[Wamvan] Walking for Rape Relief

Mon May 16 19:03:47 PDT 2011

I would not like a moderator who is strongly opinionated on any aspect of
these issues. A moderator should be a moderator.

On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 6:57 PM, Joanna Chiu <chiu.joanna5 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Kalamity,
>
> Glad you support having a meeting in person.
>
> I think we need a meeting facilitator who is well versed in anti-oppression
> work and familiar with sex work/trans-inclusivity issues.
>
> Is anyone interested in stepping up as a facilitator? I don't think I
> should do it because 1. I don't have enough knowledge about anti-oppression
> and 2. I'm too biased because I've written quite a few pro-decriminalization
> articles.
>
> As for figuring out a meeting date, since we know that Tuesday evenings
> work well for the core group of organizers, how about next Tuesday evening?
> I can look into booking the community room at Rhizome, or maybe your
> community room will be available?
>
> Let us know if Tuesday evening would work for you. Again, everyone on this
> listserv is welcome to join into this important conversation.
>
> Do you think it's a good idea to hold off on discussing further on email
> until we find a time to meet?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Joanna
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 7:48 PM, Kalamity H <kalamityh at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi Joanna,
>> Yes, absolutely. ASAP - though it wont be possible to make decisions for
>> the group unless the core set of people is able to come. If we meet at
>> Rhizome we should ask to have their meeting room and close the door, or else
>> find some other place - I might be able to book the activity room again.
>> This is too serious and emotional a discussion to ask people to have it in
>> too public a space.
>>
>> My own availability - I have only a few evenings free; the 22nd, 23rd,
>> 29th - I could also meet during the day on any of those dates.
>>
>> Kalamity
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> From: chiu.joanna5 at gmail.com
>> Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 19:20:23 -0600
>>
>> To: wamvan at lists.resist.ca
>> Subject: Re: [Wamvan] Walking for Rape Relief
>>
>> I wonder whether we should call a meeting to discuss this in person? I'm
>> afraid that if we try to tackle such a complex and triggering topic over
>> email, people will end up confused, hurt and angry.
>>
>> At the last WAM organizers' meeting, we ran out of time to talk about
>> WAM's core values and "political non-negotiables". I think that waiting
>> until next month to talk in person would be too late, and we also want to
>> include people like Frieda, who isn't on the WAM organizing committee.
>>
>> Is anyone interested in meeting at a coffee shop (maybe Rhizome?) to talk
>> this week or next week? My schedule's flexible.
>>
>> Let us know,
>>
>> Joanna
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 7:15 PM, Tami Starlight <tamistarlight at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>> Hi Cynthia,
>>
>> Although I agree in principal, about your reply. ("normalizing")
>> I suggest replying to me directly, off-list.
>>
>> I do not believe the issue needs to be redirected to Jamie Lee. (yea -
>> people can be ridiculously oppressive in other ways and by default are a
>> terrible example for the communities they are in - certainly does not
>> represent me in any way, shape, or form)
>>
>> Agree we need to hold our community accountable and that includes terrible
>> organizations like Vancouver Rape Relief. (the oppressive jerks who are in
>> positions of authority and power at VRR are still there and I only believe
>> the organization will change is when they leave)
>>
>> Funny how dark oppressive history wishes to minimize, disguise, change and
>> erase.
>>
>> Tami
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Cynthia K. <cyn.khoo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  Hi Tami,
>>
>> I have not read enough about or given enough thought to this issue to
>> state an opinion for any particular view, but I was wondering if it's okay
>> to say something like "worst example of a trans person"? Doesn't that imply
>> there's a certain "appropriate" way to be a trans person? (Unless you mean
>> she did something terrible, that I'm currently unaware of, that makes all
>> trans people look bad?)
>>
>> Thanks very much,
>> Cynthia
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 17:30:02 -0700
>> From: tamistarlight at gmail.com
>>
>> To: wamvan at lists.resist.ca
>> Subject: Re: [Wamvan] Walking for Rape Relief
>>
>> And I disagree greatly.
>>
>> Your original message speaks loudly.
>> About how you choose to ignore the outward and obvious oppression of an
>> organization.
>>
>> I surely do not believe this is the place for such a discussion and I am
>> very uninterested in your pandering me.
>>
>> You minimize the oppression by your analogy.
>> Your reference to Jamie Lee Hamilton is terrible. She is one of the worst
>> examples of a trans person I have ever met. Many agree - inside and outside
>> the community. I will not spend any more time on that.
>>
>> I can see we will not agree and you seem quite fine with your oppressive
>> views.
>>
>> Telling me I am the one to change these organizations and somehow your not
>> "responsible"?
>>
>> How sad indeed.
>>
>> The change happens from within and without and WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE.
>>
>> Peace out - time to speak about more oppression at a indigenous gathering.
>> Tami
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Frieda Werden, Series Producer
>> WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> 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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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Joanna Chiu
>>
>> Freelance Writer
>> joannachiu.com <http://www.joannachiu.com/>
>> twitter.com/joannachiu
>>
>> Founder, WAM! Vancouver
>> wamvancouver.wordpress.com
>> twitter.com/wamvancity
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Joanna Chiu
>
> Freelance Writer
> joannachiu.com <http://www.joannachiu.com/>
> twitter.com/joannachiu
>
> Founder, WAM! Vancouver
> wamvancouver.wordpress.com
> twitter.com/wamvancity
>
>
>
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>

-- 
Frieda Werden, Series Producer
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
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