From a QWOC in Japan: “I have learned that I cannot do it on my own and that as much as I perhaps took credit for what I knew and what I learned, I realize that I always had a constant source of support to fall back on. Now that these friends – my family – are many miles away, I am left to navigate this world, for the first time, as a true outsider.”
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Announcing…. QWOC WEEK 2011!
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on July 15th, 2011
(Note to Press: You can download the full content of this press release HERE + Fact Sheet + QWOC Week Flyer)
For Immediate Release:
Queer Women of Color Week Uses Art, Performance, and Dialogue to Address Segregation in Communities of Color
“QWOC Week is important because it’s the only event of its kind…It recognizes, cherishes, and celebrates my WHOLE identity.”
Boston, MA, July 18th — Join Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) for their 4th annual week-long pride festival, QWOC Week, taking place this year from Saturday July 30th – Saturday August 6th.
This year, QWOC Week, known for its eclectic back-to-back schedule of innovative art, discussion, and community-building events, is focused on increasing solidarity between LGBTQ communities of color by creating space for a myriad of affinity groups. A highly anticipated annual spoken-word and live music showcase, OUTSPOKEN — The BLACKOUT Edition, will feature an all-black lesbian performer lineup this year, including nationally reknowned black lesbian poet Letta Neely, and reigning local slam poet, Porscha (who will also be competing at the National Poetry Slam taking place in Cambridge the following week).
Founding Director, Spectra A. I. Asala says that whatever the theme, OUTSPOKEN always attracts all kinds of people who are eager to learn about issues impacting queer and transgender women of color in general. “The performers are unapologetically loud and proud, and it’s refreshing, especially since the experiences of LGBTQ people of color are often over-politicized as hot button “issues” or trivialized via “at-risk” statistics. OUTSPOKEN is an empowering celebration of who we are as LGBTQ people, but as women of color as well.”
The intentional focus on women is clear. QWOC Week’s opening panel, “Trans Women of Color Speak” hosted in collaboration with TransCEND and Mass Transgender Political Coalition, brings forth an important conversation about the role of transgender women of color in stonewall in light of their subsequent marginalization within the gay movement. The event encourages both queer and trans communities to work together towards creating safe spaces for transgender women of diverse cultural backgrounds.
But women aren’t the only affinity group being highlighted during the week. This year, QWOC+ Boston has teamed up with Mass. South Asian Lamba Association, Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (QAPA) and MAP for Health to address the lack of visibility of Asians/Asian-Americans within the broader LGBTQ community of color. “At my school, I’ve seen first hand how the queer Asian community is deliberately passed over and seen as ‘the other’, even when they are the most vocal in the LGBT POC community,” remarked Wellesley student organizer (and 2011 Point Foundation scholar), Erika Turner. Turner, who is also part of the planning committee for Family Day in the Park — an all-ages, youth- and family-friendly event in Stony Brook, JP, credits her commitment to creating supportive spaces for LGBT women of color to the positive experience interning with QWOC+ Boston in 2010. “QWOC Week is important because it’s the only event of its kind,” she says, “It has been the only Pride I’ve experienced that recognizes, cherishes, and celebrates my WHOLE identity.”
QWOC Week is being planned and executed entirely by a grassroots group of volunteers and dedicated community supporters. Collaborators include The Network/ La Red, an organization dedicated to ending partner abuse in LGBTQ communities, Black and Pink, a prison-abolitionist organization, The Bisexual Resource Center, and many others.
“All our events are open to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality, hence the wide range of collaborations,” says Asala, “Plus, they’re fun! There’s something for everyone, whether you’re new to Boston, artsy, political, love the outdoors etc. We want our friends, families, and allies to be part of this amazing week.” For more information about QWOC Week, including the full schedule, visit http://www.qwocboston.org/qwoc-week/ or the official registration page at qwocweek2011.eventbrite.com.
A limited number of spaces for press (and community leaders) to attend the closing reception on Saturday August 6th are available. Please send all inquiries to pride@qwocboston.org, or contact Spectra at 617.871.0431
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List of Collaborating Organizations
BlackandPink.org
Bisexual Resource Center (BRC) (Gold Sponsor)
Boston GLASS
Emerson College, Office Multicultural Student Affairs & GLBTQ Resources
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
Mass. South Asian Lambda Association (MASALA)
Mass. Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (QAPA)
Salacious Magazine
Suffolk University, Office of Diversity Services
Suffolk University, President’s Commission on the Status of LGBTQ Faculty, Staff and Students
Suffolk University, President’s Commission on the Status of AHANA Faculty, Staff, and Students
Power Lesbian Network (PLN)
Spectra Events
The Network / La Red (TNLR) (Platinum Sponsor)
Transgender Care and Education Needs Diversity (TransCEND)
***SURVIVOR KITS FOR THE NETWORK/LA RED
This year we are also holding a Survivor Drive for The Network/La Red, a wonderful organization dedicated to support services and addressing partner abuse in LGBTQ and polyamorous communities. Please consider contributing one of the items listed below.
Food Gift Cards (Shaws/Stop& Shop/Star)
CVS/Rite Aid Gift Cards
Charlie Cards with stored value
Movie Theater Passes
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Lotion (Small Bottles/Travel Size)
Reusable water bottles
Tote Bags
Umbrella
These items may be dropped off at the follow QWOC Week Events:
-7/31: A Discussion about Open Relationships & Polyamory
-8/3: Activism & Karaoke* – BRING AN ITEM TO DONATE & GET IN FOR FREE!
-8/6: Family & Youth Day at the Park
*We’re asking all guests to bring donations to gain entrance to this event (or pay a $10).
QWOC WEEK 2011 SCHEDULE
*Please check the OFFICIAL website/event page for any last minute changes
Website: http://www.qwocboston.org/qwoc-week
Ticketing: http://qwocweek2011.eventbrite.com/
NOTE: All events are open to the public (i.e. everyone) except where specified.
Saturday July 30th 2PM – 5PM
A Discussion about Open Relationships & Polyamory in Queer/Trans Communities of Color
In collaboration with The Network/La Red & The Bisexual Resource Center
Harvard Democracy Center | 25 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Facebook Event |
Sunday July 31st @ 3PM – 7PM
Old School Meets New School T-Dance
In collaboration w/ Spectra Events’ Power Lesbian Network and Boston Black Women’s Health Initiative
Redd’s | 4257 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA 02131
Facebook Event
Monday August 1st @ 6 PM – 8:30 PM
Opening Panel – Trans Women of Color Speak
In collaboration with Transgender Care & Education Needs Diversity (TransCEND), Mass Trans Political Coalition (MTPC), and Suffolk University Offices of Diversity Services.
Suffolk University Law School (Sargent Hall Function Room) | 120 Tremont Street, 1st floor
Facebook Event |
Tuesday August 2nd @ 6 PM – 8 PM
Building Bridges: Queer Asian Experiences in LGBTQ Communities of Color
In collaboration with Mass. Area South Asian Lambda Association (MASALA), Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance (QAPA) & MAP for Health
MIT Room 36-112 | STATA CENTER 32 Vassar Street Cambridge MA 02139
Facebook Event |
Wednesday August 3rd @ 6 PM – 9 PM
Activism & Karaoke: The International Edition
In collaboration with Black & Pink and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
(Drop Off for Week-Long Survivor Kit Drive for The Network/La Red)
CLUB CAFE | 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA
Cost: Donated Items or $10
Facebook Event
Thursday August 4th @ 7 PM – 1 AM
OUTSPOKEN – The BLACKOUT Edition produced by Spectra Events
Queer & Trans People of Color Spoken- Word & Live Music Showcase
Co-sponsored by Salacious Magazine
OBERON | 2 Arrow Street Cambridge MA
Facebook Event | Tickets ($10 Online, $15 at the Door)
Friday August 5th @ 7 PM
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTIVISM: QWOC Film Night
EMERSON COLLEGE | 150 Boylston Street (1st Floor), Boston MA 02116
Facebook Event |
Saturday August 6th @ 12 PM – 4 PM
Family Day at Stony Brook Park
Supporting Organizations: Boston GLASS and Greater Boston PFLAG
STONY BROOK PARK | Jamaica Plain, MA
Facebook Event |
Saturday August 6th @ 8 PM – 1 AM
QWOC Week Closing Ceremony and Dance Party
In collaboration with Spectra Events
The Midway Cafe | 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA
Cost: $5-10 Online, $12 at the Door
Facebook Event | Tickets ($5-8 Online, $10-12 at the Door)
Community Vigil for slain Ugandan LGBT activist
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on February 8th, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Keri Aulita
Phone: 617-262-9405
Email: deputydirector@bostonpride.org
Boston Pride, along with Queer Women of Color and Friends and Join the Impact MA, will host a community vigil to remember and honor David Kato, a brave leader of Uganda’s persecuted LGBT community who was found bludgeoned to death in his home in late January.
The candlelight ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 10 at 6:00pm in Copley Square. A screening of “Missionaries of Hate” will follow at Club Café on Columbus A…venue. This powerful documentary explores the efforts of American evangelicals to spread hatred and violence against gays in Uganda.
“The onus is on us to remember David as we press forward for true equality, both here in Massachusetts and throughout the world. We will gather not only to pay respect to this fearless hero, but to recommit ourselves to the fight for absolute and unequivocal freedom,” states Keri Aulita, Deputy Director.
Kato was one of those rare individuals who embodied the courage of human conviction; the Rosa Parks of his country; a man who was willing to stand up for justice whatever the costs. In a country that is still contemplating the death penalty as punishment for homosexuality, David’s actions speak to his selflessness and his standing as a true leader. David’s death is a loss not just for Uganda’s LGBT community, but for the international civil rights movement as a whole.
When we gather in solidarity for a brother lost to shameful violence, we will do so in the relative comfort of a city that has largely come to accept and embrace its LGBT people. We will not know the terror and anxiety that out LGBT people face every day on the streets of Uganda. So we take a moment to contemplate the character of a man who defied the horrific hatred of his times to provide a beacon of light to his community.
A Warm Welcome for Our Spring Intern, Asha Carter!
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on February 7th, 2011
It is with great excitement that we welcome Asha Carter, our first Development Intern, to the QWOC+ Boston family! We first met Asha at our spring social last year, and then right at the end of QWOC Week, when she confessed that she’d been sizing us up via our last intern’s blog posts and bursts of excitement on Facebook. Apparently, we made the cut! She applied to be our intern this year, and we couldn’t be any more thrilled to have her.
This spring, plan on hearing from Asha via our bi-weekly newsletters, blog posts, and of course Facebook and Twitter! She’ll be helping us get ready for the summer by putting together our Spring Social (during which we recruit brand new volunteers for 2011), and blazing the trail as the lead coordinator of our first Youth Development Weekend in May!
Here are a few words from Asha:
Hey, everybody!! My name is Asha, and I’m a sophomore at Wellesley College. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. I’m a Peace and Justice Studies major, with a concentration in Urban Development and Sustainability. I spend a lot of time working on youth outreach, but when I’m not doing that, I sing, dance, act, and spend *way too much* time with my close friends. I’m bubbly, I love kids, and meeting and talking to new people feeds me like nothing else.
I’ve met a wide range of people in the first two decades of my life, but the more I learn, the more I realize how much is left to know–a daunting, but thrilling discovery to make. I’m really looking forward to working with QWOC+ Boston, and having a fantastic semester!
Please join us in welcoming Asha! *applause applause* Leave her a comment of encouragement, wisdom, warning, or warm welcome 
Spectra Speaks To Interview International LGBT Human Rights Leaders for Black History Month
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on January 19th, 2011
For Immediate Release:
Spectra Speaks, founding director of QWOC+ Boston and award-winning LGBT activist, is interested in interviewing LGBT POC leaders in the US and human rights activists around the world as part of the QWOC Talk Project.
If you’re an LGBT activist/leader based in the US, who is part of the (or works closely with) the LGBT people of community, or a human rights activist working to further the fight for LGBT equality and acceptance in any part of the world, you are invited to participate in this interview series.
The project launches in February, and in solidarity with Black History Month, will feature interviews from Black LGBT Leaders across the country (from New England to the West Coast) and the globe (spanning various parts of Africa and Europe).
Note from Spectra:
“Too often, we lose momentum in movements due to lack of mentorship and access to the wealth of knowledge held collectively by our leadership. I’m interested in speaking with individuals who are working in various capacities to improve the livelihood of their communities because I believe that through these people, we can all learn something, even if it is that we — as leaders — are not alone in the struggle for acceptance and eventually, equality.
So whether or not you’re featured in your local newspaper, part of 501c3 organization or proudly unaffiliated, creating change legally or socially, speaking out via Op-Eds or through your craft as an artist, remember that you are an important part of the LGBT movement. You ARE an important asset to all of us, and I’d be honored to hear from you.”
Please submit some preliminary information HERE and you will receive an email if you’re profile aligns with the mission of this project. This could take anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on interest and interview schedules, which will be conducted via phone, in-person (depending on location), email, or Skype.
Spread the word.
- Spectra Speaks Blog: http://www.spectraspeaks.com/
- Follow on Twitter: @spectraspeaks #diversityspeaks
- Email: warriorwoman (at) spectraspeaks (dot) com
QWOC Week: Activism Meets Diversity
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on July 13th, 2010
In approximately three weeks, Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) will be hosting one of the most diverse festival celebrations in the city – QWOC WEEK 2010.
Our “3rd Annual Multicultural Pride Celebration” kicks off on July 31st with Feminist Friday at Caprice Lounge, a social networking event for feminists, womanists, and those who love them, and ends on August 8th with an appreciation brunch for QWOC WEEK’s organizers, volunteers, and collaborators.
Many of you must be wondering, what is QWOC WEEK about, anyway? A handful of you must be going, duuh, it’s a week full of fun activities for queer women of color and allies. Sure, but is that all it is?
When founder and organizer of QWOC+ Boston, Adaora, decided to produce QWOC WEEK in 2007, she did so after noticing that Boston’s queer women of color community remained, for the most part, invisible within the larger, male/white-dominated gay community, and as a direct result, pride celebrations as well — even ones that celebrated people of color.
In Adaora’s words, “QWOC Week is QWOC+ Boston’s take on what a pride week (for LGBTQ people of color) should look like; a variety of art, music, discussion, and social events that appeal to all kinds of people — older, younger, partnered, single, people of color, immigrants of different cultures, the politicians and activists among us, artists and educators, feminists, transpeople — all of us.”
However, the recipe for producing the ideal QWOC WEEK hasn’t yet fallen from the sky; QWOC Week organizers have spent the last three years tweaking (and adding to) an important list of criteria which they use to create the draft calendar; there’s always plenty of social networking and community-building (both of which are at the core of our mission), so other stipulations include having as many all-ages events as possible, facilitating a “Diversity Speaks” discussion, hosting a family-friendly/outdoor event, presenting either a visual art exhibit or film screening, and incorporating a community/direct service component into the week.
Diversity and Activism
This year, inspired by the politically-heavy nationwide Harvey Milk Week, we’ve decided to work with collaborators who exemplify different kinds of activism — health, youth development, arts and music, support groups etc — such as Fenway Women’s Health, Boston GLASS, and Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance, to name a few. This is because the lead organizer believes that “Diversity is about more than just people’s backgrounds. It’s about what issues we care about, and being aware of the different ways people give back to their communities.”
For example, we are hosting an event entitled “Activism and Karaoke: Sign Before Your Sing!“ This event takes place on Wednesday, August 4th at Club Cafe. Activism and Karaoke may be two things which seemingly have nothing to do with each other, except that both involve a little courage, putting yourself out there, and sign-up sheets! BlackandPink.Org a website that creates awareness around prison abolitionist 
issues and promotes advocacy for our oft-forgotten LGBTQ community members in prison, will be helping us host this letter-writing drive to folks who have no support system behind bars, and signing peeps up to be pen pals if they’re up for it. We’re super excited to finally see this event come to fruition (it’s been in the works since Harvey Milk Week in May!) We’re also really excited to co-host this event with Men of Color Creating Change, a social networking group for gay men of color and allies in the area, whose members will be present to make sure new connections are made, and — no doubt — will lead us “altogether now” in karaoke-song at least once during the evening.
On Saturday, August 7th, we’ll be hosting our first Youth Open Mic in Stony Brook Park, as part of a collaboration with Boston GLASS, an outreach and support group to LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 25. Incidentally, last year, an MIT student who attended OUTSPOKEN — our queer people of color spoken-word and live music showcase — remarked to an organizer that the experience had “changed her life.” So when Precinct (this year’s 21+ venue for OUTSPOKEN) reiterated that it could not admit youth to the event, QWOC+ Boston pitched the idea to Boston GLASS of creating an entirely separate event (in alignment with the lgbt youth writing contest) geared towards the younger generation. Thus, as we enjoy the outdoors, sports, food, and pickup sports games, we’ll also be given the opportunity to hear a few brave, “outspoken” youth stand up and speak for themselves.
Stand Up for Kids
In addition to providing various platforms for young people to speak their minds — the writing contest, open mic at stony brook, even our intern’s weekly blog — we’d like to provide for others who aren’t as fortunate; many young people are without a lot more than just a place to speak and be heard; many young people are without a place to sleep, clothes to wear, or food to eat; many of our youth are homeless.
In response to this, we’re partnering with Kappa Psi Kappa Fraternity (KPK) to run a clothing and survivor supply drive for Stand Up for Kids, an organization well-known on the west coast for providing support to homeless youth, and who recently opened up an office in Boston.
Says Elijah Dear, the North Atlantic Regional Director of KPK, “[QWOC+ Boston] has been a wonderful role model, and resource for the LGBT community… Assisting with this charitable drive was an opportunity for myself, and my chapter to work alongside QWOC+ and be a part of QWOC week.” In case you didn’t know, KPK is an organization comprised of gentlemen who believe that irrespective of background, “[men] can come together and change not only [their] community, but the world.”
As part of the QWOC Week Clothing and Supply Drive, we will be collecting (newly packaged) underwear and tube socks. Elijah asserts that Stand Up for Kids is “one of a select few youth organizations extremely dedicated and connected to its mission of assisting at-risk kids – especially in Massachusetts,” which was enough for the QWOC Week organizers to get on board and work with KPK on this project. While many of us are familiar (and have participated in) clothing drives, this seemingly simple initiative is unique in that it aims to bring attention to something which is often overlooked (our M.O.). It’s easy to forget that underwear and socks, are just as important – if not more important — than pants and shirts. You might wear the same pair of jeans three days in a row – but what about your underwear?
The drop-off days for the clothing drive are:
- Sunday August 1st (Old School Meets New School T-Dance)
- Monday August 2nd (Out of the Box: Media and Literary Artists Studio)
- Wednesday August 4th (Activism and Karaoke: Sign Before You Sing!)*
- Saturday August 7th (Family Day at Stony Brook Park featuring Youth Open Mic)
*As you can see, donations will be accepted at multiple events all week, but we are dedicating the Activism and Karaoke event specifically to this cause – rather than pay us an admission/door fee to attend, we’re asking all guests to purchase/bring newly packaged underwear and socks to gain entrance.
QWOC+ Boston hopes to make a big difference this summer, and we’re pretty confident that our partnerships with organizations like BlackandPink.Org, Kappa Psi Kappa, Stand-Up for kids, and more will aid us in our efforts. As Elijah says, “activism begins with understanding the needs of the community, and acting on those needs,” and QWOC WEEK’s mission is to respond to as many of those needs as possible.
“QWOC WEEK itself is a direct-service event…,” says Adaora, “the week brings people together, creates awareness across issues that are relevant to queer/LGBT women of color; it includes our allies and supporters, and as a direct result, we are stronger and more unified as a community. I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”
So, when you’re out there enjoying yourself at QWOC WEEK, whether it’s playing Frisbee at Family Day in Stony Brook Park, listening to a queer youth speak up at the Open Mic, listening to your sister sing at Karaoke while letter-writing at Activism and Karaoke, or ‘checking yourself’ during what’s sure to be a thought-provoking QWOC Film Night — just remember that you’re doing something good, you are part of this movement, your voice and participation are equally as important as the platforms we’ll be providing to contribute them.
QWOC week is for everyone. And like Adaora says, “Even if you don’t call yourself an ‘activist’, you’ll feel good about participating, being included. That’s the most important part.”
