Ottawa Vigil to End Homophobic Violence

Friday, October 15, 2010

Ottawa Vigil to End Homophobic Violence

Everyone is invited to attend the Ottawa Vigil to End Homophobic Violence this Thursday, October 21st.

As with other heavily attended vigils in Canadian cities, this event is being held to remember the lives lost due to homophobic bullying and hate and to remember and recognize all experiences of gender and sexuality based violence.

This vigil is being held for remembrance but also to acknowledge that homophobia is not only toler...ated, but rampant and even encouraged in our society. The recent suicides reported in the media are not isolated, nor are they the only queer suicides that are happening in our communities - queer people are overrepresented when it comes to suicide and homelessness, as a result of homophobia. Queer suicide is a hate crime by society.

If we are going to stand up with queer youth, we need to challenge homophobia transphobia, and heteronormativity in all aspects of our communities; in health services, in the legal system, in schools, in the police and military, in popular media and amongst each other.

This means reinstating the new Ontario sex ed program, this means an end to the criminalization of HIV-AIDS, this means support and dignity for youth who find themselves living on the streets due to homophobia, this means queer content in school curriculums, this means access without fear to health and social services regardless of immigration status and most importantly it means listening to those queer voices on the frontlines of this important battle.

The vigil will begin with speakers at 8pm at the Human Rights Memorial on Elgin @ Lisgar and will march to Parliament hill for closing speeches and a moment of silence.

To get involved, for more information, or if you wish to speak, please contact Nicole or Georgeanne at 613-562-5755, or queer.faction@gmail.com.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126072067446749#!/event.php?eid=126072067446749

*Need support? Trained anti-oppressive support workers from the Carleton Coalition for a Sexual Assault Support Centre will be wearing arm bands and will be present to offer 1 on 1 support listening at any time before, after or during the vigil.

This event is supported by:
-Queer fAction
- OPIRG-GRIPO (Ontario Public Interest Research Group Ottawa)
-The Women’s Resource Centre of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa
-The Pride Centre of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa

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à propos de nous / about us

fAction Queer est un groupe queer basé à Ottawa. Nous nous opposons à l'oppression de tous genres, incluant, mais non limité à, l'hétérosexisme, le patriarcat, le classisme et le sexisme. Nous croyons en la liberté totale de libre
expression de nos désirs et expressions sexuelles. La solidarité et l'action directe sont nos armes.

Queer fAction is a radical queer group, based in Ottawa, challenging gender oppression, patriarchy, heterosexism and all other oppression within the queer community and society at large. We believe in the complete freedom of sexual and gender expressions, harnessing the power of grassroots to express solidarity and confront oppression.

queer.faction@gmail.com

Basis of Unity

Visibility:
-Essential to our struggle, we must be visible as queer people in our communities.
-Smashing closets, repression, and self-hate.
-We are open to being perceived as queer during our meetings and actions.
-Marginal voices cannot possibly be articulated by one monolithic queer group on campus or within our communities.
-We oppose all forms of assimilation as death through erasure.
-We will create a radical presence at queer events and a queer presence at radical events.

Anti-Oppression:
-Active opposition to racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, HIV/AIDS stigma, classism, heteronormativity and homophobia within Queer fAction, queer communities, and our community at large.
-Recognizing power relations within our groups and communities, and acting to eliminate social hierarchies.

Solidarity and Coalition-building:
-Acting in solidarity with other oppressed groups, who may not identify as queer.
-Building relationships with other oppressed groups and activist groups.
-Recognizing that we are acting on unceded Algonquin land

Grassroots:
-Operating our group at the community level, independent from any state or government.

Non-violent Direct Action:
-Actions that are ends in themselves, or lead to concrete ends.

Accessibility:
-Events and meetings should be wheelchair accessible.
-Published items ought to be (at least) French-English bilingual.
-Language should be accessible; specialized or academic vocabulary and concepts should be defined or explained.

Sex-positivity and Sexual Health:
-Acknowledging the ultimate right of individuals to engage in consensual sex acts and relationships, with anybody, with any motivation, paid or unpaid.
-We support the use of harm reduction methods (including but not limited to the use of barriers, education, and testing), as we recognize the effects of HIV-AIDS and other STIs on queer communities as well as other communities

Anti-capitalism:
-We reject the comodification, exploitation, and corporate appropriation of our queer identities
-We reject pink capitalism and gay dollars as tools for liberation

Anarchy:
-Operating our group without hierarchies, coercive power, or internal authority.

Consensus decision-making:
-Decisions made by the group should be supported by (or acceptable to) all members present.
-Ultimate decision-making capacity is held by individuals who have attended 2 Queer fAction meetings and have agreed to the Basis of Unity of the group.
-At least 3 members with decision-making capacity must be present at meetings to have quorum

Voluntary Association:
-Recognizing individuals' rights to act independently or with the group.

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-This is a living document and is subject to annual review each spring, by consensus, while maintaining the integrity and spirit of the original document.

-Translation of the document can be agreed upon at regular Queer fAction meetings, outside of the annual review

(Nous sommes en train d'écrire une version française du présent document)