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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It Gets Better: QWOC + Boston Edition!
Posted By Lina Torres on July 26th, 2011
The “It Gets Better” project began in September of 2010 when columnist and author Dan Savage sought to create a powerful way for individuals to support LGBTQ youth experiencing bullying and harassment. In response to the alarming number of young people taking their lives as a result of verbal and physical abuse, Dan and his partner Terry made a video meant to inspire hope. Since that initial video, the campaign has grown to thousands of videos and a book that was released in March of 2011 – It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. The partnership between this project and The Trevor Project has become an important source of help and inspiration to people worldwide.
The complexity of being a member of the LGBTQ community and a person of color often results in harassment and rejection from many different angles. Members of the QWOC + Boston community have experienced this first hand and use inspiration and lessons from their stories to further the mission of the organization – “creating and sustaining a truly diverse social space for LGBTQ women of color” to ultimately bring about positive change in our society. With this in mind, we have decided to create an “It Gets Better” video – QWOC + Boston Edition. By sharing our stories through this powerful social media outlet, we hope to reach out to those, from any generation, stuck in the struggles created by the many facets of their identity. Many of us can now speak from the other side of the giant hurdles, so we want to let others know that this side does exist. It is essential to send a message that will resonate with the unique challenges of people of color. We also cannot forget our siblings abroad, living in countries where they fear for their lives because anything outside of heterosexuality and gender roles is not only taboo but also illegal. With this project, we hope to provide a glimmer of hope to queer and trans people of color everywhere.
What would you have wanted to hear during your toughest times? Knowing what you know now, what would you say to a young person struggling to hang on? In the spirit of QWOC Week, we hope you join and support us in this endeavor. It is a chance for all of us to engage in activism that will have an immeasurable affect. Diversity speaks, so lets make sure everyone can hear it.
OPTIONZ Pride Party for Trans & Queer People of Color THU June 9th
Posted By Yarimee Gutierrez on June 8th, 2011
**NEW LOCATION**
Due to racist policy at previous venue, OPTIONZ has been MOVED to :
Market Lounge
130 Water St (120 Water St entrance)
Downtown Boston, 02109
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
OPTIONZ: 5th Annual Multicultural Pride Party from Queer Women of Color and Friends
OPTIONZ is an annual diversity-conscious, trans-inclusive, bi-friendly, open-to-all Pride party brought to you by Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) in conjunction with the Boston Pride Committee and Black Pride 2011.
This year, OPTIONZ is being co-hosted by Spectra Events’ Power Lesbian Network, Gay Boston (Young Women of Color), Multicultural AIDS Coalition, MadFemmePride, and the LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts.
Thursday June 9th
Market Lounge
130 Water Street
Boston MA 02109
9PM-10PM Social-Networking and Speed-Friending with QWOC+ and MFP
10PM-2AM DJ Sun One spins the best of Reggae, R&B, Hip-Hop, Latin, and Top 40
*All proceeds will be used to put on QWOC Week (Jul 29th-Aug 7th, 2011)*
*This event is Open to ALL.*
ROOTS: Dance for LGBT Human Rights in Africa
Hosted by Spectra Events and Queer Women of Color and Friends
DID YOU KNOW?
In Africa, DANCE is an expression of PRIDE.
In Africa, DANCE invigorates and sustains the SPIRIT and LIVELIHOOD of many cultures.
In Africa, DANCE unites people in SOLIDARITY and summons forth RESISTANCE.
In Africa, DANCE is used as a CALL TO BRETHREN, neighboring villages, ALLIES, spirits who have passed, ancestors, and gods…
In Africa, DANCE EMPOWERS and UNITES ENTIRE COMMUNITIES in times of celebration…
… and of need.
THIS PRIDE SEASON, please join us for… A PRIDE EVENT **WITH AN INTERNATIONAL TWIST**
Saturday June 11th
MANTRA
52 Temple Place Boston MA
http://africanpride2011.eventbrite.com/
7-9PM Head over to MANTRA after the ESME Block party to join the movement (literally); there will be NO lines (if you get there early)
9PM onwards Get down to DJ Bruno and DJ Rizzla spinning west african rhythms, afrobeat, international house, soca, reggae, and hiphop.
Facebook Event | Ticketing | $5 Online, $10 at the Door
**A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to an organization dedicated to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. TBD. Feel free to leave a comment with your nominations!**
PRIDE IS A PRIVILEGE. Let’s Use Ours to Support Global Equality.
[Erika's Blog] My Last Intern Post — The Summer Ends With A Pause
Posted By Erika Turner on August 17th, 2010
Dear QWOC+ Boston,
If there’s anything I regret this summer, it’s the fact that I did not get the chance to give all of you a hug good-bye last night after we celebrated the commencement of my internship with cake, photos, and, of course, Japanese food. However, I think it’s the most appropriate departure I could have given – a cliffhanger, as opposed to a definite end. If you thought you’ve gotten rid of me, you’re quite wrong. In fact, you are now stuck with me and several of my friends who, after hearing me fawn over you and this internship for the last three months, are now trying to figure out an “in.” One friend asked if you needed an intern for the fall; another asked if any of you were looking to adopt another little sister into the crew.
I send them to you all with pride, armed with the knowledge of how much you’ve affected my life for the better. I would be lying if I said this summer has been easy. With my bouts in and out of the hospital (due entirely to my gift of clumsiness and perhaps slight case of hypochondria), my sanity ceaselessly tested by my part-time job, and my break ups and breakdowns, things couldn’t have been more wild. In the midst of my personal emo lifestyle, I was given more responsibility than I’ve ever been faced with and, given that I respect you all so much, I pushed myself harder than I’ve ever pushed myself before for any one thing. Even with all of your endless support, encouragement, and praise, I still feel that I owe you all far much more than I’ve given and I can only hope that I some day make up for that fact.
I’ve always been a spiritual person and I’ve been told countless times by my mother, pastor, and various women in my family that when God closes one door, he opens up another. As the summer approaches its end, I realize that this reality could not have been more true. As I ended my first year of college, I was faced with the distressing fact that my older sister, who was finishing up her senior year at Harvard, would be returning to the West Coast post-graduation. Though she often complained about her thesis or having a life outside of babysitting, my older sister was my rock and I always knew that, no matter what I had to face during the academic and social catastrophes that often made up my life at Wellesley, she was only a train ride away. It was difficult knowing that I would truly be on my own after her departure. Imagine my pure glee in realizing that as my biological sister figures out her life across the country, I have been blessed with six more adoptive sisters to help guide my way through this crazy city and college life.
I started this internship only wanting a bit of experience in blogging and a nice recommendation letter to leave with. I didn’t expect to be opened up to an entirely new world – that is to say, I didn’t expect to stumble upon my own. I grew up with mostly white friends in a mostly straight setting with not too much variation. I came to Wellesley and was shockingly given the opportunity to meet a few more queer women of color, but was limited only to my campus, limited to conversations only about what we knew, which wasn’t much. We only knew that we weren’t the same as other queer girls or other women of color and for some reason, we felt left out of the conversation. Any conversation. Every conversation. Indeed, the only person with whom I could have a full on, empathetic discussion about my experiences was my sister. And now I’ve discovered that there’s actually an entire community out there that I can learn from, who understands me, and who are having conversations of their own.
12 weeks ago, I was just a black teen with a propensity for writing and women. There wasn’t too much else that defined me. And maybe that’s who I still am and I’m okay with that. But my path is a little clearer now, and my faith in my self and this life is a little stronger. I have a passion that I believe I can follow with a family, adopted and otherwise, that I believe will follow me.
I cannot thank you enough and, while I may give the stink eye to whatever young lady or fellow takes my place from here, I only hope that their experience is just as crazy, just as powerful, and just as life-altering.
But this isn’t a good-bye or even a cliff-hanger. It’s merely a pause – after all, I still owe at least four of you hugs and one of you a Sailor Moon marathon.
Until next time.
With love,
Erika Turner, former QWOC+ Boston Intern
QWOC WEEK PRESS RELEASE (Aug 4-10)
Posted By QWOC+ Boston on August 1st, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
QUEER WOMEN OF COLOR AND FRIENDS (OF ALL COLORS AND ORIENTATIONS) UNITE! ”QWOC+ Boston Fills A Gap In The Local LBGTQ Community—With A Week Long Celebration”
Boston, MA – August 1, 2008 – On August 4, 2008, Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) will launch the first ever, first annual QWOC WEEK, a multicultural pride festival for people of all backgrounds. Intended to increase visibility for LBGTQ people of color and be a rich celebration of pride and authentic diversity for all New Englanders, QWOC WEEK is open to all: from older African-American lesbians to immigrant college queers; from Latino gay guys to transgender pacific islanders; from political allies to non-profit health educators; this festival is open to everyone.
True to its motto – “Diversity Speaks” – QWOC Week 2008 will provide a rare opportunity for the Boston LBGTQ community to connect, collaborate, and “speak” on a variety of race-related issues such as inter-racial dating, queer friendships across the color line and the challenge of providing health services to culturally layered queer identities. With the diverse lineup of events, including a highly anticipated spoken-word/performance show, a Friday night film screening, and a family-friendly day in the park, QWOC Week 2008 promises to be a fun and memorable celebration.
But, more than just fun and games, QWOC+ Boston takes pride in its proactive year-round outreach to under-represented members of the queer community, including other organizations that promote awareness of a variety of issues and/or align with their goal of increasing consciousness via social-networking and community-building. Collaborations with key organizations that promote diverse, inclusive, community-building (such as Black Pride, Multicultural Aids Coalition, Queer Asian Pacific Alliance, MadFemmePride, and Greater Boston PFLAG) underscore the festival’s varied event lineup bound to appeal to a variety of community members.
Working to bolster the local queer scene and provide friendly, authentic community for queer women of color and friends since 2006, Asala talks about the importance (and “fun!” she says) of multi-racial queer community:
“It’s been most rewarding for me to meet the range of incredible, inspiring women I have met over the past few years, and from all over – the non-profit sector, healthcare, the service industry, music, art, academia etc. My circle of friends is so diverse, so progressive, and just so much fun because of it. So, my biggest wish for QWOC Week is that people make these valuable connections.”
- DATES AND TIME: Monday, Aug 4 through Sunday, Aug 10
- LOCATION: Various locations in Boston, Cambridge, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain
Press opportunities: Press passes to events and interviews with members of QWOC+ Boston will be granted to a limited number of journalists. Interested parties should contact Adora Asala, (617) 848-9593, adora@qwocboston.org
About QWOC+ Boston
Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) is a grassroots organization founded in 2006. Run by a diverse group of more than 15 Boston-area LBGTQ community members, QWOC+ Boston is creating a sustainable QWOC+ movement in New England and is committed to providing open-minded, authentic and diverse spaces for LBGTQ women of color (and their friends/allies) in the Greater Boston area.
For more information, visit www.qwocboston.org.
QWOC Week Schedule of Events
Monday August 4th at 7PM
Complex Identities: The Challenge of Providing Health Services to LGBT People of Color
Featuring special guests:
Lula Christopher (Boston Black Women’s Health Initiative), Jacquie Bishop (Director of Community Initiatives, American Diabetes Association), Reverend Irene Monroe (Activist, Scholar and Public Theologian), and Lisa Moris (The Network La Red, Dudley Pride Coalition)
MIT (Bldg 14E-304), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Cost: FREE
Tuesday August 5th at 7PM
Diversity Speaks On Love, Friendship, and Family: A Discussion on Interracial Relationships within the Queer Community
Co-sponsored by Center for New Words’ “Feminism and Dessert” discussion series
YWCA, 7 Temple Street Cambridge MA 02139
Cost: FREE
Wednesday August 6th at 7PM (Doors at 6:30PM)
QWOC+ Boston presents “OUTSPOKEN: A Queer People of Color Spoken-Word and Performance Artist Showcase” in collaboration with Truth Serum Productions
Co-sponsored by Queer Asian Pacific Alliance
MIDDLESEX LOUNGE, 315 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge MA
Cost: $5
Thursday August 7th at 7PM
Back to Basics Afterwork Social: Summer Breezin’ at DBAR
Co-sponsored by MadFemmePride
DBAR, 1236 Dorchester Avenue Boston MA
Cost: FREE
Friday August 8th at 7PM
Lights, Camera, Activism: Movie Night featuring a Film Screening of “Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World”, “U People”, and “The Donor”
Hosted by MIT Women’s and Gender Studies’ “Chicks Make Flicks” Program
MIT STATA CENTER (32-155), 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge MA 02139
Cost: FREE
Saturday August 9th 1PM – 5PM
We Are Family: QWOC+ Boston Day in the Park
STONY BROOK PARK (Opp. Orange Line T-Stop), Jamaica Plain MA
Co-sponsored by Greater Boston PFLAG
Cost: FREE
Saturday August 9th 9PM – 2AM
FUSION “BRING AN ALLY” PRIDE CELEBRATION
A Multicultural Pride Celebration for Men and Women of all Colors
Brought to you by Spectra Entertainment
9PM-10:30PM Grown ‘N’ Sexy Reception hosted by Black Pride, Multicultural Pride Coalition, MOCCA, and People to People: Sistah Summit/Sister Insider
UMBRIA, 295 Franklin Street Boston MA 02110
http://boston.going.com/fusionparty
Sunday August 10th at 12PM
Queer Women of Color and Friends Beach Getaway
Hosted by the QWOC+ Boston Organizers and Volunteers
Revere Beach, Revere MA
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