They Still Ain't Ready!

Of course they're not; its only been a month since I wrote about my Faerie Friends. Since my last blog post the rainbow flag has been discussed. It started with Philadelphia I think who added two brown stripes to the flag. It was a symbolic acknowledgement of the invisibility and marginalisation of people of colour in LGBTQ communities. Despite supposedly being hot on "spirituality" the symbolism of this gesture was lost on almost all who participated in the ensuing discussion. I took part at first; trying to explain that the fact that there aren't green or blue-skinned people wasn't relevant and that "yes" the rainbow flag is supposed to be inclusive but it clearly doesn't include everyone. Even Faeries to whom I consider myself close seemed not to get it. I sat back and observed the conversation become trivialised until it was easy to dismiss. It was a truly fascinating experience.

 I do feel a lot less close to the group as a result. I feel like they give major lip-service to "spirituality", "Cosmic Consciousness" and a lot of stuff that it would be easy (and unfair) to dismiss as "hippy shit", but issues like the marginalisation and absence of people of colour in their gatherings isn't something they can deal with.

 I'd written an application to the Big Lottery Fund for a marquee for their Global Gathering event in August. I may have written about the experience here. Talk about "pulling teeth"! There was resistance from some who felt it was somehow against their "principles" (LOL) to be accepting money from 'The Man/Authorities/etc'. I reminded them that the funds come from people playing the National Lottery and that this particular fund was made as easy as possible for bona fide groups to obtain at least one bite of the cherry. I stopped pushing for it and just before the deadline for submitting an application and getting a response in time for the event, they asked me to draft a submission. Even then; getting basic information like addresses, bank account details etc was tortuous. I got the submission in with 3 days to spare. Then of course; they started contacting me asking when the money would arrive. As everything was in their names I told them they'd know before me. In the end they were refused. I've had a pretty near perfect record with Big Lottery Applications but I admit this one might have been a little less focused than before due to the reasons I stated. I had a gracious reaction from one of the key Faeries who thanked me for my effort... The other... not so much. 

 Another prominent member of the group posts ignorantly Islamaphobic comments about "Islam claims to be a religion of peace but doesn't stop suicide attacks". My irritation prompted me to gather and post a load of stuff about the evils of (so-called) "Christian" militias, White Supremacists and lone loonies all claiming inspiration from a Christian God. This person would never be accused of being an intellectual and eventually stopped posting (for the time being) but never acknowledged that he might be in the wrong. 

 These experiences have crystalised some of the notions I'd been forming about the group in reality over its supposed aims. Ultimately; if I am to continue with them it will be with an acknowledgement that they are unlikely to develop in relation to people of colour- unless a 20-something big-dicked, sexually liberated, camp, black guy joins!

 I AIN'T bitter about this! I AM disappointed that yet another "radical" LGBTQ organisation turns out to NOT actually do what it says on its tin:-(

 Happy Pride EVERYONE

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bon Voyage, Mon Enfant!

Image
It's hard dealing with the lack of communication let alone discussion of my Godson's immediate future. Its hard not to view my part in his recent past as a failure. The point is that it is over and I need to move on whilst there is still some relationship left between us. I'm getting quite 'Zen' in covering my frustrations with calm.  My Godson has always been unwaveringly CERTAIN of any decision concerning his learning that was opposed to mine. He was SURE that the scant attention he gave to his studies would at least yield passes. He dismissed my protestations that higher grades offered greater prospects as irrelevant. In exasperation I finally  reminded him and his father that he was here to go to school and that when that ended he would leave my home. His school career recently ended when he did not secure the grades to enrol into the final year.  My Godson is and always has been capable of cruising through a standard UK education, but it wasn't impo...
Read more

Waiting!

Image
I love working with other people and I absolutely hate it too! I love it when I get people together who agree to do stuff but I get twitchy when they're late and I remember that everyone's doing everything "at risk" unless I'm fortunate-enough to have cash with which to bribe them! Yesterday I completed my proposal for our new proposed Main Project- I'm really pleased with it and very excited to submit it, but it would be a mistake not to share it with my colleagues- they're a great bunch when I can get their attention! I have always to remember that they're not as committed to the company as I am: they joined as a favour to me initially and though they've all benefited from it at some time in the last five years... except Wayne who we all forgot was on the Board -including him lol I can't expect anything from them really. So, I get into waiting for responses and starting other things and forgetting that I'm waiting (I'd get annoyed...
Read more

Laurieston Arrival

Image
I doubt I'll be able to express my true feelings at actually arriving at Laurieston Hall for an Edward Carpenter Community, Gay Men's Week. I'm one of MANY people who regard Laurieston as my "Spirtual Home"- a palpable feeling hits me when I turn off the road onto the drive to the Hall. I was all the more keen to come this year when I discovered that this MIGHT be the last 'Season' that the Lauriestonians welcome visitors- at least for a while, Edward Carpenter Community have been coming here for 31 years. Despite a 12 year gap that ended last year, this is my 15th ECC event and almost all of them have been at Laurieston. There are over 60 gay men here from all over UK. So, getting here was a doddle from Newcastle- apart from taking a wrong turning off the M6 and refusing to trust the Sat Nav when I got to Laurieston (from a new direction) and going 4 miles AWAY from the house until I realised... Oh, and I spun off the road on a country road approching...
Read more