LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference — Crossroads and Crosswinds Connecting Across Race and Space

City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works

Center for LGBTQ Studies (CLAGS) Centers & Institutes

2011

Arianne Benford

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This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Conference goers watch "Gay Pioneers" An enthusiastic audience Connecting with sisters Marquita Thomas

hen I first arrived at the the film was extremely informative and discussing spirituality, identity and the Second Annual LGBTQ Wo- heartfelt, it was well off-target for an reason each individual chooses to or myn of Color Conference, audience comprised almost entirely ganize in the first place. "Members of of LGBTQ Womyn of Color. None of the the Elements Org. are all friends that WI was nearly knocked over stories being told were from people hung out on weekends", Shayna said. by the embrace the conference's co of color and it raised concern in the They would go to the club or whatever executive director, Adrienne Williams. audience. When asked why this was else was going on en masse, where We had only spoken on the phone a few the film chosen, the representative everyone would meet up and have a times, yet the last time I can remember from the Equality Forum defended good time. After the party they would being so warmly received was during the film's relevancy to the conference continue hanging out and talking just one of my infrequent trips home to on the basis of local history, but this as we were, building and bonding with see my mother. While I was sure that proved not to be a strong enough tie each other. This conference came out in that moment she had a long list of for the conference goers who remained of a goal for a safe space, a place to other things to do, she still made time incensed at the lack of recognition of address issues and build broader and to ensure that I was being treated well. the importance of identity at this point deeper connections. Adrienne's hug was not a singular ex in LGBTQ history. perience, but more of an indication of Sunday morning we gathered at the Friday Night was a concert filled with the tone of the weekend: Warm. William Way LGBT Community Center local talent including Pussies, Pens for closing activity Sistah Circle and re The conference was held over four days and Politics, and Devin Christie with a marks by Marquita Thomas, founder of at various venues including the Painted feature set by Dionne Farris. The room the Serafemme Music Festival. As we Bride Art Center, American Friends' was packed and responsive, a field of sat in a huge circle tossing a rainbow Service Committee Building and the womyn swaying like open hips under a ball of yarn from one person to an William Way LGBT Community Cen long loose skirt. other, saying what we were grateful for and how we planed to carry the light ter of Philadelphia. Thursday night's On Saturday morning there was an forward, what struck me most was activities provided an opportunity to intergenerational brunch with an that I was going to walk away from this meet board members of the Elements address from Coya Artichoker, Co-Found conference having grown in unexpected Organization, the lead organizers of er of 2- Spirit First Nations Collective ways; not because the organizers got the conference, and to hear speeches and Gloria Casarez, Director of LGBT every little detail right or because from Philadelphia City Council Candi Affairs at The Philadelphia Mayor's programming was perfect and each dates, Sherry Cohen and Christopher Office. Conference organizer. Ele event started on time—they didn't— Hayes. Ms. Cohen, while not herself a ments Organization, did an excellent but I grew from the care, warmth and member of the LGBTQ Womyn of Color job reaching out to local organizations intentional creation of safe space. As community, made it a point to attend and political officials and the program CLAGS heads into our 20th year, the workshops held on other days and to also included a letter from the mayor. outreach portion of myjob title as interact on a one-on-one basis with The rest of the day was filled with 21 Events and Outreach Coordinater is conference goers. workshops, ranging from Inter-Gener an extremely important aspect to me. ational Body Love facilitated by ixchell The importance of fostering community Friday afternoon was a festival of short Allblood to I Wanna Be Safe OUTside and putting myself physically in spaces films, including submissions from Jus the System!, facilitated by Chelsea with similar folks helps to create a Flowers of Brooklyn Boihood, Char- Johnson-Long and Taina Crespo from deeper and more relevant conversation main Johnson, creator of The Lovers the Audre Lorde Project. and Friends Show, and Barefeet & 24 in the LGBTQ community. At the LGBTQ Frames Per Day by Sonali Gulati, also Indicative of the homegrown nature of Womyn of Color Conference, there was the winner of the CLAGS-administered this conference, there was no one host a crew of womyn dedicated to being 2009 Robert Giard Fellowship. The hotel or institution. I stayed along with the change they wanted to see in the screening also included a film by the a number of other conference present world, but on a local level. To get the Equality Forum entitled Gay Pioneers, ers in the home of the other Co-Exec most accurate representation of the which tells the history of the white utive Director, Shayna SheNess Israel. weekend, my photos demonstrate the gay rights movement in Philadelphia We all stayed up long into the night sense of community more accurately and its impact on the national climate talking around Shayna's kitchen table. than I ever could. leading up to the Stonewall Riot. While CLAGSnews I Spring 2011 7