-out Queer Nations in the lobby of the LAX
Hilton and watched, over the course of several hours, the hotel straighten
itself out.  I even heard about how a person in the elevator was glad that all
those Lesbians were finally gone.  Funny, she was talking to one as she said it.

At the conference evaluation, I sharpened my pen and wrote out all I think
that could improve next year's conference.  I spoke of computers, post
traumatic stress syndrome in activists, doing something more for student rather
than having ex-students tell student how well they performed and so on.  Next
year's conference will be held in Washington DC.





Foot notes--this is political opinions, take with you what you want

1       Political correctness is a buzzword, which is to say, someone can say
"political correctness" and have it mean a whole variety of things and not
really have said anything.  It is not a political oxymoron, like "Military
Justice" or "peace keeping missiles"--it is a label that people can apply and
have it mean what ever they want.  I try not to use "politically correct" at
all.  I urge others to do the same.

2       Horizontal hostility is a coalition-building problem.  An example of
horizontal hostility is racism within Queer community--i.e. a (not-so-) butch
fag calling a femme fag "Faggot" and so on.  I've seen the previous example in
my presence within members of our student group.  Horizontal hostility is the
hostility from the dominant culture (white patriarchy) that we suffer from:
just because we're all Queer doesn't mean we're immediately or
not-so-immediately excused from racism or sexism (or other crap crammed down
our throats from the dominant culture.)   If we are going build coalitions over
racial/culture/sex/gender boundaries, then we are going to have to embrace:
        the questioning of gender roles, studying the roots for sexism and
homophobia, to include a political agenda based on what we find
        racism workshops and cultural competence
        issues of barriers and accessibility
        the Queer/Gay line and how we represent both in our actions
If one of us cannot speak for whatever reason, be it racism, sexism, our own
homophobia, or that they are simply given no voice, then we are not serving our
students, we are not serving ourselves.  Enough of this soapbox.

If you are a victim of such stupidity, or see it happening, call the
perpetrator to the carpet, if you feel empowered enough.  If you don't, tell
someone or leave a note, or something... I encourage you to speak out.  You
have a right to your voice.

3       Guilt in the anglo culture is a waste of energy.  Don't feel guilty
for what happened in the past... feel empowered for the future--you aren't
going to continue the oppression that makes our society hate us and others.



Robert Kelly
[e-mail]
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                        * To speak is to lie
                        * To live is to collaborate
                        * Everyone is a coward when faced with the Nova Ovens
                                _Nova__Express_, William S. Burroughs