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Simhne

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Posts posted by Simhne

  1. What is happening in Russia is an outrage and it is not only lgbt activists being victimised by Putin's regime, it is any form of progressive political expression inc Pussy Riot. There are plenty of voices in the country calling for a more open and just society and lgbt activists have always and across continents realised how equality on grounds of sexuality must be part of a wider struggle. This is why lgbt rights in S. Africa are relatively more advanced, because people stood up and made themselves recognised including from within the ANC. Russians shouldn't be stereotyped as dictated to by their church or their history when there are plenty of individuals prepared to oppose what is an oppressive regime.

    Peter Tatchell, as usual I find expresses better how vital it is for a strategic approach to tackling homophobia. JT is right to remind us that Silence Equals Death. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/06/book-that-changed-me-peter-tatchell

     

    Agreed - but Peter Tatchell and Nikolay Alekseev are very different.

     

     

    ... and I have to be honest, I have never heard of Silence Equals Death.  

     

    I was doing other things at the time (1987), but looking it up I can't see the connection. 

     

    From a very brief scan I think that campaign was planned to focus attention on the situation of those with AIDS (treatment, safe sex education, etc), it had very broad based support and, above all, their campaign was an "unusual experiment in the politics of participation - a mixture of the shrill and the shrewd" and they "held several soul-searching sessions to discuss its past and plot its future ... Act-Up's weekly meetings are an exercise in creative anarchy. There is no board and no paid staff. Anyone who shows up can vote. ..."

     

    Essentially Act Up seems to be the absolute antithesis of the way Nikolay Alekseyev ran and saw things - there was no "shrewd",  just "shrill"; there was no "participation"; and nobody got a "vote".

     

    The entire campaign in Russia is an abject lesson in how NOT to go about change and how much harm the wrong sort of activism can do to the people it purports to support.

     

     

    http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/03/nyregion/rude-rash-effective-act-up-shifts-aids-policy.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm

    You're right the term was primarily used in aids activism but my recollection is that the general tenet was used in queer activist groups like OutRage in relation to campaigning for equality. Its interesting to see the fault lines around boycott or not the Olympics and I have to admit I'm not sure. Do you remember "the kiss" at eurovision and how the Russians threatened to boycott? (I imagine I'm pretty safe in assuming people on this thread were watching, I know JT was). That was so powerful, what if something similar was planned for the Olympics? I'm thinking of the "Kiss In" in Picadilly in the days when I dressed like Jimmy Somerville rather than Jimmy Hill, that was brilliant activism and produced some enduring images.

    Either way the debate within and without Russia is how best to focus attention and bring about change, hopefully we all agree on that. There seems to be a lack of coherent, unified response from within Russia but I note that Greg Louganis is opposed to a boycott.

  2. Peter Tatchell is definitely a hero of mine. I met him once off a train in Manchester in about 94 to take him to an event but I can't remember what the event was although I do remember he was promoting his book on safer sex at it. Great man who lives by his convictions.

    How about Lily Savage? I used to go and see her at the Vauxhall Tavern in London in the early 90's, fantastic although Adrella was better.

     

    "...lives by his convictions" ... Probably why he was a total failure as a politician - he wouldn't have fitted in at all.

    How do you mean "failure" LeC? When he stood for Bermondsey in the 80s he was the focus of violent homophobic attacks including an orchestrated campaign by the Liberal Party's Simon Hughes. He wasn't elected.

  3. Peter Tatchell is definitely a hero of mine. I met him once off a train in Manchester in about 94 to take him to an event but I can't remember what the event was although I do remember he was promoting his book on safer sex at it. Great man who lives by his convictions.

    How about Lily Savage? I used to go and see her at the Vauxhall Tavern in London in the early 90's, fantastic although Adrella was better.

  4. What is happening in Russia is an outrage and it is not only lgbt activists being victimised by Putin's regime, it is any form of progressive political expression inc Pussy Riot. There are plenty of voices in the country calling for a more open and just society and lgbt activists have always and across continents realised how equality on grounds of sexuality must be part of a wider struggle. This is why lgbt rights in S. Africa are relatively more advanced, because people stood up and made themselves recognised including from within the ANC. Russians shouldn't be stereotyped as dictated to by their church or their history when there are plenty of individuals prepared to oppose what is an oppressive regime.

    Peter Tatchell, as usual I find expresses better how vital it is for a strategic approach to tackling homophobia. JT is right to remind us that Silence Equals Death. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/06/book-that-changed-me-peter-tatchell

  5. It is far more comfortable and sadly predictable for all of us involved in this scenario to maintain our familiar positions without considering or being open to what might be happening here.

    It is clear to anyone familiar with the Catholic Church that the language, approach and above all gestures used by Francis are very significant. Not only that but if like me and IB you were brought up in the Church and like IB I retain a very song affection for it and it's people then is it not natural to desperately want to see the kind of change we all hope for in such a powerful institution. Personally I am optimistic but I will be watching how things unfold as I am not convinced the curia will give up that easily.

    It is important to not be naive about Francis and the Church but it is equally important to recognise and nurture any possibility for dialogue and change rather than remaining in our familiar comfort zones no matter how justifiable they are and I speak as an lgbt activist since the days of section 28 and the Benetton protest in the UK.

    Having said all that I've just finished my morning yoga and mediation here in the UK!

  6. Your friend should try and avoid Xanax or other Benzodiazepenes as much as possible as they are useful in extreme circumstances but addictive. If you can find a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist you should direct them there as it is the best evidenced means of managing the symptoms but they must be prepared to put the work in.

    Mindfulness or meditation techniques are however probably more easily accessed in Thailand and are really excellent for changing our attitudes generally to a more calm and positive mind set. This is also well evidenced.

  7. If you saw the semi final audience shots it was like a gay bar in there, so funny. Annamatronic of Scissor Sisters was one of the UK show presenters and was really entertaining/camp.

    Malta's song is cute of weird, shame Montenegro didn't get through but I rather like the French entry. Ireland way too cheesy I'm afraid.

    Can you imagine an Asian version? Or is there? !

  8. I hope the 3 representatives of the LGBTI community on the panel are able to continue their advocacy for the community in Thailand and that they feel supported in what is surely a challenging role. Unhelpful and frankly bizarre suggestions such as the homosexuality test must continue to be challenged.

    I'd be interested to know the composition of the panel from a party political perspective and how their views divide as such. It's also worth commenting what a well written article the OP is.

    • Like 1
  9. It would be great if somebody had a block of land, fence it and then rent it out to dog walkers. If I had the connections I would do it. A dog park is something I would pay to use here, and I have a huge garden already.

    I know of a block of land in Lad Prao, old school yard (school has recently closed). The owner is an in law of mine and is looking for a use for it but would want income. If there was sufficient take up for your idea what do you think people would regard as a reasonable fee or subscription assuming there would be enough demand locally?

    The area is just over a Rai so not massive but big enough to throw a ball, has seats etc and is enclosed.

  10. Can I suggest a positive response from those of us feeling shame and anger over the spectacle unfolding in London today with the tory beatification of a woman who brought such a legacy of suffering and division would be to make a donation to support the Durham Miners Gala. Its an excellent site just to have read of in case you don't feel able to contribute.

    Friends of The Durham Miners Gala.html[/url]

    I will send them an IOU on your behalf, how much shall I put you down for?

    Well it wouldn't be an IOU in that case pal would it. How about a UOU or better still a MOU (maggie owes you) which would seem just. Put her down for the 10 million this is setting UK tax payers back for a start.
    • Like 2
  11. Can I suggest a positive response from those of us feeling shame and anger over the spectacle unfolding in London today with the tory beatification of a woman who brought such a legacy of suffering and division would be to make a donation to support the Durham Miners Gala. Its an excellent site just to have read of in case you don't feel able to contribute.

    Friends%20of%20The%20Durham%20Miners%20Gala.html[/url]

  12. People keep mentioning the many street parties that have taken place to celebrate the death of MT, the places reported include Brixton,Bristol,Glasgow and IRA areas in Nth Ireland,possible a few other places as well. My question is,does anybody know how many people in total we talking about and what percent of the 63 million Brits are they.

    From what I have seen on the TV news, maybe 50 to 100 max at each; so an insignificant percentage of the overall population. Most of whom seem to be there just to get themselves on TV!

    As said earlier, even her most implacable opponents have condemned these events.

    It would be better if the media didn't show pictures, if not ignore them completely, so this tiny minority would not receive the attention they so obviously desperately crave.

    "The BBC is coming under increasing pressure to say whether it will play a song pushed into the charts by people celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher.

    Corporation bosses say they have not yet decided whether to play Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead if anti-Thatcher protesters manage to get the song into Sunday's singles chart." Huffington Post.

    I know it may be difficult to accept for those wedded to the thatcherite view of chippy northern shirkers and resentful Wolfy Smith types, but enough people in blighty detest the woman's legacy enough to push this song to number 3 in the chart.

    Glenda Jackson's contribution to the parliamentary proceedings is well worth a look on YouTube.

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