[Wamvan] Walking for Rape Relief

Mon May 16 17:59:09 PDT 2011

And I disagree with your posting here Joanna.

Thanks
Tami

On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 5:10 PM, Joanna Chiu <chiu.joanna5 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Uh oh, I see that the Rape Relief debate has come up.
>
> I'm divided on the issue as well. I appreciate some of Rape Relief's work
> for women (shelters, crisis line, counseling, etc), but I do not agree with
> their views on sex work, harsh tactics toward feminist groups that they
> disagree with, and exclusion of trans persons.
>
> We have to recognize that this conversation is deeply triggering for many
> members of this listserv, so I'd like to request that we take the time to
> "ask instead of assume."
>
> I'm out right now, but I will send a document that the WAM organizing group
> uses to facilitate constructive criticism/dialogue when I get home tonight.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Joanna
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 4:49 PM, Frieda Werden <frieda.werden at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Dear Tami, et al.
>>
>> I would like to see the battle for trans inclusion fought directly against
>> the patriarchy, with feminist allies, instead of being fought primarily
>> against feminist groups, with patriarchal allies. The fact that feminists
>> are already stigmatized and hated by so many people makes it so easy to
>> mount a damaging campaign against them - it's like shooting fish in a
>> barrel.  All kinds of services for women are under daily attack. The very
>> dailiness of their struggle makes them invisible to media. Violence against
>> women and their children in their homes, discrimination against immigrant
>> women who depend on a violent husband for the food for their children, the
>> roof over their head, their status in the country, all that is just another
>> dog bites man story. When a trans person or group attacks a feminist
>> organization - oh, boy!  Girlfight!  The juicy hateful rumours go far and
>> wide in the media and in the gossip stream, and people have one more reason
>> to diss feminists and diminish the huge commitment and sacrifice of women
>> like the ones who volunteer their souls at Rape Relief or at the Vancouver
>> Women's Health Collective.
>>
>> Last year, I sat with Jamie Lee Hamilton at a Liberal Party women's event
>> as she gloated about how even though the Vancouver Women's Health Collective
>> had, through direct negotiations, changed its policy with respect to opening
>> the DTES Women's Pharmacy to trans persons, the group "didn't apologize," so
>> "nobody in the community will support it" and so she believed it wouldn't
>> survive.  It didn't survive (although the VWH is still trans-inclusive now).
>>
>> Tami, you are a dedicated grassroots journalist, you are living the
>> commitment to social change.  Please recognize these traits in your sisters.
>> even if you don't agree with everything that has gone on. If you want to
>> negotiate change in feminist organizations, please do it directly, and with
>> all the patience, reason and respect that are at your command - just please
>> don't get caught up in the legendary circular firing squads that keep
>> activists picking off each other.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Frieda
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Tami Starlight <tamistarlight at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Terribly offensive!!
>>>
>>> Minimize organizational oppression is NOT OK.
>>>
>>> http://dawn.thot.net/nixon_v_vrr.html
>>>
>>> This is but one example of oppression that continues with many of us -
>>> including me.
>>> The idea that organizations are ok because they help women but oppress
>>> others?
>>>
>>> That a select few oppressive types within the organization wish people
>>> would forget they did that and have that as their policy. Of course, many at
>>> VRR have no fucking idea - and those in positions of privilege and power
>>> within the organization like that.
>>>
>>> Truth is free but freedom is earned with a lot of vigilance.
>>> Tami
>>>
>>> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 3:36 PM, Farida Hussain <
>>> faridahussain1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello Peeps, I'm walking to raise money for the Vancouver Rape Relief
>>>> and Women's Shelter. I know that some of us have trouble with their
>>>> exclusivity, but the bottom line is that they offer a safe space for women
>>>> escaping violence. We can't deny that this is a valuable resource.
>>>>
>>>> I'm willing to bus/bike out to wherever you are to collect money for my
>>>> pledge. Just tell me when and where, and I'll be there -  even if it is for
>>>> a small sum.
>>>>
>>>> You can email me separately at faridahussain1 at gmail.com, or use the
>>>> listserve - both are fine by me. If you have any
>>>> comments/questions/objections, I want to hear them.
>>>>
>>>> Peace,
>>>> Farida
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ps. The walk is on May 29 2011. Info here:
>>>> http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/learn/resources/walkathon
>>>> --
>>>> *Farida Hussain*
>>>> Student, Journalist
>>>> UBC Graduate School of Journalism
>>>> Phone: 604 649 8619
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Wamvan mailing list
>>>> Wamvan at lists.resist.ca
>>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/wamvan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Meegwetch/Thank you/Merci
>>> *Tami M. Starlight*
>>> Vancouver, Canada
>>> tamistarlight at gmail.com
>>> tami.cosmic (facebook)
>>> tami_starlight (twitter)
>>> 604-200-2445home
>>> 604-790-9943cell
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Wamvan mailing list
>>> Wamvan at lists.resist.ca
>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/wamvan
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Frieda Werden, Series Producer
>> WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Wamvan mailing list
>> Wamvan at lists.resist.ca
>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/wamvan
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Joanna Chiu
>
> Freelance Writer
> joannachiu.com <http://www.joannachiu.com/>
> twitter.com/joannachiu
>
> Founder, WAM! Vancouver
> wamvancouver.wordpress.com
> twitter.com/wamvancity
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wamvan mailing list
> Wamvan at lists.resist.ca
> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/wamvan
>
>

-- 
Meegwetch/Thank you/Merci
*Tami M. Starlight*
Vancouver, Canada
tamistarlight at gmail.com
tami.cosmic (facebook)
tami_starlight (twitter)
604-200-2445home
604-790-9943cell
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