crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
To paraphrase Don Cornelius, the former host of Soul Train, "I'll bet my last money" that this doesn't get as much attention as it should:
Heterosexual black men with multiple sex partners - not bisexual men who secretly have sex with men - are responsible for high rates of HIV among black women, according to a senior CDC official. “We have looked to see what proportion of infections is coming from male partners who are bisexual and found there are actually relatively few,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
“More are male partners who are having female partners and are injecting drugs or using drugs or have some other risks that may put those female partners at risk of acquiring HIV.” Black women make up 61 percent of all new HIV cases among women in the United States and have an HIV prevalence rate nearly 18 times that of white women. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25-34, and 80 percent of new cases are contracted through heterosexual contact. “What we’re seeing is a concentration of the epidemic among the poor, among ethnic minorities and racial minorities in the United States,” Fenton said.
I don't know how to characterize this. I certainly can't call it "good news" for obvious reasons - people are still catching HIV/AIDS. And I'm guessing that folks are going to either ignore this information or engage in arguments that will go off on tangents far from its main point.
Some in the lgbt community will use this situation to unconsciously drive that wedge between the lgbt and African-American communities by misusing their righteous indignation. The point of the above piece is not whether blacks are more homophobic or not. The point is that some people are ignorant in terms of why HIV/AIDS is s preading in the black community. However no one should forget that many of the victims in the black community are young black men who have been isolated from society period, whether that society be the black community or lgbt community.
Instead of useless, hypothetical arguments about the divisions between the black and gay communities, how about focusing on saving these young black gay men.
But in all honesty, the black community has a lot to answer for. The idea that "down low gay black men are causing HIV/AIDS to spread in the black community" was a notion that spread across the community like a wildfire.
And while it was good that black-oriented programs (i.e The House of Payne) are talking about it and BET is featuring commercials telling people to get tested, I can't help wondering if folks would be so concerned if it were only black gay men catching the disease.
It's li;s like the black community is finally catching on because so-called normal people (i.e. black straight women) are in the crossfire.
And after J.L. King's book (On The Down Low) was published, an industry was born but an opportunity to really talk about the actual problems that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the black community (i.e. the dehumanization of lgbts of color) was squandered
Instead, there was a plethora of "how to spot down low men" books, conferences, and seminars across the country.
The most ridiculous (and yes some people actually believed this mess) came from phony black authoress Shahrazad Ali.
Ali, in her book How To Tell if Your Man is Gay or Bisexual, gave a few "tips" on spotting "downlow men," including:
How does he sleep at night, what position does he sleep in? Does
he sleep like a woman, or like a man? What does he talk about in his
sleep?
You can touch his rectum to see if he has those tell-tale humps
on his anus from having it stretched open with a penis. Then later on
ask him if he's ever had hemorrhoids really bad.
If he asks you to "toss his salad" and you agree, and his legs go
up too quickly, he's probably used to doing it.
With all of this ignorance and eagerness to get distracted out there, you will forgive me if I'm not that concerned about the CDC's latest statement.
It was meant to clarify but unfortunately the communities it's meant to help probably won't even hear it.
And if they do, they probably won't use the information in the correct manner.
Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin.
My VERY sincere apologies; I meant to get this very importanmportant information out to everyone on FRIDAY! ;)
Dear friend,
From Burlington to Nashua to Long Island, you can help us defeat Question 1 in Maine. In just 19 days, voters in Maine will choose the direction of the national marriage equality movement. The polls are close, but we can win if we have enough volunteers to turn out all our voters.
That's where you come in. We need every available equality supporter to join in this effort in Maine. One way you can do that is by driving (or riding in a carpool) to Maine for a day or a whole weekend. And there's a new website -- Drive for Equality -- that can help you do just that.
Will you take a short weekend trip to Maine to make a big difference and win a victory for equality?
http://www.driveforequality.org
It doesn't matter if you have a car or not -- you can just check a box and automatically have a rideshare request pop onto our interactive board. Your name and location will show up on your posting, but not your email address -- you and other volunteers can connect to coordinate rides while keeping your personal information private.
We have never been this close to the victory, never this close to the historic tipping point for marriage equality. We have never needed you as much as we need you in Maine for a weekend day before November 3rd.
No experience is required. Traveling volunteers will canvass towns and neighborhoods, call voters, support our data or logistics teams and take part in public events. Both morning and afternoon shifts are available on Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Monday November 2nd and on Election Day.
Sign up to Drive for Equality to Maine. Your short trip will make a big difference.
http://www.driveforequality.org
-Evan
Evan Dalzell
Portland Area Field Organizer
NO on 1 / Protect Maine Equality
P.S. Can't make it to Maine? Join Call for Equality, our virtual phone bank program, and help contact voters from your home or office. All you need is a phone and an internet connection to make a difference. Sign up here:
http://protectmaineequality.org/callforequality
With the marriage equality battles going on in Maine and Washington State, and the federal legislation involving hate crimes and employment non-discrimination (ENDA), as well as repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT)
and the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), it's hard to ask lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, along with their friends, family, and allies, to care about a local ordinance regarding LGBT people in city of roughly a hundred-thousand people. And yet, I'm here to say that the collective you, dear blenders, should care about the battle that's right now going on in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
What One-Kalamazoo is fighting a battle on basic LGBT civil rights protections in their city. The Kalamazoo City Council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance for their city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) population, and religious right opposition gathered enough signatures to put the new civil rights ordinance up for a referendum. In other words, basic civil rights are again in the ballot in another locality. From the Michigan Messenger: [More below the fold.] The One Kalamazoo campaign headquarters is located on a busy intersection in downtown Kalamazoo, and on Wednesday afternoon Anderson was surrounded by the tell-tale signs of a humming campaign -- numerous clipboards, stacks of flyers, a dry erase board, a nearby table with snacks. The two-term, married commissioner, a member of the group's steering committee, said he thinks it's important for the city "to go on record being a welcoming and inclusive place to live." Narda Beauchamp, a retired teacher and also a member of the One Kalamazoo steering committee, comes to the campaign with more personal motivation. In a recent interview, the mother of five children explains why her two lesbian daughters have moved away. "After college, our two daughters planned to stay in Kalamazoo. They grew up here and started their careers here," she said. "But after a lot of heartfelt conversations with the family, they told my husband and I that they need to move to another state and another city that already provided protections for housing, employment and public accommodations," Beauchamp said, listing the kinds of discrimination Ordinance 1856 would outlaw if passed by voters. "The other three siblings can't understand why they automatically have these protections just because they're straight," she added. The opposition has made this about bathrooms. The opposition literally found four trans women who were victims of discrimination, and smeared these trans women in their descriptions of the discrimination -- including using the standard, gender smearing practice of putting trans women's first names in quotation marks. And because those who are engaging in this kind of behavior appear to be elements from the religious right, it's easy to blame all Christians; to blame Christianity. Last week, I spoke to Jon Hoadley, the One-Kalamazoo campaign director, as well as campaign volunteer Jonathan Richardson. Jonathan Richardson is a person of faith; he's also a member of an lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community member. He's never been involved in politics before this r this referendum. Jonathan attends a United Methodist Church that has about 1,000 members. Recently, about 90% of the voting congregants voted that the church become a welcoming and affirming church to the LGBT community. Many of Jonathan's congregants are volunteering for the One-Kalamazoo campaign to protect this ordinance, and his church is one of five mainline protestant churches to support the One-Kalamazoo campaign; is one of the five mainline churches that is encouraging their congregants to work to preserve Kalamazoo's antidiscrimination ordinance. When I asked Jonathan why his church and he were participating in the campaign, he used phrases like "put faith into action," "put passion into action," and "God's love is involved with everyone." And, as Jon Hoadley added: "It impacts real people's lives." When there are so many non-LGBT people of faith volunteering their time to keep an ordinance in place that protects LGBT people from discrimination, that speaks to me that there is more than one faith-based value system in play. Basically, LGBT people have allies in faith communities. And, local battles for full equality under the law matters. To say that the outcome in Kalamazoo is a referendum on how well the bathroom argument turns voters against all LGBT people; to say that transphobia -- a true fear of trans women using public restrooms -- is being used in an attempt to deny antidiscrimination for an entire population of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in a city of about 100,000 residents...this is not an exaggeration. There are two interpretations of biblical scripture that are influencing volunteers -- and voters -- in Kalamazoo Michigan. Whether or not you believe this should be the case or not doesn't have any bearing on whether or not it actually is the case: It is the case. We need to embrace our allies of faith because they can speak with authority to other voters of faith who haven't made up their minds on how to vote as yet on this Kalamazoo referendum. And frankly, just as in Maine and Washington state, this local election matters on a national stage. Think about a fully inclusive ENDA, and the message it will send to federal politicians if the transphobic, bathroom meme wins the day in Kalamazoo. So, think about donating to One-Kalamazoo. One-Kalamazoo can purchase a television spot for as little as $75.00, and can buy a radio spot for as little as $35.00. Small donations of any size will go a long way in the Kalamazoo media market. I asked Jon and Jonathan why this campaign should matter to the broader LGBT community. I've given reasons why, but here's what volunteer Jonathan Richardson said: In my mind, he's right. I donated $25.00 -- it's what I could afford. I want this win for all of us. ~~~~~ ~~~~~
...voters in Kalamazoo will decide the fate of the ordinance that seeks to add anti-discrimination protections for city residents who are gay or transgender. The measure has inspired an intense, if mostly underground, opposition.
The opposition has labeled the ordinance as the "Ordinance 1856, the so-called 'gay rights' and crossdressing ordinance!" When waters rises, all boats rise. Victory in Kalamazoo is a victory and a celebration for the entire community.
Further reading:
* Facebook page: One-Kalamazoo
* Website: One-Kalamazoo
Related:
* One Kalamazoo airs its first ad
* Michigan: Kalamazoo approves inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance
* Kalamazoo Passes Non-Discrimination Ordinance, again
* AFA Michigan's Gary Glenn Up To The Usual Fear Tactics -- This Time In Kalamazoo
* No Rest(room) For (Trans)Gender Politics -- And Why It Should Matter To LGBT People
.
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
To paraphrase Don Cornelius, the former host of Soul Train, "I'll bet my last money" that this doesn't get as much attention as it should:
Heterosexual black men with multiple sex partners - not bisexual men who secretly have sex with men - are responsible for high rates of HIV among black women, according to a senior CDC official. “We have looked to see what proportion of infections is coming from male partners who are bisexual and found there are actually relatively few,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
“More are male partners who are having female partners and are injecting drugs or using drugs or have some other risks that may put those female partners at risk of acquiring HIV.” Black women make up 61 percent of all new HIV cases among women in the United States and have an HIV prevalence rate nearly 18 times that of white women. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25-34, and 80 percent of new cases are contracted through heterosexual contact. “What we’re seeing is a concentration of the epidemic among the poor, among ethnic minorities and racial minorities in the United States,” Fenton said.
I don't know how to characterize this. I certainly can't call it "good news" for obvious reasons - people are still catching HIV/AIDS. And I'm guessing that folks are going to either ignore this information or engage in arguments that will go off on tangents far from its main point.
Some in the lgbt community will use this situation to unconsciously drive that wedge between the lgbt and African-American communities by misusing their righteous indignation. The point of the above piece is not whether blacks are more homophobic or not. The point is that some people are ignorant in terms of why HIV/AIDS is s preading in the black community. However no one should forget that many of the victims in the black community are young black men who have been isolated from society period, whether that society be the black community or lgbt community.
Instead of useless, hypothetical arguments about the divisions between the black and gay communities, how about focusing on saving these young black gay men.
But in all honesty, the black community has a lot to answer for. The idea that "down low gay black men are causing HIV/AIDS to spread in the black community" was a notion that spread across the community like a wildfire.
And while it was good that black-oriented programs (i.e The House of Payne) are talking about it and BET is featuring commercials telling people to get tested, I can't help wondering if folks would be so concerned if it were only black gay men catching the disease.
It's li;s like the black community is finally catching on because so-called normal people (i.e. black straight women) are in the crossfire.
And after J.L. King's book (On The Down Low) was published, an industry was born but an opportunity to really talk about the actual problems that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the black community (i.e. the dehumanization of lgbts of color) was squandered
Instead, there was a plethora of "how to spot down low men" books, conferences, and seminars across the country.
The most ridiculous (and yes some people actually believed this mess) came from phony black authoress Shahrazad Ali.
Ali, in her book How To Tell if Your Man is Gay or Bisexual, gave a few "tips" on spotting "downlow men," including:
How does he sleep at night, what position does he sleep in? Does
he sleep like a woman, or like a man? What does he talk about in his
sleep?
You can touch his rectum to see if he has those tell-tale humps
on his anus from having it stretched open with a penis. Then later on
ask him if he's ever had hemorrhoids really bad.
If he asks you to "toss his salad" and you agree, and his legs go
up too quickly, he's probably used to doing it.
With all of this ignorance and eagerness to get distracted out there, you will forgive me if I'm not that concerned about the CDC's latest statement.
It was meant to clarify but unfortunately the communities it's meant to help probably won't even hear it.
And if they do, they probably won't use the information in the correct manner.
Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin.
My VERY sincere apologies; I meant to get this very importanmportant information out to everyone on FRIDAY! ;)
Dear friend,
From Burlington to Nashua to Long Island, you can help us defeat Question 1 in Maine. In just 19 days, voters in Maine will choose the direction of the national marriage equality movement. The polls are close, but we can win if we have enough volunteers to turn out all our voters.
That's where you come in. We need every available equality supporter to join in this effort in Maine. One way you can do that is by driving (or riding in a carpool) to Maine for a day or a whole weekend. And there's a new website -- Drive for Equality -- that can help you do just that.
Will you take a short weekend trip to Maine to make a big difference and win a victory for equality?
http://www.driveforequality.org
It doesn't matter if you have a car or not -- you can just check a box and automatically have a rideshare request pop onto our interactive board. Your name and location will show up on your posting, but not your email address -- you and other volunteers can connect to coordinate rides while keeping your personal information private.
We have never been this close to the victory, never this close to the historic tipping point for marriage equality. We have never needed you as much as we need you in Maine for a weekend day before November 3rd.
No experience is required. Traveling volunteers will canvass towns and neighborhoods, call voters, support our data or logistics teams and take part in public events. Both morning and afternoon shifts are available on Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Monday November 2nd and on Election Day.
Sign up to Drive for Equality to Maine. Your short trip will make a big difference.
http://www.driveforequality.org
-Evan
Evan Dalzell
Portland Area Field Organizer
NO on 1 / Protect Maine Equality
P.S. Can't make it to Maine? Join Call for Equality, our virtual phone bank program, and help contact voters from your home or office. All you need is a phone and an internet connection to make a difference. Sign up here:
http://protectmaineequality.org/callforequality
With the marriage equality battles going on in Maine and Washington State, and the federal legislation involving hate crimes and employment non-discrimination (ENDA), as well as repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT)
And yet, I'm here to say that the collective you, dear blenders, should care about the battle that's right now going on in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
What One-Kalamazoo is fighting a battle on basic LGBT civil rights protections in their city. The Kalamazoo City Council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance for their city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) population, and religious right opposition gathered enough signatures to put the new civil rights ordinance up for a referendum. In other words, basic civil rights are again in the ballot in another locality.
From the Michigan Messenger:
[More below the fold.] The One Kalamazoo campaign headquarters is located on a busy intersection in downtown Kalamazoo, and on Wednesday afternoon Anderson was surrounded by the tell-tale signs of a humming campaign -- numerous clipboards, stacks of flyers, a dry erase board, a nearby table with snacks. The two-term, married commissioner, a member of the group's steering committee, said he thinks it's important for the city "to go on record being a welcoming and inclusive place to live."
Narda Beauchamp, a retired teacher and also a member of the One Kalamazoo steering committee, comes to the campaign with more personal motivation. In a recent interview, the mother of five children explains why her two lesbian daughters have moved away.
"After college, our two daughters planned to stay in Kalamazoo. They grew up here and started their careers here," she said. "But after a lot of heartfelt conversations with the family, they told my husband and I that they need to move to another state and another city that already provided protections for housing, employment and public accommodations," Beauchamp said, listing the kinds of discrimination Ordinance 1856 would outlaw if passed by voters.
"The other three siblings can't understand why they automatically have these protections just because they're straight," she added. The opposition has made this about bathrooms. The opposition literally found four trans women who were victims of discrimination, and smeared these trans women in their descriptions of the discrimination -- including using the standard, gender smearing practice of putting trans women's first names in quotation marks. And because those who are engaging in this kind of behavior appear to be elements from the religious right, it's easy to blame all Christians; to blame Christianity.
Last week, I spoke to Jon Hoadley, the One-Kalamazoo campaign director, as well as campaign volunteer Jonathan Richardson.
Jonathan Richardson is a person of faith; he's also a member of an lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community member. He's never been involved in politics before this r this referendum.
Jonathan attends a United Methodist Church that has about 1,000 members. Recently, about 90% of the voting congregants voted that the church become a welcoming and affirming church to the LGBT community. Many of Jonathan's congregants are volunteering for the One-Kalamazoo campaign to protect this ordinance, and his church is one of five mainline protestant churches to support the One-Kalamazoo campaign; is one of the five mainline churches that is encouraging their congregants to work to preserve Kalamazoo's antidiscrimination ordinance.
When I asked Jonathan why his church and he were participating in the campaign, he used phrases like "put faith into action," "put passion into action," and "God's love is involved with everyone."
And, as Jon Hoadley added: "It impacts real people's lives."
When there are so many non-LGBT people of faith volunteering their time to keep an ordinance in place that protects LGBT people from discrimination, that speaks to me that there is more than one faith-based value system in play. Basically, LGBT people have allies in faith communities.
And, local battles for full equality under the law matters. To say that the outcome in Kalamazoo is a referendum on how well the bathroom argument turns voters against all LGBT people; to say that transphobia -- a true fear of trans women using public restrooms -- is being used in an attempt to deny antidiscrimination for an entire population of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in a city of about 100,000 residents...this is not an exaggeration.
There are two interpretations of biblical scripture that are influencing volunteers -- and voters -- in Kalamazoo Michigan. Whether or not you believe this should be the case or not doesn't have any bearing on whether or not it actually is the case: It is the case. We need to embrace our allies of faith because they can speak with authority to other voters of faith who haven't made up their minds on how to vote as yet on this Kalamazoo referendum.
And frankly, just as in Maine and Washington state, this local election matters on a national stage. Think about a fully inclusive ENDA, and the message it will send to federal politicians if the transphobic, bathroom meme wins the day in Kalamazoo.
So, think about donating to One-Kalamazoo. One-Kalamazoo can purchase a television spot for as little as $75.00, and can buy a radio spot for as little as $35.00. Small donations of any size will go a long way in the Kalamazoo media market.
I asked Jon and Jonathan why this campaign should matter to the broader LGBT community. I've given reasons why, but here's what volunteer Jonathan Richardson said:
In my mind, he's right. I donated $25.00 -- it's what I could afford. I want this win for all of us.
~~~~~
~~~~~
...voters in Kalamazoo will decide the fate of the ordinance that seeks to add anti-discrimination protections for city residents who are gay or transgender. The measure has inspired an intense, if mostly underground, opposition.
The opposition has labeled the ordinance as the "Ordinance 1856, the so-called 'gay rights' and crossdressing ordinance!"
When waters rises, all boats rise. Victory in Kalamazoo is a victory and a celebration for the entire community.
Further reading:
* Facebook page: One-Kalamazoo
* Website: One-Kalamazoo
Related:
* One Kalamazoo airs its first ad
* Michigan: Kalamazoo approves inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance
* Kalamazoo Passes Non-Discrimination Ordinance, again
* AFA Michigan's Gary Glenn Up To The Usual Fear Tactics -- This Time In Kalamazoo
* No Rest(room) For (Trans)Gender Politics -- And Why It Should Matter To LGBT People
.
COMMUNITY VIGIL FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
VIGILIA COMUNITARIA PARA UNA REFORMA COMPRESIVA DE LAS LEYES DE INMIGRACIÃ"N
Friday, October 23, 2009
viernes 23 octubre de 2009
7:30 to 8:30 pm. St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
1704 NE 43rd Ave., Portland
This bilingual community service will include songs, prayer Ave., Portland This bilingual community service will include songs, prayers, stories, and Scripture reflections, followed by a candlelight procession to the Hollywood MAX station. Este servicio comunitario bilingüe incluirá cantos, oraciones, comentarios y reflexiones BÃblicas. Después iremos en procesion para la Estación de MAX para una vigilia con velas. For more information please contact:Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
1704 NE 43rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97213-1402
503-284-7141 ext. 314 CAUSA (Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition), the largest Latin@ civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest
No comments:
Post a Comment