performances 7 issue in focus interview retrospective space Reframing Consent The Aravani Art The Red Light. Go! Project Internationalism We explore the many lives This curated space explores of consent, and recognize This collective is spreading of John Greyson how feminists can amplify sex the pioneering work of awareness and amplifying Check out this retrospective workers’ voices, and support Carole Vance in the domain trans voices – all through of the prolific art of film and human rights advocacy led by of sexuality and rights. 2 its gorgeous art. 7 video artist John Greyson. 8 sex workers. 5

reconference daily, kathmandu, nepal

Issue 2 11 April 2019 ret h i n k rei m ag i n e reb o ot www.creaworld.org

remobilize

WOREC Women’s Rehabilitation Centre rediscovering Nepal (WOREC) is one of Nepal’s leading national organizations through a feminist lens that works to prevent violence against women, its causes and consequences, and to ensure Free and Equal women who are successful models the economic, social and cul- in America, Brazil, and Japan.” tural well-being of women as Meet the people who refuse Anjali Lama, Lazimpat well as other marginalized to conform to narrow social groups by promoting access to norms; everyday heroes who “I am the first woman rights and social justice. are push­ing boundaries to to be elected in a general conven- live loud, passionate, and tion in the Nepali Congress Party. unapologetic lives. I achieved that by working hard, NDWA being dedicated, and pressurizing Nepal Disabled Women Asso- “I’m a transgender woman, and I’ve the political parties and the media, ciation (NDWA) builds the been an activist with the Blue Dia- and I’ve got the support of my family capacity of women with disa- mond Society since 2001. Since then, and friends. bilities living in both urban and there have been so many changes, I’m encouraging all the youth to remote areas of the country. It including acceptance from my come forward and have a voice, be empowers women with disabil- family. part of the political process to build ities from disadvantaged com- The most important thing to do is a stronger nation.” munities, and supports them to break the silence. Bhumika Shrestha, Kathmandu to build their self-esteem and The family pressure to change self-confidence. ourselves puts a lot of mental pres- A country of many sure on us. Blue Diamond Society firsts! has support and peer groups, so that CREHPA we get the opportunity to share our We all know that Nepal is a The Center for Research on Envi- feelings, which really helps with our destination for tourists. But ronment Health and Popula- mental health. did you know there is so much tion Activities (CREHPA) works In Nepal, there is no service for more to the country than this? to improve the environment, gender reassignment surgery and well-being and health through hormone therapy. We are work- Nepal is considered to be one of education, training, research, ing towards this. At the moment, the most progressive countries alliances, partnerships and transgender women use contracep- in South . The Nepali Con- policy advocacy. It undertakes tives for their hormones.” stitution provides for sexual and clockwise from top left Manisha Dhakal, Anjali Lama, Sunil Babu Pant policy research on major issues Manisha Dhakal, Kathmandu reproductive health and rights for and Bhumika Shrestha of public health concern, par- women. Through the Constitution, ticularly those affecting sexual “I have trained as a model, but every all women have the fundamental with local communities and on a neighbors China, , Bangla- and reproductive health and time I go to an audition for different right to access safe abortion and national level with the mission to desh, Pakistan and – and rights. fashion shows, they say the same the right to be free from violence. improve the sexual health, human also ahead of so-called ‘developed’ thing. I have been told that I have Nepal was also the first South rights and well-being of sexual and countries like the United Kingdom, all the qualities that they require but Asian country to decriminalize gender minorities in Nepal, includ- the Netherlands, Germany, Aus- SWAN they don’t select me because I am sexual minorities and recognize ing people, men, tralia, or the United States! Society For Women Aware- transgender. gender diversity. In fact, Sunil bisexuals, and other men And finally, in Nepal, marijuana ness Nepal (SWAN) is the first My dream is to be a catwalk Babu Pant, who founded Blue Dia- who have sex with men. plants grow everywhere – in gar- NGO established in Nepal by a model, but I don’t think I will be able mond Society, is the first openly Globally Nepal ranks 36th in dens, on the side of the road, in group of sex workers, to do it in Nepal. So, I’d like to model gay national level legislator in the percentage of women in its ditches, on mountainsides – people with the aim of creating aware- abroad. There are transgender Asia. Blue Diamond Society works Parliament (33.2%), way ahead of consider it just a weed! ness on STI & HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, economic opportunities, capac- ity building skills and human rights. The Sri Lankan who summited Everest! The organization’s main objective is to promote a rights- While the world recognizes Jayan- Affairs, Sri Lanka. based approach to reduce the thi Kuru-Utumpala as the first Sri Her journey to Everest combined risk of HIV among women and Lankan woman to summit Mt Ever- two of the things she’s most pas- their children by addressing est, we assert that in May 2016, sionate about – gender equality healthcare needs, education she became the first Sri Lankan to and mountaineering – and she con- and advocacy. SWAN advocates achieve this feat. In recognition of tinues to use her public platform to for the recognition of sex work this and her professional career as challenge gender stereotypes and as work, on violence against sex a women’s rights activist, she was promote the rights of women and workers and for the empower- appointed the first-ever Goodwill girls at every opportunity. ment and social inclusion of sex Ambassador for Women’s Rights Meet Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala at workers. Jayanthi waving the Sri Lankan flag on the summit of Mount Everest by the Ministry of Women and Child #recon2019! 2 issue in focus 11 April 2019 TODAY’s PLENARY Recognizing the Many Lives of Consent

speakers: Tshegofatso Senne, Independent | Julius pioneering work of Kaggwa, SIPD | Shahana Siddiqui, BRAC | Jeeja Ghosh, Independent | Jules Kim, Scarlet Alliance | Subha Wijesiriwardena, Women and Media Collective | Carole Vance Sara Hossain, BLAST moderator: Geetanjali Misra by Geetanjali Misra

he tension between sexual danger and sexual pleas- “Ture is a powerful one in women’s lives. Sexuality is simul- taneously a domain of restriction, repression, and danger as well as a domain of exploration, pleas-

Tshegofatso Senne ure, and agency. To focus only on pleasure and gratification ignores the patriarchal structure in which women act, yet to speak only of sexual violence and oppression ignores women’s experience with sexual agency and choice and unwittingly increases the sexual terror and despair in which women live.” Shahana Siddiqui With these words, Carole Vance opened her incredibly influential article in the collaborative collec- tion of works Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality, first published in 1984 as the result of a 1982 seminar at Barnard College in New York. Over the past 35 years, the book has been instrumental in Jeeja Ghosh Carole Vance catalyzing an entire generation of activists and academics to further research and debate this issue. by the inimitable Carole S. Vance Fellow with the Global Health Jus- Through her scholarship and with a slightly arched eyebrow and tice Partnership at Yale University, thoughtful leadership, Carole has a friendly but questioning look, “She is the rare scholar who is both taught us to think about sexuality it changes your work and your an incisive thinker and a boots-on- not only as something to do with life,” recalls Ali Miller, Co-Director, the-ground changemaker helping individuals’ feelings and choices Global Health Justice Partnership students and advocates around but as a domain. This domain of the Yale Law School and the the world to reflect more deeply on Subha Wijesiriwardena includes structures like law, reli- School of Public Health. “I know their research, advocacy, and pro- gion, medicine, education, fami- because Carole asked me that ques- gramming. Her brilliant engage- lies, and communities through tion more than twenty years ago, ment with students, meticulous ing Consent ing which control is exercised over our when I was beginning a Fellow- feedback and extraordinary men- bodies. Carole has introduced us to ship in the program on the Study torship has given rise to a gen- feminist writings by Gayle Rubin of Sexuality, Gender, Health and eration of scholars working at the and Amber Hollibaugh that offer Human Rights at Columbia Univer- intersection of sexuality, gender, a more expansive and affirming sity, directed by Carole. Answer- health, and human rights—a new approach to sexuality. ing that question required me to interdisciplinary field that she Sara Hossain This pioneering, provocative and dig deeper into what I thought I founded.” visionary thinking has also deeply knew about advocacy, law, sexual- Sealing Cheng, Associate Pro- The panel will interrogate and influenced our own work. CREA’s ity and human rights and radically fessor of Anthropology at the Chi- explore how those in the margins Sexuality, Gender and Rights Insti- altered the trajectory of my work nese University of Hong Kong, says, negotiate consent. tute has been inspired by Carole’s and human rights practice.” “Carole has influenced my work in What happens when the immense contributions in this field, Says Priya Nanda, SGRI alumni multiple ways. Her example has person is trans, disabled, a sex and she still serves as part of core and currently Senior Program taught me to stand by your evi- worker, , practicing faculty. Though Carole is unable Officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates dence and not budge in the face BDSM or having sex outside of to travel to join us in person for Foundation,“Carole has not only of fierce criticisms, find your allies marriage? How can consent truly #recon2019, her ambitious and shaped international discourse on across different fields, remember be an expression of autonomy provoking work is foundational to sexuality and rights but also the even the most complicated con- and choice within existing power the dialogues taking place today. perspectives of many SGRI alumni cepts can be written in a simple hierarchies? What can be the In order to recognize the ongoing with her expansive repertoire, language, and finally, to be kind material signifiers of the practice impact of Carole’s research and archival collections and precision and generous.” of consent? mentorship, I spoke with some and simplicity in communication. As Ali Miller so succinctly Let’s rethink critical questions of her former students about how I am always so impressed by her observes, “Carole is generous and about how consent can be given, her friendship, willingness to meet ability to engage on any issue from generative, probing and illuminat- understood and negotiated. for discussions and cheap drinks history of abortion laws, genocide, ing… creating ‘aha moments’ for all Let’s reimagine how stand- over New York happy hours, and censorship to digital ethics. While a of us to go forward and do better in ards of consent can encompass boundary-pushing advocacy con- distinguished academic, she is dis- social justice work around gender those at the margins and the diver- tinues today. armingly interested and curious in and sexuality.” sity of reproductive and sexual Everyone who works with Carole the mundane and lived realities of After experiencing her influen- experiences. instantly recognizes that she has others, making her not only inspir- tial thinking here, I hope you will Let’s reboot our conversations an exemplary way of sharing her ing but also extremely likeable.” go on to read more about to not just address issues of rights expertise and encouraging fear- According to Katrina Karkazis, Carole’s work, hear her talks and choice but be more inclusive less examination of complex issues. Carol Zicklin Endowed Chair in the when you are in New York, or even of consent standards as part of our “’How does that work?’ may be a Honors Academy at Brooklyn Col- schedule a coffee with her to benefit feminist engagement and practice. simple question but when posed lege, CUNY and a Senior Research from her vibrant presence yourself! refra m 11 April 2019 issue in focus 3

REREAD TODAY’s PLENARY

Too fast for a woman? Testosterone speakers: Katrina Karkazis | Payoshni Mitra | (Video) | | An Unauthorized Biography moderator: Geetanjali Misra Edited by Rebecca Jordan-Young and Katrina Karkazis

The following is an excerpt from Katrina Karkazis’ website.

Katrina Karkazis is a cultural estosterone is not what you as they make urban legends about anthropologist working at the think it is, and it is decidedly this hormone seem scientific. Katrina Karkazis intersection of science and T not a ‘male sex hormone.’ T’s story didn’t spring from technology studies, theories Here is the debunking life story nature: it is a tale that began long of gender and race, social of a maligned and misunderstood before the hormone was even iso- studies of medicine and molecule. lated, when 19th-century scientists bioethics. Testosterone is a familiar villain, went looking for the chemical a ready explanation for innumer- essence of masculinity. And so this Katrina’s work on testosterone able social phenomena, from the molecule’s outmoded, authorized stems from earlier research stock market crash and the over- life story persisted, providing ready on ‘sex testing’ and sport representation of men in prisons to cause for countless behaviors― Payoshni Mitra regulations that ban women male dominance in business and from the boorish and the belliger- athletes with naturally high politics. It’s a lot to pin on a simple ent to the exemplary and enviable. testosterone. This research molecule. What we think we know about T has appeared in Science, Yet your testosterone level has stood in the way of an accurate The American Journal of doesn’t in fact predict your compet- understanding of its surprising and Bioethics, BMJ, and Feminist itive drive or tendency for violence, diverse functions and effects. Formations. Katrina is also your appetite for risk or sex, or your Rebecca Jordan-Young and Kat- the author of the book strength or athletic prowess. It’s rina Karkazis focus on what T does Fixing Sex: Intersex, neither the biological essence of in six domains: reproduction, Dutee Chand Medical Authority, and Lived manliness nor even ‘the male sex aggression, risk-taking, power, Experience and her writing hormone.’ This unauthorized biog- sports, and parenting. At once has appeared in The New York raphy pries T, as it’s known, loose arresting and deeply informed, Times, The Guardian, Wired from over a century of misconcep- Testosterone allows us to see the and other outlets. tions that undermine science even real T for the first time.

Global Santhi Soundarajan conversations on the business of sports

The UN Human Rights Council during its 40th Session in March Pinki Pramanik 2019 passed a groundbreaking resolution on the elimination of This plenary will touch upon the against women legal side of the ban imposed on and girls in sports. Passed unani- many women in sports, based on mously, the resolution calls upon the level of testosterone in their states to ensure that sporting blood. It will include conversa- associations and bodies imple- tions with a few women in sports to ment policies and practices in hear their personal stories of going accordance with international through this experience. human rights norms and stand- ards. It asks states to refrain Olympic athlete from developing and enforcing policies and practices that force or pressure women and girl ath- letes into undergoing unneces- sary, humiliating and harmful What about sports for pleasure? medical procedures in order to participate in women’s events in A feminist approach to sports goes “I am a fat girl. People have competitive sports. Importantly, beyond a girl’s physical fitness in always teased me about my body, it requests states to repeal rules, order to address identities, bodies, my weight, my clothes and my policies and practices that negate agency and well-being. A feminist style. When I joined the program, women and girls athletes’ rights approach to sports also places everyone said how can a fat girl to bodily integrity and autonomy. value on a girl’s right to occupy play football? But I didn’t give up. As noted in the editorial pub- public space, have fun and build I stayed on. I practiced and today lished by Organization Intersex peer support networks. I want to tell everyone that I can International Europe, this reso- At #recon2019, girls from CREA’s play and do everything that others lution adds a human rights per- It’s My Body program, along with can, and I am proud to be who I spective and gives support to the Moving the Goalposts and Boxgirls am.” It’s My Body participant from current case of Caster Semenya will discuss how sports is being Jharkhand, India. against regulations by the Inter- used to challenge social norms “Most girls still don’t get oppor- our teachers about football they don’t under- national Association of Athletics around mobility, visibility, bodies tunities to play sports like football, stand why we want to play football and not Federations and her right to par- and sexualities while subverting which are considered [to exist] for draw [pictures] like other girls.” It’s My Body ticipate in sports. notions of speed and strength. boys. In our schools when we ask participant from Bihar, India. Ungendering S ports Ungendering 4 books that matter 11 April 2019 So many books, so little time frank zappa reconference is as much about form as it is about issues. The intersection of art and activism in new technologies, evocative installations, and creative performances is undeniably powerful, but the written word has long endured as an influential, danger- ous and effective means of documenting knowledge. Writing matters. Those who write record and historicize moments, issues and ideas for future generations. Thanks to new information channels and the radical ways in which tradi- tional publishing can be harnessed to communicate, there are a growing number of ways in which words can now be accessed and consumed.

Here’s a listing of authors whose extraordinary words have appeared in many forms, including academic books, peer- reviewed journals and indigenous feminist zines. The writers have covered critical topics ranging from rape, to confessions, to cyber porn, to feminist stories and will come together at #recon2019 to share their thoughts on the craft of writing and the role of the written word in boundary-pushing activism.

What We Talk Cyber Sexy: I Confess About When We Rethinking Talk About Rape Pornography edited by Brandon Arroyo by Sohaila Abdulali by Richa Kaul Padte and Thomas Waugh Sexual and In her book, Sohaila Abdulali talks In her book, Richa Kaul Padte looks This collection of thirty original about things that are deeply per- at what it means to seek pleasure essays centers on confession and Reproductive sonal, and her research and work online. Based on her own experi- sexuality in moving image, arts Health with hundreds of survivors of rape. ence, online surveys and interviews and media over the last quarter- She examines the contemporary with people across India, Richa century, and the era of the Third Matters discourse about rape and rape cul- weaves a fascinating tale – one that Sexual Revolution, principally in ture. She also explores whether helps you rethink the online space the Global North. The book’s idea eszter kismodi, rape is always a life-defining event, and pornography itself. From what of ‘confession’ includes self-refer- Chief Executive, if rape is worse than death and if we think about pornorgraphy to encing, first person and/or auto- SRHM another world is possible. how we consume it, she dives deep biographical stories, testimonies into territory that is at once deeply or performances. “The rape was intimate and intensely political. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters promotes sexual and catastrophic, and it took “So, while mainstream reproductive health and rights globally through its journal media and popular and ‘more than a journal’ activities. The journal, formerly many years to feel safe “The family is a Reproductive Health Matters (RHM), is a peer-reviewed, inter- (a necessary delusion). stronghold of the gay-rights groups have national journal that explores emerging, neglected and mar- But I’m at the other dominant power structure: been working for half ginalized topics and themes across the field of sexual and a century or more to reproductive health and rights. It aims to publish original, end of that now, and I caste-appropriate, relevant, and contemporary research, particularly from a don’t quite know what heterosexual, demanding situate this one-on-one feminist perspective, that can help inform the development to do when a friend who female subservience, and confessional declaration of policies, laws and services to fulfil the rights and meet the as an essential sexual and reproductive health needs of people of all ages, didn’t know this about so on. And porn, with all gender identities and sexual orientations. me starts weeping. It’s its diversities of desires confirmation of a pop good to be loved, but I’m and pleasures, does ‘Born This Way’ ethos, “Giving visibility to ‘sexual’ in the name done weeping. At this not fit into this space. this rhetoric ignores of our journal and organization is therefore moment, my daughter’s It is women pleasuring the intense affective a political act. We do it consciously and maths progress feels more themselves. It is men interactions that people deliberately, in recognition of the fragility important than revisiting being ‘led astray.’ It is have with media objects of the gains made in this area, and the three-decades-old children being exposed to long before urgent and ongoing need to continue to emotions.” ‘those kinds of things.’” to another human being.” fight for those rights.” Sohaila Abdulali Richa Kaul Padte Thomas Waugh Eszter Kismodi The Guardian Weekly, 14 July 2013 In Plainspeak, November 2018 Email to CREA, April 2019 srhm.org 11 April 2019 curated spaces 5 Red Light. Go! Nothing about us without us! Sex workers are The curated space the experts in their own lives and their work. on sex work at Sex workers’ movements in all regions claim their reconference reflects right to self-representation, self-determination how as feminists, and self-organizing we can amplify sex workers’ voices and ex workers’ rights are a with a tendency to conflate traf- support human feminist issue. The right ficking and sex work. Because to choose, to control our of this conflation, strategies to rights advocacy S own bodies, whether in relation combat trafficking are negatively led by sex workers. to gender and sexual expression, impacting sex workers’ rights. This, The experiential mobility, to work and do so safely, combined with the push for crimi- and interactive or engage in consensual sex, are nalization of sex work in global and central to the claims and struggles national policy spaces, has resulted space explores the of our movements, including the in increasing violence against sex intersection of sex sex workers’ rights movements. Yet, workers, with adverse effects on work with gender, the voices and perspectives of sex their lives and livelihoods. workers largely remain excluded While the rescue industry is race, class, from crucial conversations, includ- growing, it is important to recon- capitalism, disability ing within feminist movements. sider how to include sex workers’ and technology. This exclusion also reflects in laws voices and experiences. The imple- and policies that are formulated on mentation of mechanisms where It uses mediums such sex work. the human rights of sex workers as performances, The last decade has witnessed are protected – in particular in the installations and films. an increase in global attention and rescue industry – are vital at this resources to combat trafficking, moment. Flyer for Last Rescue in Siam, 2012

refuse clients, or force us to work Sangram Bill Sex work is not a permanent unreasonable hours – then these of Rights are examples of workplace exploi- tation. The fact that we have an employer is not in itself exploita- SANGRAM, established in state of consent tion and framing it as such hinders 1992 in Sangli, Maharash- our ability to demand decent work- tra, has grown into a series This year on International Women’s day, Jules Kim, Korean/Australian place standards and to address of collective empowerment sex worker and the CEO of Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers actual workplace exploitation. groups for stigmatized And if we are subject to exploitative communities (sex work- Association, wrote a special statement for #recon2019, capturing her work conditions, it doesn’t mean we ers, MSM, and transgender reflection on what sex workers want – as workers, and as feminists. need to be rescued from sex work or individuals) in six districts that all sex work is bad. We choose of southern Maharashtra other women with- against us. Just because we have to do sex work. We do not choose to and northern Karnataka. out seeking to under- chosen to do sex work does not be exploited, to face violence, nor Sangram’s Bill of Rights stand their context, mean we are in a permanent state to be sexually assaulted. is a set of guidelines which their lives, and their of consent to any and all violence, The best way to protect the rights need to be considered realities. sexual assault and exploitation. of sex workers is to fully decrimi- when working with sex One of the major These assumptions create damag- nalize sex work, our workplaces, workers. These rights are: problems of the narra- ing stereotypes about sex work and and our clients and third parties. 1. People have the right tive that all sex work increase violence, stigma and dis- Decriminalization enables us to to be approached with is exploitation by men crimination against us. access industrial rights mecha- humility and respect. against all women The reality is that sex work- nisms, workplace health and safety 2. People have the right to – besides the fact it ers negotiate sexual services in standards and seek justice in the say yes or no to things denies the realities exchange for goods, services or event of a crime against us. When that concern them. of the sex and gender money. Each sex worker has dif- sex work is decriminalized, we can diversity of sex work- ferent boundaries about what ser- prioritize our safety over police eva- 3. People have the right ers and our clients – vices they consent to provide and sion. We can report a crime without to reject harmful social oday on International Wom- is that it damages our what remuneration they expect to fear of being arrested for being a norms. en’s Day I am celebrating the ability to seek better working con- receive for this. We negotiate this in sex worker. We can demand decent 4. People have the right to T fact that I am a woman, I am ditions, to access justice for crimes advance with the client, prior to the work standards and choose how stand up to and change a sex worker and I am a feminist. against us and to stand up for our service taking place. Any contraven- and with whom we work. We can the balance of power. As a feminist I believe in respect- rights as sex workers. When all sex tion of these negotiated terms of the speak out against violations and 5. People have the right ing the agency and choices of other work is framed as exploitation, how service constitutes a crime against organize for our rights. Feminists not to be ‘rescued’ by women – all women, including can we advocate for redress against us. Breaching the terms of our con- support the rights, agency and outsiders who neither trans women, migrant women and actual violations of our labor and sent is a crime, sex work is not. choices of all sex workers and the understand nor respect. women of color. I believe in respect- human rights? If all sex work is vio- If we work for an employer, and best way to support that is to sup- 6. People have the right to ing the right to bodily autonomy lence against women, then if we they withhold our pay, or don’t port the full decriminalization of exist how they want to and the right to choose. We don’t choose to do sex work, by exten- pay us what was agreed for each sex work, our workplaces and our exist. judge and belittle the choices of sion, we have consented to violence service, or if they don’t allow us to clients.

Tales of the Night Fairies by Shohini Ghosh ive sex workers and the film- labyrinthine city of Calcutta forms Women’s Collaborative Committee) maker embark on a journey the backdrop for the personal and an initiative that emerged from the F of storytelling. Tales of the musical journeys of storytelling. Sonagachi HIV/AIDS Interven- Night Fairies explores the power The film attempts to represent tion Project. A collective of men, of collective organizing and resist- the struggles and aspirations of women and transgender sex work- ance while reflecting upon con- thousands of sex workers who con- ers, DMSC demands decriminaliza- temporary debates on sex work. stitute the DMSC (Durbar Mahila tion of adult sex work and the right The simultaneously expansive and Samanyay Committee or the Durbar to form a trade union. 6 overview 11 April 2019

By An Eyewiness and Me, Galaxies of Desires What’s happening at #recon2019? As Preferred by Others Amanda Hodgeson, South Africa Azadeh Akhlaghi, Iran Amuda Mishra, Nepal Dipika Srivastava, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Beyond the Binaries of Vocabularies of sex, Dipta Bhog, India PLENARY Pleasure and Danger: A Retelling Herstory Change Room Irene Kuzemko, Russia Conversation on #MeToo Sattara Hattirat, Thailand Baaraan Ijlal, India Jaya Sharma, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Anindya Hajra, India Jayanthi Kuru- Utumpala, Sri Lanka •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Many Lives of Consent Jaya Sharma, India Jasmeen Patheja, India Jeeja Ghosh, India Ritambhara Mehta, India Poetry Workshop Edible Birds and Yamuna Jyotsna Maskey, Nepal Jules Kim, Australia Rituparna Borah, India Word Warriors, Nepal Series Kataryzyna Zeglicka, Poland Julius Kaggwa, Uganda Sheba Chhachhi India Kaushik Gupta, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Sara Hossain, Bangladesh Kawira Mwirichia, Kenya •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Shahana Siddiqui, Bangladesh Burden of Social Stigma PERFORMANCES Madhu Mehra, India Subha Wijesiriwardena, Sri Lanka and Stereotypes Proudly African and Martine Gutierrez, USA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Tshegofatso Senne, South Africa Sapna Kedia, India Transgender Nidhi Goyal, India Aruna Rao, India Gabrielle Le Roux, South Africa Paromita Vohra, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Robert Mapplethorpe, USA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• More Harm Than Developing Principles to Sahar Yahiaoui Tunisia Good: Challenging Address the Detrimental Be Careful Ungendering Sports Slobodan Randjelovic, Serbia Criminalization and Impact of Criminalization Mallika Taneja, India Payoshni Mitra Tara Burns, USA Feminist Faults on Health, Equality and Vani Viswanathan, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Jasmine George, India Human Rights, with a Yajaswi Rai, Nepal Kholi Buthelezi, South Africa Focus on Select Conduct Between Yes and No The Shoreline Project •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Monica Raye Simpson, USA in the Areas of Sexuality, Rudo Chigudu, Zimbabwe India Rupsa Mallik, India Reproduction, Drug Red Light. Go! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Susana Fried, USA Use and HIV by ICJ and Bhawana Rai, Nepal Amnesty International Four Queens FILMS Bijaya Dhakal, Nepal •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Christina Zampas, Switzerland Mexico Borislav Gerasimov, Thailand •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Our Bodies, Our Ivana Radačić, Croatia Boglarka Fedorko, Hungary •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Territories: Feminists Jaime Todd-Gher, USA Ask the Sexpert Elaine Bortolanza, Brazil Defending the Monica Raye Simpson, USA Hookers Do It Standing Up •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Elsa Oliveira, South Africa Environment Nana Abuelsoud, Egypt Lady Grew, Ireland Hands On Gita Das, India Daysi Flores, Honduras •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Kholi Buthelezi, South Africa •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Laura Carvajal, Columbia Ishq, Dosti and All Kusum, India Lydia Alpizar, Mexico Feminist Realities by Maruni Dance •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Macklean Kyomya, Uganda Srilatha Batliwala, India AWID performance Mesoamericanas Meena Seshu, India Cindy Clark, USA Blue Diamond Society, Nepal •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Navy Khut, Cambodia •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Margarita Salas, Costa Rica People’s Republic of Peninah Mwangi, Kenya •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Pleasures and Dangers Tenzin Dolker, USA Desire Putul Haldar, India of Technology Monica Raye Simpson, USA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Sophoan Chan, Cambodia •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Jac Sm Kee, Malaysia PHOENIXXX Tishuana Edwards, Guyana •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Nishant Shah, India Pleasure and Consent in •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Uma Buddhathoki, Nepal Sandy Cioffi, USA my Coffee Cup! Millie Dollar and Edward Muir, UK Sahiyo Stories Uwingabe Hassna Murenzi, Lara Aharonian, Armenia •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Rwanda •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Tatevik Aghabekyan, Armenia Sweet Crude •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Too Fast for a Woman? Passport Blessing •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Dutee Chand, India Ceremony Tales of Night Fairies Tangled, Like Wool Katrina Karkazis, USA Recentering Feminisms Venuri Perera, Sri Lanka •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Aayush Rathi, India Payoshni Mitra, UK Cynthia el Khoury, Lebanon Unrest Afrah Shafiq, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Pinki Pramanik, India Nida Mushtaq, Pakistan •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Bishakha Datta, India Santhi Soundarajan, India Sex Worker’s Opera Up, Down & Sideways Brenda Wambui, Kenya •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• USA/UK •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Erin M Riley, USA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Redefining Feminism in Women Fighters of the Indu Harikumar, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• PANELS Sports Narmada Struggle Kawira Mwiricha, Kenya Arthur Mubiru, Uganda Sexy Saturday Songs Nandita Roy, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Gopi Shankar , India with Paromita Vohra, India Abortion in Asia: Katrina Karkazis, USA Paromita Vohra, India CURATED SPACES Queer Habibi, unknown Selection, Termination Maria Toorpakai Wazir, USA Shivan Palin, Uganda Shadi Amin, Iran •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• and Determination Niluka Gunawardena, Sri Lanka Shahina Yasmin, Bangladesh •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Anustha Mainali, Nepal Sanjana Gaind, India Questioning Dis/Ability Sharanya Sekaram, Sri Lanka Durga Sapkota, Nepal Tentacles Agnieszka Król, Poland Shreya Ila Anasuya, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Nikzad Zanganeh, Iran Bubulina, Colombia Ashrafun Nahar, Bangladesh Smita Vanniyar, India Rupsa Mallik, India Rethinking the Donor/ Betty Cheptoek, Uganda @venuslibido, England •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Shahina Yasmin, Bangladesh Activist Divide, Byukusenge Anisie, Rwanda •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Suchitra Dalvie, India Reimagining our The Last Distance Dorothy Nakato Mubezi, Uganda Relationships, Rebooting Leen Hashem and Edward Muir, UK PODCAST •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Philanthropic Advocacy Alexandre Paulikevitch, Lebanon Grindl Dockery, UK •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Abortion Rights Aldijana Sisic, USA Janet Price, UK •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Campaigns in Argentina, Charlotte Bunch, USA Jeeja Ghosh, India Resistance to Feminism Ireland, Kenya Cynthia Steele, USA Venuri Perera, Sri Lanka Kanchan Pamnani, India and Feminist and Poland Corneleike Keizer, Netherlands Katarzyna Angelicka, Poland Alternatives •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Agnieszka Król, Poland Diana Samarasan, USA Kim Kaul, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Jedidah Maina, Kenya Ebony Johnson, USA Where Policy Analysis Laura Kanushu, Uganda Krystyna Kacpura, Poland Joy Chia, USA Just Won’t Do: Using Art Leidy Natalia Moreno Rodriguez, CONVERSATION Maria Ni Fhlatharta, Ireland Laura Kanushu, Uganda to Express Complexity Columbia •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Rupsa Mallik, India Melissa Wainaina, Kenya Terry McGovern, USA Maria NI Fhlatharta, Ireland Victoria Tesoriero, Argentina Meena Seshu, India Manishka Gunusekara, Sri Lanka Arundhati Roy •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Nadia Van der Linde, Netherlands Millie Dollar, UK in conversation with •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ruby Johnson, Canada INSTALLATIONS Nampijja Shamim, Uganda Shohini Ghosh Beyond Gender Ideology Tina-Marie Assi, Canada Nidhi Goyal, India •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• and Stigma: Reframing Niluka Gunawardena, Sri Lanka •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Resistance Narratives Aravani Art Project Ranjana Dhami, Nepal Azadeh Akhlaghi Andrea Barragán Gómez, Spain WORKSHOPS India Reshma Valliappan, India in conversation with Erick Monterrosas, Mexico Rhoda Garland, Malta Sabeena Gadihoke •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Florencia Goldman, Guatemala Shamim Salim, Kenya •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Lydia Alpizar, Mexico Documenting violations BeAnother Lab X Sigere Kasasi, Malawi Magdalena Firlag, Mexico and activism under the Fearless 360˚: Library Solange Bonello, Malta John Greyson Nikzad Zanganeh, Iran threat of Criminalization of Ourselves Srinidhi Raghavan, India in conversation with Xiomara Carballo, Costa Rica Cynthia Rothschild, USA Sandi Cioffi, USA Zarghoona Wadood, Pakistan Shohini Ghosh •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 11 April 2019 films, performances, art 7

Art meets activism with the Aravani Art Project. Through its work, the group intends to capture stories of freedom, dreams of acceptance and hopes of Sex Worker’s Opera possibilities present an excerpt of their award-winning, CREA’s Isha powerful, personal and political show at Vajpeyi spoke #recon2019 to the group. Breaking through stigma and stereotypes they offer an unflinch- ingly honest, uplifting, human portrayal of sex workers’ experiences, locally and globally. Created and performed by sex workers and friends of sex workers they incorporate sound art, jazz, theatre and poetry and feature stories from 18 countries across 6 continents. The Aravani Art Project “You say that sex is all you see, well then I think you see me in 2D because the actual reality is a mosaic blur – a tapestry.” Anonymous sex worker IV: How did the Aravani Art Project scaffolding, carrying paint and transgender people are capable of come together? having chai at the same time. Some- doing beautiful things too, hope- times we have beautiful interac- fully society understands this.” AAP: The Aravani Art Project began tions with people passing by who People have always been in 2016 in . Our medium shower us with compliments, stunned looking at Purushi climb of expression turned out to be a because they are in awe of the art great heights just to be able to finish public art intervention through we make. a particular spot to paint, and she painting walls. Art has the power to enjoys the attention – and the bring people together and requires IV: What kind of reactions do height of course. an individual to be themselves. It you get from people when they allows people to participate regard- see your murals – or shall I say IV: Everyone at #recon2019 should less of age, race, gender and some- masterpieces? paint with you because... times language too! AAP: Our impact has been so heart- AAP: We are sure that you are going IV: Any fun memory from any of felt, that it does not require statis- to make a friend. We are sure that your projects that you would like tics. As Shanthi, one of our core you would like to talk to us and to share with us? team members says, “I have joined know more about us. If you haven’t the Aravani Art Project as an artist painted ever or for a long time... AAP: We have laughed unapologeti- and I love that people are looking this would be the perfect opportu- cally at ourselves while climbing beyond stigma and myths. We as nity to hold that brush! Phoenixxx by mihai dragolea Terry McGovern The live chat industry is one of Romania’s most performs “a humorous monologue on prolific online revenue sources. More than half philanthropy, academia, having a family member of the models that are found online come from killed in 9/11 and being a white American.” Romania and the industry is worth millions of Sanjana Gaind from CREA asked her a few dollars. This is why a lot of Romanian girls see questions and here’s what she had to say: the live chat industry as a way out of poverty. SG: You are a professor and aca- World Trade Centre, I continued to make a decision about how much I Here’s Mihai Dragolea on why demic, have litigated numerous use art to process trauma and rep- wanted to identify as a ‘9/11 family he made Phoenixxx: cases against the government in the resent peoples’ experiences that member,’ depending on how strong US, been a member of the National were left out of the dominant nar- I was feeling about my ability to was raised by three women, my mother, my grandmother and my Task Force on the development of ratives about that event. 9/11 was throw off any kind of stereotyping sister. As I grew up and we had some hardships these three women HIV/AIDS drugs, have published immediately highly politicized and or judgments related to that. I always managed to overcome situations that seemed black, they extensively and have worked on deeply upsetting. So I began to always found a way to come on top and thus, giving me a sense of secu- lots more serious stuff – how and interview some of the people, and SG: Any fun memory from your rity and happiness my father never delivered. I am always keen on this when did you start writing humor- so I thought, once again, that the shows that you would like to share ? capacity of a woman to give everything for her children and siblings. ous plays and monologues? only way to address this false narra- I am fascinated by this and I always try to capture it on film – it’s the tive was to bring to life complexity TM: My boss at Ford, Sara Rios, greatest story for me. TM: I was undecided about whether through art. who has unfortunately died, had a Thus I came to know Mona and Georgiana. Both of them have differ- I should go to law school or pursue powerful experience with the play. ent reasons for what they’re doing but they both managed to overcome some kind of writing, playwriting SG: You speak about the tragedy of She was down there the day that a great deal of hardship and created a functional universe around them. specifically, so I think I always used losing your mother in 9/11 in your the planes hit the towers and was It is easy to judge them, it’s hard to understand their way of doing my creativity as a lawyer in the play (Voices Unheard) – what has it traumatized by what she saw while things, but I saw this great drive in both of them. early years of my career. I found a been like to do this on stage, with working with survivors. She came I immediately saw Mona as a mother heroine and wanted to do a way to use my creative side in how strangers in the audience? to the play maybe ten times and film about her. I fell in love with both my characters and tried to show I would describe clients and rep- found great joy in having access to to the world a story of fulfilment and how women can overcome a resent people in court in trials. I TM: This is a play that’s about people’s words. She found it very broken society, male indifference and outside . I wanted to had lots of opportunities to make agency and voice – it is about let- hopeful in many ways because make this movie right away, my characters demanded this and I just the people I worked with come to ting people who have directly there wasn’t as much hate as you bought a DSLR and spent a lot of time with them. We became friends. life in court and in writing their experienced the horror of 9/11 would expect. It was the opposite My approach to this film is putting the viewer on the same level with stories. Very early on, it was clear describe that and question the of what the dominant narratives the characters, making the viewer understand them and feel like he to me that you need the complex- narratives around it. But it is also showed. I got a lot of joy in being is the one they’re talking to, explaining things to and wanting him to ity of art to bring people to life. deeply personal and there was a able to share that with people and understand them. I decided to film in a rough manner, not letting cin- When my mother was killed in the lot of stigma around it, so I had to to document a different narrative. ematic artifice come in the way the characters open up to the camera. 8 in conversation with 11 April 2019

Fig Trees, 2009

The Queer Internationalism of John

ohn Greyson is a Toronto- with varied collectives (Jumper, based film and video artist Deep Dish TV, Toronto Living with J who has created 60+ award- AIDS, Blah Blah Blah, Hard Pressed, winning features, installations, Test Cages), and dozens of fellow transmedia works and shorts. artists (including Richard Fung, Ali Greyson Through inventive hybrids of doc- Kazimi, Brenda Longfellow, Bon- A curated retrospective umentary, drama, humor and song, gani Ndodana, David Wall, Alex- his works critically investigate such ander Chapman). operatic scenes. A surreal fictional (Zoltan Korda’s 1942 Technicolor nervous crotches, violent crotches: social justice issues as racism, As a writer, he has published narrative is intercut with the sto- epic The Jungle Book), and Toronto a unique view on the overwhelming homophobic violence, AIDS activ- widely in both scholarly and ries of their struggles against gov- landscapes. While a TV journalist police presence that tear-gassed a ism, anti-apartheid and anti-war activist/community publications, ernment and the pharmaceutical examines the contradictory homo- city.” (Source: University of Toronto struggles, queer and trans rights, including Camera Obscura, Public, industry. In this fictional world, eroticism and imperialism of a Rud- Catalogue) conflicts in the Middle East, police The Body Politic, FUSE Magazine, C Gertrude Stein decides to write a yard Kipling film adaptation, her entrapment and prison reform. Magazine, Alphabet City, Montage, tragic opera about Tim and Zackie husband undergoes his own com- Captifs d’amour (2010) Irony He lectures widely on topics Now Magazine, Xtra, Cineaction and and their saint-like heroism. She ing-out narrative and confronts the abounds, in this split screen depic- that include digital activism and Jump Cut. As author and editor, he kidnaps them, transports them to politics and fantasy of washroom tion of unjustified imprisonment. the avant-garde, opera and social serves on the advisory boards of the Niagara Falls, and forces them to sex. (Source: Mediaqueer) (Source: WNDX) change, queer cinema and the journals Public and Intension, and sing a series of complicated avant- Middle East, and visualizing prison has written and/or co-edited five garde vocal compositions. However, ADS Epidemic (1987) A catchy, Covered (2009) A documentary justice. books, including Urinal and Other when Zackie ends his treatment upbeat, musical look at the media- about the 2008 Sarajevo Queer He has worked extensively on Stories, Queer Looks: Perspectives strike and starts taking his pills, induced paranoia about AIDS, first Festival, which was cancelled social justice campaigns with com- on and Gay Film & Video, Gertrude realizes that there will be made as a video wall in a Toronto due to anti-gay violence – in its munity activist groups on such and most recently Evade. His films no more tragedy, and thus, no more suburban shopping mall. “This is entirety. (Source: IndieWire) issues as police entrapment (Right and transmedia works have been opera. (Source: Cinema Politica) not a Death in Venice...” Aschen- to Privacy Committee), censorship widely written about, most notably bach, once a “liberal fellow,” 14.3 Seconds (2008) 14.3 sec- (Six Days of Resistance Against in the critical anthology The Perils Perils of Pedagogy (1984) An sucumbs to an attack of ADS onds are all that is left of the Iraqui Ontario’s Censor Board, with Toron- of Pedagogy: The Works of John intertextual music video in which (Acquired Dread of Sex) while film archives, destroyed by Ameri- to’s Law Union), AIDS activism Greyson (co-edited by Longfellow, backstage bickering between star Tadzio learns that Safe Sex is Fun can bombs during the 2003 war. (AIDS Action Now, ACT UP), artists’ MacKenzie, Waugh). and director erupts into a dissection and various other characters warn This speculative fiction attempts rights (Artists Union), queer rights of the limited cultural role models us that ADS can happen to anybody. (and fails) to salvage what was lost. (Toronto Pride, QuAIA) and indefi- Shohini Ghosh will be in con- available to young , both (Source: Mediaqueer) (Source: York Space) nite detention (Project Threadbare, versation with John Greyson on in the dominant culture and in the No One Is Illegal). 11th April. Here are some of gay ghetto. Citing If… and featur- Herr (1998) Fast-paced video Rex Vs. Singh (2009) In 1915, His involvement in arts advocacy Greyson’s movies to watch out ing future Greyson spouse Stephen dance work about gender and two Sikh mill workers, Dalip Singh includes serving on the boards of A for at #recon2019: Andrews lip-syncing a slowed- conformity. Four women dressed and Naina Singh, were entrapped Space, the Euclid Theatre, Inside/ down tenor “To Sir with Love,” this as men perform everyday male by undercover police in Vancou- Out LGBT Festival, Toronto Pales- Fig Trees (2009) This is a docu- tape stresses the hegemonic role of gestures to an escalating pace of ver and accused of sodomy. This tine Film Festival, Cinema Politica mentary opera about AIDS activ- the dominant culture in shaping synchronization, repetition, split- experimental video stages scenes and Vtape, as well as serving as an ists Tim McCaskell of Toronto and the expectations and assumptions second timing. A tragic ending. from their trial, told four times: occasional juror/consultant for all Zackie Achmat of Cape Town as they of the supposedly alternative ‘gay’ (Source: V2) first as a period drama, second as three arts councils in Canada, and fight for access to treatment drugs. ghetto. (Source: Mediaqueer) a documentary investigation of the many Canadian and international Documentary interviews, speeches, Packin’ (2001) Packin’ is a docu- case, third as a musical agit-prop, film festivals. His many artistic col- press conferences and demonstra- Jungle Boy (1985) An intertex- ment of the Free Trade Summit in and fourth, as a deconstruction of laborations include creating films, tions are sampled, taken apart, and tual essay clashing gay porn, Mexi- Quebec City, 2001, told entirely the actual court transcript. (Source: installations and interventions set to music, replayed this time as can pop songs; imperialist fiction with cop crotches. Bored crotches, Richard Fung)