Tomorrow 4pm in VU 462b PIZZA and POP

Hey everyone our last meeting of the quarter is tomorrow! woot. :-)

Come hang out with Pizza and Soda.

Also, don't forget the Activist Assignment for this week:
1) Write a paragraph about why you think Gender Inclusive Housing is important
2) Write out a goal of the Queer Safe Space Training we want to develop.

Social event this Sunday at 6pm. Location TBD. Studying, Games and Chillaxin. :-)

Thank you everyone,
Josh Foley

November 24, 2009

 

Attending: 20

 

Check-ins: name, preferred pronoun, how your week is going, what are you thankful for about yourself

Vote on rather or not to support the proposal for gender-inclusive housing

-Gender-inclusive housing: a floor in (at least) Buchanan Towers on which someone who identifies as male can live with someone who identifies as female

--Allows people who are trans-identified to live with a roommate instead of being isolated in single rooms

-Vote

--In favor: 18

--Opposed: 0

--Abstaining: 0

Young adult novels with LGBT themes

Talk about last week's mission – stories

Activism

-the whole point of our club is activism, but so far we haven't been out in people's faces that often

-Types of activism

--Internal:

---Correct your own image, watch yourself

---Educate yourself

----Not just through formal education

----Exploring yourself, confronting yourself head-on

---Happens throughout your life

---Positive:

----Pre-requisite to other types of activism

---Negative:

----Doesn't affect anyone else, so if you don't build on your foundation it doesn't go farther

--External passive:

---Starting an online forum

---Ally ribbons and other clothing etc choices

---Talking to your friends, in a safe environment

---Setting an example for others

---Watching where your money goes – not contributing money to a certain organization

---Voting

---Coming to our club meetings (showing support)

---Positive:

----More personal, one-on-one interactions

---Negative:

----People you are reaching out to have to know what it means (ribbons, buttons, etc)

--External forward

---Holding a march or rally, tabling

---Organizing pride marches etc

---Correcting language NOT in a safe space

---Working for an organization (like the LGBTA)

---Choosing queer issues for assignments (can also be considered passive, depending on what the assignment is)

---Bringing things up in a classroom discussion

---Positive:

----More forward, hit a lot of people at one time

---Negative:

----Can turn people off, cross the boundary

----Could put you at risk

-Next week we will split into groups to come up with homework assignments for each type

-Everyone has their own comfort level, so some types of people are more comfortable with certain types of activism over others

Next week we're going to talk about LGBT Safe Space Training for faculty and staff, so think about:

-What needs to be included

-Logistics of it: how it should be done

-How to get staff and faculty to actually want to do it

Shirt news:

-Finally found a blue (not sure how bright it is), they should be able to be printed on very soon

Next week we'll have pizza!

Social event before the end of the quarter

-Sunday Dec. 6th, 6pm

Homework for this week

-Write a thoughtful paragraph/few sentences about why you support gender-neutral housing

OR

-Come up with a goal for Safe Space Training: what you want to come from it

Meeting Today VU 462b 4pm.

Hey everyone, there is a meeting today! Sorry for the late notice.

 

We're talking about Activism and the Safe Space Training we want to develop for staff and faculty.

 

Thank you,

QAAFA Exec

November 17, 2009

 

Attending: 31

 

Check-ins: something you like about your personality

Feedback

-Want to talk about the history of the movement à next quarter, with self-esteem

-Do a lot of education, but not "activism" à start doing optional "homework" assignments, next week focus on what it means to be an activist, ways to be an activist

-Please keep sending in feedback!!!!!

--http://www.delphisstudios.com/qaafa.html

LGBTA is accepting applications for interns

-changing name of organization, working with library, etc

-awesome opportunity to get involved on campus

LGBT Hate Crimes event postponed to next week, no weekly night series tonight

Fairhaven class next quarter on hate crime law

Homocoming

-Dec. 4^th at 7(?), $4 with student ID, $5 without, food, DJ playing queer-inclusive music, semi-formal dress, "Winter Wonderland" theme

Shirts

-Taking forever! (Problems with publicity center)

-Colors aren't available, trying to figure out other colors we can use

Midnightblue says:

-Thanks for everyone who tabled last week!

-If you sign up for tabling, make sure you sign up for a time you can actually do, and check your email for Blue's email so you can remember

 

DIVERSITY TRAINING (Continued from last week): Questions for reflection

Why did we play the first game? (Word Association)

What did you like/not like about the first game?

What did the first game have to do with stereotypes? Diversity?

Why did we play the second game? (Diversity Circle)

-Explore your own identity but also see how many identities are in the room

How can you use either of these games in activism?

 

Have you read "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh? (about White Privilege)

Straight Privileges

-Your sexuality is assumed to be straight

-Don't have to worry about losing your job if you mention your partner

-Don't have to worry about holding your partner's hand in public

-Don't have to explain your identity

-Don't have to worry about wearing an ally ribbon on your bag

-Your sexuality is not against the law in some countries

Privileges of "fitting in" to gender binary

-Don't have to worry about what bathroom to go into, what clothing section

-No problem filling in forms that ask for "sex"

-Don't have to deal with people making incorrect assumptions about your sex

-Can live in on-campus housing without problem

What can you do with the knowledge of your privileges?

How can you use the power that your privileges give you? (Fighting WITH a minority group, not FOR them)

 

Homework assignment for the week: correct someone's language and come back with a story

 

Side note: Boycott Chik-Fill-A

-Owned by an advocate for Focus on the Family, donates lots of money to them, to the Prop 8 campaign, fires employees who are queer or are not Christian

-WWU introduced it to the west coast

Also, Boycott Rockstar energy drinks

-They're owned by a very homophobic family who also donate money to Focus on the Family

For more info on other companies, Google search HRC Buyer's Guide

Meeting today! VU 462b 4pm

We're continuing our discussion on diversity today.  As well as talking about the event we just had. 

Keep an open mind and be thinking about Privilege and Stereotypes.

Read this if you get a chance: www.case.edu/president/aaction/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf

Thank you,
Josh Foley
Coordinator QAAFA

Also, Rhode Island Governor is scary: http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/rhode_island_governor_doesnt_want_you_attending_your_partners_funeral

How are we doing?

Hey Everyone!

If you have any comments, concerns, or critiques about the club and wish not to have your name attached to it, here's a way for you to anonymously message the Exec Board! Click the link below or copy it into your address bar and you will be directed to a page where you can send us a comment. Whether or not you give us your name or e-mail in the message is entirely up to you.

Here is the link:
http://www.delphisstudios.com/qaafa.html

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks!

Andrew Stewart
Queers and Allies for Activism
Publicity Chair

Meeting Tomorrow will be intense (VU 462b 4-6pm): Diversity Training

Hello everyone, I'm emailing you all about tomorrow's meeting.  It is going to be very intense.  We are doing Diversity Training. 

We are going to be working a lot with your own personal identities as well as your prejudices.  We will explore Privilege.  It will be very emotional, but hopefully very meaningful and will be very bonding.

Here is the article you should look over.  It is about White Privilege, but that is not what we will be talking about.  Pay close attention to the list.  It helps you start thinking about your Privilege.

www.case.edu/president/aaction/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf

Thank you,
Josh Foley
Coordinator QAAFA

Meeting in VU 462b at 4pm. Bring snacks!

Hey everyone, bring snacks to today's meeting (i'll have some, but i can't buy too many).

We're going to be talking about tools to be an ally. What do you say to someone when they make an ignorant comment? how do you stop someone from saying "gay?"  Get the tools you need. 

Also, if we have time.  Pictionary for election day celebration. :-)

Thank you,
Josh Foley
QAAFA Coordinator