QUEER fACTION | fACTION QUEER: August 2010

Monday, August 9, 2010

CUMPLETELY QUEER

A totally cute alternative to the gaystream!

On this 25th Anniversary of Capital(ist) Pride it is time we act out against the assimilationist agenda of "Ottawa's most colourful festival"! Cumpletely Queer aims to create an accessible alternative to Ottawa's Pride Week, while building coalitions amongst queers, radicals, and radical queers. In so doing, Cumpletely Queer hopes to revive the radical roots of Pride.

Join us as we re...ject gentrification, corporate sponsors, apartheid, assimilation and celebrate gender-bendin, sex positivity, queer histories, and much more!

Note to Allies: Straight-identified allies are welcome to join us, but please recognize that "Pride" is a queer space. Furthermore you should expect to be perceived as queer at these events.

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Tentative Schedule of Events:

Saturday August 21st:
QUEERS IN RADICAL STRUGGLES: Panel Discussion
Organized by No One Is Illegal Ottawa
Ottawa Public Library Auditorium
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151333401546904&index=1

Friday August 27th:
CUMPLETLEY TRASHED: Queer Dance Party
SAW Gallery
Doors 9PM
PWYC// $7 Suggested Donation

Saturday August 28th:
CUMPLETELY INFORMATIONAL: Day of Workshops

TELL ME HOW YOU WANT TO FUCK: Learn how to ask for what you want in a fun and safe environment
@ 3PM

HIV CRIMINALIZATION
@ 5PM

University of Ottawa Campus
UCU 301
3PM- 7PM
PWYC
With Snacks!

Saturday August 28th:
DYKE MARCH
Elgin and Lisgar @12 PM
Followed by performance and lunch in Minto Park (2PM-4PM)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116770895041453&ref=nf

Sunday August 29th:
CUMPLETELY POLITICALl: Queers Against Apartheid Contingent in Capital(ist) Pride
Departing from Wellington St.
1PM-3PM
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149489425061959&ref=ts

**If you would like to help organize, have other ideas to bring to the table, or have an event organized anytime from August 20-29th that you wanna incorporate, give us a shout at queer.faction@gmail.com or just write on the wall**

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)