@Elisa Meggs - that is a GREAT question: "how do we incite hope in intersectionality at the highest levels?"
I always think of something I heard
Kate Bornstein (an incredible writer, activist, and artist) talk about years ago: the more
we demonstrate our differences and try to separate the issues, the easier it is for our leadership to stoke those flames. Essentially, the more that the LGBTQ communities argue for queer rights, and Black communities argue for Black rights, and women argue for women's rights (and so on and so on), the easier it is for leaders to say, "we can't give rights to one and hurt another," OR to say, "sure, we'll give this group a win..." but that also means a loss for another community. Still keeps the people in power in power.
Kate (and many others since) argued that in order to create real change, we've gotta team up and fight for and with each other. When WE embrace our intersectionality, it's harder for leaders to ignore it.
Sounds great in theory, right?
Making it happen in real life is much harder.
How's that for morning ramblings? ;)
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- Drew
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2020 10:53
From: Elisa Meggs
Subject: LGBTQ+ Activism and Resources in Chicago
Thanks for sharing! I did NOT know that about Frankie Knuckles. People should also be sure to follow some of these orgs on social media for pop up drives, fundraisers and for action endorsements.
On another note, how do we incite hope in intersectionality at the highest levels (I didn't know that about Harold Washington!) when the current atmosphere seems to lean more towards -- hold the people in charge accountable because they don't have our best interests at heart? To keep the Chicago mayor line going, Lori Lightfoot seemed to be a beacon of intersectionality, but a lot of queer and Black people are left disappointed with misplaced hope in her potential.
I must admit I've been leaning into the "We take care of us" mentality with the current trajectory of the world. It's a convincing sentiment for building an empowered community independent of the powers that be.
Just some morning ramblings in case anyone else has these thoughts rolling around their heads as well.
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Elisa Meggs
Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 08:27
From: Courtney Drew
Subject: LGBTQ+ Activism and Resources in Chicago
I started the morning reading through "10 Historic LGBTQ Moments in Chicago" and it spurred quite a few "dang, really?" moments in my brain.
For instance, while we all may (hopefully) know that "police harassment disproportionately affected Black and LGBTQ communities in Chicago" I did not know that that transgender and Black organizations (none of which exist today, but all of which formed the foundations of current organizations like Brave Space Alliance) worked together, focusing on entrapment, police harassment and raids. Also, the first black mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, spent time and energy repealing laws against sodomy and homosexuality. Now that's the power of #intersectionality.
Imagine what we could do today if we could get organizations to work together to change the system. We are stronger together.
Speaking of work we can do, the post linked to a really great list of LGBTQ+ Activism and Resources in Chicago, which is split into the following categories: - Community resources
- Health and wellness
- Housing
- Legal services
Many of the organizations listed under community resources are looking for volunteers and donations.
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- Drew
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