Relationship Anarchy - Discussion Group September 21, 2017 ​ Metro Detroit Polyamory - http://detroitpoly.org Session 17: The RA Movement Welcome ● Introductory info about this discussion group, MDP Meetup, format today is participatory, etc. ● We’re here to learn and explore together; be respectful & stay on topic; Step Up/Step Back ● Sustainability, $, Volunteering - today (notes, trash, what else?) and in the big picture for MDP ● Community building, community agreements - please let us know at the start if you cannot agree: ○ speak about your own personal experience ○ confidentiality: leave out the identifiable info; get consent before sharing another’s story ○ be responsible for your needs ( bathroom, water, to leave early, emotional support) ○ you can choose not to share, to pass, etc. (and note how that feels) ○ think about resources for emotional support (counselors, positive friends, self-care, etc.) ○ other short-term community norms/agreements to help us get our needs met (or feel safer)? Icebreaker Discussion Question: Beyond your own bedroom, what is important to you about your relationship practices? What is a movement? “Social movements are a type of group action. They can be defined as "organizational structures and strategies that ​ ​ may empower oppressed populations to mount effective challenges and resist the more powerful and advantaged [1] elites" ​ .They are large, sometimes informal, groupings of individuals or organizations which focus on specific ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ political or social issues. In other words, they carry out, resist, or undo a social change. They provide a way of social ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ change from the bottom ” … The Relationship Anarchy Movement Worldwide (group discussion then interest group breakouts!) (context, people, history, etc.) - today is a brief overview discussion only so you know where to explore/look for more/get involved! We won’t have time to fully pin down of these topics today, but some things to consider as we think of RA as a movement: Relationship Anarchy Manifesto 2007 by Andie Nordgren (who is Andie? what biases?) Where does RA come from (and where does poly come from?) Compare RA and Solo Poly? Anarchist ideological roots - do anarchists practice RA? Possible appropriation of anarchism. Activists: Mel Mariposa (SOPO), Kale, Unquiet Pirate, Louisa Leonides? - website: relationship-anarchy.com, us here at MDP… who else!? Events, conferences, etc. (Vancouver, Dallas, BTL Ohio…) Intersectionality: Privilege, Desirability Politics, Asexual/Aromantic, (criticism: Ableism), Radical Consent +?! RA as Relationship Activism and Direct Action… leading to building the change we want to see in the world Next Meeting (Oct 7): The personal is political, Politics and RA (feminism, socialism, anarchism, and more!) .