1. Vision and Purpose

Click here for a pdf of this activity created by Julia Wallace, Griffin HY and Alexis Pauline Gumbs:

View this document on Scribd

A visioning page for organizations, crews and projects.   Can your group answer these questions?
In 1977 the Combahee River Collective said “The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be that we are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual and class oppression and see as our particular task the development of integrate systems of analysis and practice based upon the fact that the major systems of oppression are interlocking.”

How would you answer these questions about a project or group that you are involved in?

“The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be….”

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

“and (we) see as our particular task….”

_____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

For example:

Julia Wallace,  founding director of Queer Renaissance responds this way:

“The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be….

Queer Renaissance works to end poverty and oppression within the local communities it inhabits through alternative & cooperative economics; education; and multimedia & new media technology.

“and (we) see as our particular task….”

Queer Renaissance creates media and local social networks that galvanize a progressive community to create change. There are four divisions of QRR that work to this end – Media Arts & Entertainment, News & Education, Community & Event Promotion, and the Marketplace. QRR seeks to awaken an appreciation for arts & artists, activists & educators, entrepreneurs & revolutionaries, meaning & media-makers by supporting  existing and creating physical and virtual communities.

It’s really all in the name.

When I use the term Queer I am speaking not only of people who identify as Transgender, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Gender Queer, Same or Both Gender Loving, MSM (Men who have Sex with Men), etc. but also to all people for whom the rigid binary gender and sexuality constructs are not life giving.

When I use the term Renaissance I am talking about a myriad of ways that I envision the reconnection of people to themselves and the gifts of life, love, and creation that are seemingly stripped at birth by cultural norms, gifts that I see being recovered. This return includes but is not limited to:

1. The revival of sexuality that is non-normative and/or fluid; revived for the full expression and exploration of a responsible and life giving boundless human sexuality.

2. The reawakening of the ability to and reality that people exist in all kinds of romantic and familial relationships from monogamous to polyamorous, from co-parenting to surrogate family creations, from single individuals to serial monogamists; and so on.

3. The resurrection of the fact that people are born with a range of genitalia, physiology, chromosomes, biology, spirits, body parts, and abilities. We want to affirm that all bodies are right, good, and normal. We want to assert that all bodies should be appreciated and allowed to participate and flourish in freedom love and live responsibly in the world.

Queer Renaissance seeks to recognize & revitalize these realities in our society, local communities, and artistic & cultural products through the creation and sharing of products, services, media and information.

To watch a video of Julia Wallace explaining the HotSpot technology that she is developing for Queer Renaissance see below!

************************************************************************************************************

How would you describe the vision and purpose of your group!?

Send us your visions at brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com, or leave a comment here!

Advertisement