Cherry Bomb: "Race, Religion and Marriage"

Very insightful vlog. I've just completed a class in nonprofit management and was suprised to learn that non profits do actually have a lobbying allowance. 

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http://thequeerafrican.blogspot.com/

Queer Africans say aye!

While doing some research for a debate on gay marriage, I came across this quote that really helped my case and it was very hard for my opponent to argue with: 

"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime; abuses its strength, and, by acting on the law of the strongest, breaks up the foundations of society." Thomas Jefferson

www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com

You ladies are great. Enjoyed the vblog. It's nice to hear good news for once;I love the short insights about some people changed their views about Prop 8.

To Wicked:Great quote from Thomas Jefferson.

I think most people who voted for prop8 and other initatives and acts around the country  against LGBTQI community  had no understanding what those acts and initatives were truly about. Those who voted were not thinking and were doing as they were told to do  b/c no one took the time to talk to them about the truth from the other side. The other  side based their assumption  that no one- on- one action was needed. Unfortuntely they were wrong. That's why after post-election there was a huge sweeping of nos against LGBTQI community.  It is up to each and one of us to do our part and educate people. Honestly, they don't know. They are only going by what they read and what they hear in the media and at church. Free Ignorance. Stop the Hate.  

A line taken from my poem "She" It is SHE who awakens my soul..."

thefemininedivine.blogspot.com

I only just watched the first two minutes so far, and I was totally surprised about Barabara Jordan. I had no idea she was a lesbian, and while one obviously has mixed feelings about her stayinh closeted, well, Cool! She's sorta a big deal where I go to school, and a statue of her is going to be unveiled on campus in April, so right on. Okay, now back to the show...

I enjoyed the conversation in today's vlog--particularly the early ancedotes about Barbara Jordan, who is a hero of mine--but I do have to add one thing: 

I have a hard time having the "what did we learn" conversation instead of the "what went wrong" conversation. Certainly, both conversations are necessary, but by focusing on what we've learned since the outcome, we absolve the leadership on No on 8 campaign of any accountability. We can't spend so much time looking back that we forget to look forward, but we also can't employ the same folks and the same strategies and hope that the future's outcome will be different. Accountability is a must. 

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"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use — of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public." -- Robert F. Kennedy

We are the 3rd revolution. I just went to a Youth gay support Conference that was put on by my old school board (im 20). Kids from 30 schools in my reigon got together to talk about starting GSA programs (or maintaining them) in their highschools, the important of gay education. The importance of eliminating discrimination (racial as well as homophobia). There were 200 KIDS!!

I was on a  q&a panel.. N i listened to these kids and talked to them one on one, about the importance of standing up, tackling homophobia with educated answers, aNd just the importance of being confident, being there for one another, having a safe person/space to go to, and being themselves. its hard to answer a question like "what do you say to someone in the class that stands up n says all gay people should die?" or "what do i do when no boys will change in the locker-room with me because im gay" or "i get pushed into lockers everyday an threated because they think im gay.. but im not.. what do i do??" I did my best n I beleive it was well worth it. One girl who was straight said "im here because i think its important for everyone to have equality. I think gay people are their own superheros.. They have to fight for their own rights and come out everyday."(she was 14!!)

Check out my own anti-prop 8 performance art peice here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE6du_qeUr4

Ameara <3

African Americans make up only 7% of the population of California. What percentage of that demographic statistic, actually voted? Africans are by and far, still a minority in comparison to the other voter race percentages, that tipped the Prop 8 outcome.

Race only affects the way an individual looks. Culture, is another matter.

This was a great episode, I wish it had been longer.  I felt so emotional after watching this episode as well.  I am lucky to be Canadian, and have equality, but I still feel the need to fight for equality for my LGBT neighbors south of the border.  I agree that personalization is key.  I have definately scene peoples minds change once they get to know me and then find out I am gay.  I really admire Gloria for coming out to her students, I think that is a hugely gutsy, and admirable thing to do.  I used to work for a daycare, and though I was out to my co-workers and boss, I always terrified of any of the kids finding out I was gay.  Not because I did not want the children to know, I would have loved for them to know, because it would have changed the minds of 70 kids, before they reach high school and would hopefully mean that many less homophobic high school students.  I was scared because of parents, I know that there are homophobic, fearful adults out there, who might try and get a lesbian fired from a job with kids because they might "spread IT" or might be inappropiate with their children etc.  I feared ignorance. 

My wife has sisters who live in Washington state, who used to be very conservative, and took along time to come around to her being a lesbian.  There was still hesitation when I entered her life 5 years after she had come out, and had already had a 4 year relationship with a woman.  When we got engaged we weren't sure that they would attend.  But since I have been in my wifes life, and they have gotten to know me, and scene how happy I make their sister, and what a healthy relationship we have they started to come around.  At election time we had a great conversation regarding our sexuality, being gay is who we are and not a choice, around equality, marriage, and it was great because we saw the switch in their thinking, they finally got it.

I find myself cutting back on the PDA, and dyking it down when I cross the border into the States though.  I feel very uncomfortable being openly gay, and fearful of violent reactions to my sexuality there.  So I admire those who live openly gay in not so liberal areas of America.

I wish you all the best of luck in the fight for equality in America, and will do all I can to help from here in Canada.

The LGBT community has the same prejudices as the larger society when it comes to race and other ways of categorizing ourselves.  As far as how we socialize, I do think that people in the LGBT community make a greater effort to reach across the racial divide, but the divide is still there. 

Ironically, I think it is similar to the way people in the military socialize.  I'm sure anyone who was not raised in the military or served in it is going "huh?" right now, but it's true.  The number of social outlets specifically catering for each group is very limited in comparison to the general public, so regardless of race people almost have to socialize in the same spaces.  This can break down some barriers if people are open to it, and yet there is still a certain amount of racial segregation that remains.  We've all got to deal with the indoctrination of our environment, be it our country, neighborhood or family.

To a couple of the posters who expressed some misgivings about Barbara Jordan for being in the closet, she was born in 1936 and that really does make a difference.  When she was up and coming there were no LGBT community centers, or nondiscriminatory laws or workplace policies.  Homosexuality was a criminal offense.  In 1972 when she became a congresswoman the United States had just, and I mean just legalized interracial marriage.  Even if everything is not the way we want it to be now, don't take what we do have for granted.  If you think our current society is homophobic, 30 or 40 years ago it was a lot worse.

It was good to hear examples of how coming out and talking to people one-on-one can make a positive difference.  I have seen that happen in my own life.  It may take a while, and it may take an accumulation of positive experiences with LGBT people for those who are anti-gay on any level to rethink their views.

I'm a fan of Cherry Bomb, but I think, unfortunately, trying to be positive for the sake of being positive obfuscated some of the obvious issues that would be helpful to discuss. I would attribute that more to the guest speaker than the CB ladies, but it did set the tone for the discussion.

I don't know how they discussed Prop 8 and communities of color without ever talking about the blaming of the black community for not supporting the gay community in the vote. It seemed like an obvious sidestep, and its still a sore spot, especially with gay people of color. The education in communities of color in California was sorely lacking. You can't expect people to come out and support you just because you observe obvious similarities between the fight for gay rights and the civil rights movement.  Which brings us back to a lack of visible leadership. This is a huge concern.

No offense to Anne Marie Williams, but I didn't get a good sense of what exactly the coalition does in order to push the agenda other than going to trainings and meetings. There needs to be a clear, actionable strategic plan for how to accomplish the goal of getting prop 8 overturned. Yes, a part of that has to be outreach, but that's only a piece of what should be a larger overall workplan.

The last thing I want to say is, the reader question was interesting, and unfortunately I thought it was only properly answered by Gloria. The Kumbaya, "everyone is special, lets celebrate it!" thing would be great if we actually lived in a world where that happened. We don't, so let's talk about it.

most lesbians should know how it feels to be threatened for no reason. why should they bully somebody else for being different? it's not like anyone chooses to be gay, straight, black or whatever, we just are. and how beautiful diversity is!

i have met positive discrimination though, people, who would either negate any negative feedback by saying "oh, you just say that because i am black/gay/jewish" or other people assuming that EVERY jew/black/handicapped/gay is a great person regardless. 

As usual, the ladies of Cherry Bomb were pleasing to watch.  I think the Prop 8 discussion is a much larger conversation than can be covered in 25 minutes.  Given the time alloted, they did a great job on shedding a bit more light onto the gigantic problem that is Prop 8. and California. 

OHIOlezgirlinNYC

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