Voices Against 377

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Voices Against 377

[Français ci-dessous]

Voices Against 377: Decriminalizing same-sex activity in India
A Presentation by Delhi-based legal rights activist Ponni Arasu

Wednesday October 20th, 2010
Alumni Auditorium, 85 University, University of Ottawa
Reception at 6:30pm, Talk starts at 7pm
Free
For more info: http://www.opirg-gripo.ca/ or 613 230 3076
Event is in English. Contact us for French / ASL translation
Notify us 48 hours in advance for child care.

Ponni will speak to her experiences as one of the core activists who worked on having gay sex decriminalized in India. Ponni will focus her
talk on the legal aspects of queer rights struggles in India, and will
reflect on how effective this approach is, both in India and
internationally.

This panel is a co-presentation with Outlaw (an LGBTQ law
group at UOttawa), Queerfaction (a radical queer group at UOttawa) and OPIRG-Ottawa.

Bio: Ponni Arasu is a queer feminist activist from New Delhi, India. She has
worked with the Alternative Law Forum in Bangalore, India, as well as with
the Law and Society Trust in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her work involves a range
of human rights issues including gender, sexuality, labour and conflict.
Since 2003, Ponni has worked with Voices Against 377, a coalition of
women’s groups, child rights groups, human rights groups and sexuality
groups formed to initiate discussions on sexuality and the law. Voices Against 377
filed an affidavit to strike down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the section that
criminalizes gay sex.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Voices Against 377: décriminaliser les activités de même-sexe en Inde
Une présentation de Ponni Arasu, militante pour les droits légaux basée à Delhi

Mercredi le 20 Octobre
Alumni Auditorium, 85 Université, Université d’Ottawa
Réception á 18h30, Présentation commence á 19h00
Gratuit
Pour plus d'info: http://www.opirg-gripo.ca/ ou 613 230 3076
L'événement est en Anglais. Contactez-nous pour obtenir une traduction en français.
Pour la halte-garderie, veuillez nous notifier 48 heures d’avance.

Ponni discutera de ses expériences comme l’une des militantes les plus
importantes dans la lutte pour la décriminalisation des relations
sexuelles gaies en Inde. Ponni va se concentrer sur les aspects juridiques
des luttes queer en Inde et va revenir sur l’efficacité de cette approche
en Inde et à l’échelle internationale.
Ce panel est une co-présentation de Outlaw (un groupe
LGBTQ d’étudiant-e-s en droit à UOttawa), Queerfaction (un groupe radicaux queer) et le GRIPO-Ottawa.

Bio :
Ponni Arasu est une militante queer et féministe de New Delhi. Elle a
travaillé avec l'Alternative Law Forum en Bangalore ainsi qu’avec le Law
and Society Trust de Colombo, Sri Lanka. Son travail inclut une variété
d’enjeux en droits humains qui incluent le genre, la sexualité, le travail
et le conflit. Depuis 2003, Ponni collabore avec Voices Against 377, une
coalition composée de groupes de femmes, groupes pour les droits
d’enfants, groupes pour les droits humains et groupes de sexualité créée
pour initier des discussions sur la sexualité et la loi. Voices Against
377 a fait une déclaration par écrit et sous serment pour abolir la
section 377 du code pénal indien qui criminalise les relations sexuelles
gaies.

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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.

****

-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)