Oakland Dykes and Queers's topics - tribe.net

IMsL for FREE - Volunteer!

2008-02-22T07:37:16Z

IMsL for FREE - Volunteer!

Do you want attend IMsL for FREE? Or half-off?

Come volunteer for the hottest event in San Francisco! IMsL has 30+ workshops, 24/7 dungeon space, events and socials that cover more than 72 hours!
IMsL is May 1-4, 2008, in SF. Check out www.imsl.org for more details.

Volunteering is great community service and a fabulous opportunity to CRUISE!

Choose an option that works best for YOU!
2 hours - You'll receive a big Thank You!! from IMsL
4 hours - You'll receive a Collectible IMsL Volunteer Pin, available only to volunteers
8 hours – You’ll receive Half-off IMsL Basic Weekend Package, and a Volunteer Pin
12 hours – You’ll receive a Free IMsL Basic Weekend Package, and a Volunteer Pin

Please go to http://imsl.org/volunteer.php to sign up to volunteer!

IMsL needs lots of volunteers! Please forward this email to any and all Leather or LGBT email lists and to your friends. Encourage them to volunteer!

See you at IMsL!

Rae Goldman
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteercoordinator@imsl.org
http://imsl.org/volunteer.php

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IMsL 2008 – Strap On Your Boots and Ride

2008-02-13T23:46:46Z

IMsL 2008 – Strap On Your Boots and Ride

The 22nd Annual International Ms Leather contest and the 10th
Anniversary of the International Ms Bootblack contest return to San
Francisco to be celebrated from May 1 – 4, 2008. IMsL can boast being
the longest running women's leather competition. There is no other
contest with its history. No women's contest has continually brought
fierce, yet friendly, competition of leather women, educational
seminars, one-stop shopping for all kinky needs at the vendors' space,
and, of course, hot play parties around the clock. Each year, leather
women and *everyone* who loves them, experience an unforgettable event
which leaves them, not only with two outstanding title holders to
represent them for the following year, but with tingling memories of
their weekend and a hunger for next year's event.

The weekend will begin Thursday night with "Seduction" presented by
Good Vibrations – an evening of burlesque, strip tease, drag kings and
queens, go-go dancers, lap dancing and more. On-site play spaces will
open Thursday night as well and remain open all weekend. The weekend
continues on Friday with hospitality receptions including our new
Uniform Party, educational workshops, world-class vendors, charity
auctions and our Bootblack Salon and Leather Lounge staffed by the
contestants for the International Ms Bootblack competition. Saturday
brings the contests and the annual Boots and Cigars party. Sunday's
brunch has been reformatted and will be highlighted by a keynote
address from the hilarious, and often irreverent author, Laura
Antoniou, creator of `The Marketplace' Series.

Registration is now open, with an early bird price of *only* $99,
available until February 29. Registration may be completed online at
www.imsl.org. Tickets for the Sunday brunch may be secured at the same
time. Also on the website is a link for making reservations for the
host hotel, the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway. Alternatively, rooms may
be reserved by calling (415) 441-4000. Those who mention group code
SML receive the IMsL discount.

Discount packages are being offered this year which can be used by
leather clubs, leather families, contestant entourages and other
groups to save some money. These group discount packages offer 10 full
weekend packages for the price of 7 ½. See www.IMsL.org for more
information.

The delightful and entertaining Shann Carr (IMsL 1988), will return as
emcee. Judging the International Ms Leather contest are Sarah Humble,
Head Judge (American Leatherwoman 1994), Lady Faye Falconnier
(International Ms Leather 2006), Skeeter (of Mr. S Leather and Madame
S), Mr. Marcus Hernandez (Bay Area Reporter), Mike Gerle
(International Mr. Leather 2007), diamond (Black Beat, Inc), and slave
marsha (International slave 2001).

Former International Ms Bootblack titleholders will judge the 10th
Anniversary International Ms Bootblack contest, including Slaveboi
Eddie, Head Judge (2003), Ms V (2007), Alex Bettencourt (2006), Izzy
(2004) and michael ann (2000).

Those who are interested in competing to represent the women's leather
community as International Ms Leather or International Ms Bootblack
can find applications on the website or by emailing
contestantcoordinator@IMsL.org. Intelligent and articulate women,
capable of communication and outreach both to leather and non-leather
communities worldwide, are encouraged to apply.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the International Ms Leather Contest
Weekend and applications for volunteer positions are available by
writing to volunteercoordinator@IMsL.org or by visiting www.IMsL.org.
Volunteers will receive a special collectible IMsL pin and either a
partial discount or a full discount on the registration fee so this is
a great way to be a special part of the IMsL team.

As with any contest, the producers of IMsL welcome hearing from
prospective vendors, sponsors, donors, advertisers – and anyone else
who has or requires information. Contact Glenda Rider at
executiveproducer@IMsL.org or visit the website at www.IMsL.org to
begin the ride.

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Be an extra in Gus Van Sant movie about Harvey Milk

2008-01-24T22:07:15Z

On Monday night, February 4th and Friday night, February 8th, the feature film MILK (directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk) will be re-creating three 1970's marches through the Castro.

We are looking for volunteers to appear in the these marches in the film. THERE ARE NO AUDITIONS. IF YOU SIGN-UP ON THIS SITE AND SHOW UP, YOU WILL BE USED. All ages, races and genders are welcome. But, you MUST be 18 or over to participate.

more info:
http://www.milkmarch.com/

post this on other kinky and faerie lists so the crowd will be filled
with leather and fabulous drag

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Tantra Weekend Workshop! - SF - Feb 2-3

2008-01-23T06:22:59Z

Great event coming up in SF - Transformative Tantra Weekend!
Please forward to anyone or any lists who you think would be interested. Thanks!!

Transformative Tantra:Transgender, Transgressive, Transcendent
February 2nd and 3rd, 2008, 10 AM to 5 PM
Center for Sex and Culture, San Francisco

Barbara Carrellas, author of Urban Tantra and Dossie Easton, co-author of Radical Ecstasy and The Ethical Slut, join forces to explode the myths and embrace the power of SM, gender journeying and Tantra.

If you are curious about the ecstatic possibilities of Tantra and other energy-focused sexual paths, but have felt too queer, too gender-queer, too kinky, too slutty, or too down-to-earth to feel comfortable in traditional Tantra groups, you'll love this weekend-facilitated by two women who have spent their entire adult lives exploring perverted paths to ecstasy. Persons of all genders and lovers of all stripes are welcome.

What is/are your gender(s)? Your partners' gender(s)? Do you really have to choose only one? We'll look at what gender is and what it isn't, and then find new ways to express it, pervert it and play with it. Next, we'll explore sexual energy as a physical force that you can activate, build, shape, and ride to amplify all your erotic encounters. We'll end our first day with a shared journey, as we intertwine our experience of masculine and feminine and both and neither into a big ecstatic circle of breath.

On Sunday, we'll explore the different elements and styles of energy-sharing and power exchange in sexual relationships. Using techniques from Tantra and BDSM, and the occasional bit of rope, we'll experiment with consciously polarizing and uniting opposites: active and receptive, masculine and feminine, power and helplessness. Is it true that the further apart we polarize our roles, the hotter the spark that bridges the gap? Let's find out!

All genders, sexual preferences and orientations are welcome.

To register or for more info contact: <mailto:mail@sexandculture.org>mail@sexandculture.org or 415-255-1155. The full weekend workshop is available for $395 per person, early bird special of $360 if you reserve before January 1st.

Trans Tantra Introductory Evening
Friday, February 1, 2008
7 - 10 PM at the Center for Sex and Culture
$25 per person

Meet the authors Barbara Carrellas and Dossie Easton for an evening of chat and some experimental journeys in breath and consciousness. Get a taste of the weekend to come, satisfy your curiosity about Tantra and other energy-focused sexual paths, and discover how Tantra can help you unleash some unique abilities within yourself. Persons who have no experience in Tantra who intend to attend the full weekend are particularly encouraged to attend this evening, but all are welcome to join us for a taste of Tantra.

BIO

Dossie Easton, a long time player on the San Francisco S/M scene and well-known killer bottom, is co-author with Janet Hardy of The Ethical Slut, a guide to infinite sexual possibilities as well as The New Bottoming Book and The New Topping Book, When Someone You Love Is Kinky, a book designed to give to outsiders to inform them about our lifestyle, and most recently, Radical Ecstasy: SM Journeys to Transcendence. She is a licensed psychotherapist working with individuals, couples and more in her private practice, with a particular interest in how SM journeys into Shadow can bring old wounds into the healing light of consciousness and and give them a shot of life force in the form of good hot sex. You can check out her website at www.dossieeaston.com.

Barbara Carrellas is the author of Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century and Luxurious Loving: Tantric Inspirations for Passion and Pleasure. She is the founder of Urban Tantra, an approach to sacred sexuality that adapts and blends conscious sexuality practices from Tantra to S/M, and the cofounder of Erotic Awakening, a pioneering series of workshops focusing on the physical, spiritual and healing powers of sex. Barbara was named Best Tantric Sex Seminar Leader in New York City by Time Out/NY Magazine for her Urban Tantra workshops. Barbara has been featured in the videos Selfloving, The Sluts & Goddesses Video Video Workshop, Zen Pussy, Annie Sprinkle's Amazing World of Orgasm, in the film Sacred Sex and in several episodes of the HBO television special Real Sex. Barbara frequently lectures, performs and facilitates workshops with her partner, author and gender outlaw , Kate Bornstein. www.barbaracarrellas.com, www.urbantantra.org.

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The Ron Paul “Revolution”, an Extreme Rightwing Threat

2008-01-10T00:14:25Z

The Ron Paul “Revolution”, an Extreme Rightwing Threat

By STEVEN ARGUE

For the most part the Iowa caucuses were business as usual for the Democrat and Republican Parties. Among the Democrats, “Anti-war” and “pro-single payer health care” Democrat Dennis Kucinich put his support behind pro-war anti--single payer health care, Barrack Obama. Yet on the far right, anti-war Libertarian and Republican Ron Paul gained a stunning 10% of the vote.

Seeing the failure of the Democrats to deliver a candidate worth supporting; some left leaning individuals have been suggesting support to Ron Paul. One is anti-war Vietnam veteran Stan Goff, who suggested in his January 4, 2008 article ”Monkey Wrenching the System, Ron Paul’s Revolution” that people vote in the primaries for Ron Paul, switching party registration right away if they live in a state where such a move is necessary to vote in the Republican primaries.

At the root of the Ron Paul "revolution" is the dismantling of Social Security and the Department of Education as well as other basic social programs, and the elimination of worker and environmental protections. Advances like single payer health care? No way. Ron Paul's message is that you need to take care of yourself, and that there shouldn't be such government programs, nor such interference with private profit. While he puts forward reasons for not supporting going to war abroad, his domestic policies would ignite civil war at home.

In addition to pretending he's against all government, he's for outlawing abortion and supports the continued ban on same-sex marriage. He was one of the original co-sponsors of the "Marriage Protection Act".

He's also a religious extremist who thinks that creationism should be taught in the schools.

On race, Ron Paul was one of 33 Congress members to vote against the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, an act that was first passed to give Blacks in the south the right to vote. On a similar note, he says the Civil Rights Act violates the Constitution and impedes on individual liberties. Speaking of Blacks in Washington DC he states in campaign literature, "95 percent of African Americans in are semi-criminal or entirely criminal".

No wonder the American Nazi Party has close relations with him (see letter from Nazi Commander Bill White below). In addition, Ron Paul has the support of other white supremacists such as David Duke, and has knowingly taken donations from former KKK Grand Wizard Don Black.

Hell would freeze over before I'd support Ron Paul. And being an atheist; that will be a long time.

There are plenty of candidates to the left of the Democrats worth considering supporting who oppose the war, would preserve public education and Social Security, who would provide single payer or socialized medicine, and who aren’t raving racist, homophobic, and sexist “Libertarian” fanatics. Why not look at them rather than someone from the loony right?

I discuss some of the campaigns that may be worth supporting in the following article:

The Case for Socialized Medicine in the United States,
And the Struggle to Achieve It
By STEVEN ARGUE
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/02/18469739.php

Or here is a different version of the same article:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/01/93820.html

*****************
American Nazi Party Chief says Ron Paul is one of us

Bill White, commander of the American National Socialist Worker’s Party, aka The American Nazi Party, wrote the following on the Nazi Vanguard News Network:

Comrades:

I have kept quiet about the Ron Paul campaign for a while, because I didn’t see any need to say anything that would cause any trouble. However, reading the latest release from his campaign spokesman, I am compelled to tell the truth about Ron Paul’s extensive involvement in white nationalism.

Both Congressman Paul and his aides regularly meet with members of the Stormfront set, American Renaissance, the Institute for Historic Review, and others at the Tara Thai restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, usually on Wednesdays. This is part of a dinner that was originally organized by Pat Buchanan, Sam Francis and Joe Sobran, and has since been mostly taken over by the Council of Conservative Citizens.

I have attended these dinners, seen Paul and his aides there, and been invited to his offices in Washington to discuss policy.

For his spokesman to call white racialism a “small ideology” and claim white activists are “wasting their money” trying to influence Paul is ridiculous. Paul is a white nationalist of the Stormfront type who has always kept his racial views and his views about world Judaism quiet because of his political position.

I don’t know that it is necessarily good for Paul to “expose” this. However, he really is someone with extensive ties to white nationalism and for him to deny that in the belief he will be more respectable by denying it is outrageous — and I hate seeing people in the press who denounce racialism merely because they think it is not fashionable.

Bill White, Commander
American National Socialist Workers Party

*********
Poor Bill White. He’s having trouble with his brand of racism, anti-Semitism, mass extermination, and genocide not being "in fashion". But hey, you've got to thank the knuckleheaded Nazi for confirming our suspicions on Ron Paul and Pat Buchanan! -Steven Argue

Liberation News
https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/liberation_news

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Black Lesbian Feature & Oakland Film Co.

2007-12-24T17:49:40Z

Griot Soul Films, an Oakland-based non-profit film company dedicated to producing complex film images of Black and Black Connected communities, and providing community members tools and training to do the same. We're currently working to produce the 1st Black Same Gender Loving Woman's Romantic Dramedy "She Wasn't Last Night."

It's community funded and we've gotten a lot of positive press both nationally and internationally. We need more local involvement and the Winter Holidays are a great time to connect!

Please check out our website at http://www.griotsoulfilms.org and our trailer at http://www.afterellen.com/blwe/12-14-07?page=0%2C5

....and consider making a holiday donation of any size. Join our social network for the site at http://shewasntlastnight.ning.com

Thanks for taking the time!!!!

DJ

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Naughty Gifts for Naughty Girls

2007-11-24T01:11:05Z

WearablePorn.com

Naughty Gifts for Naughty Girls

Original fine art bondage & erotica t-shirts, posters, framed prints, greeting cards and more.

http://www.wearableporn.com

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QUEER CONTRA DANCE in BERKELEY on SUN, OCT 21!

2007-10-15T20:26:37Z

What: Queer Contra Dance
When: Sunday, October 21, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Who: Frederick Park calls, music by 3 O’Clock Shadow
Where: Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Avenue (near Gilman) in Berkeley
Map & Directions: http://www.ashkenaz.com/html/map.html
How much: $10 (or pay what you can)

This month, we’re back at Ashkenaz – the funky, eclectic center of music and dance in Berkeley – where history is on the walls (literally!) and a bit of psychedelia is in the air. And further proving that contra dance attracts the most interesting and erudite, caller-philosopher Frederick Park (with added reputation of master storyteller) will be here from North Carolina to get us moving to 3 O’Clock Shadow, one of the best bands around and featuring our pal Erik Hoffman fiddling away. Or just come for the food – Ashkenaz has a famously scrumptious snack bar!

Beginners are welcome, so tell the uninitiated. (Contra dance? What, pray tell, is that? An exuberant, easy-to-learn barn dance done to live old-timey music, with no partner or special attire required.)

More Queer Contra info: http://www.lcfd.org/sf/

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Seeking queer triads for research!

2007-09-22T22:51:51Z

My name is Sunny. I am a graduate student in the Sexuality Studies program at San Francisco State University. I am conducting research on polyamory. The aim of my study is to explore how individuals in queer polyamorous triads discuss love in their relationships. I am in search of individuals in queer, long-term (one year or longer), polyamorous triads to interview. Individuals must identify themselves and their relationships as queer, and the triads must be three people who are all sexually and romantically involved with one another.

Participating in this study will entail a 45-90 minute one-on-one interview at a comfortable and private location convenient for both of us to discuss your experiences and feelings of love while in a triad.

If you are currently in a queer, long-term (one year or longer), triad relationship and are interested in participating in the study, please contact me!

smnordmarken@yahoo.com
(415) 516-0908

I am currently seeking people to interview! Please contact me as soon as possible if you would like to participate.

Thank you!
Sunny

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genderqueer-friendly haircutter?

2007-08-22T18:48:21Z

OK, so I saw "Ocean's Thirteen" and I totally want George Clooney's haircut.

Anybody know a not-too-expensive haircutter who: a) can give me George Clooney's haircut, and b) won't freak out when a 52-year-old woman asks for George Clooney's haircut?

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 4 replies

Hella Bonanza!

2007-08-16T01:05:02Z

I forgot the when and where!

Sunday, August 19th at 1:00pm til late

Mosswood Park (at the corner of Broadway and MacArthur in Oakland)

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Hella Bonanza Vegan Potluck Picnic!!!

2007-08-16T00:57:27Z

Come eat hella good vegan food with us! Bring a dish to share (no meat, dairy, eggs, or honey), your own plate and a spork, and all your friends. We're rad, you're rad, let's hang out!

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Oakland Film Company Film Company to Produce 1st Black Lesbian Romantic Comedy Feature

2007-07-19T01:34:49Z

Hey guys,

Check out our online community site and consider donating to our non-profit community funded film company or volunteering with us. Our current film is called "She Wasn't Last Night." It will be the first Black Same Gender Loving Women's Romantic Comedy Feature. Help us as we work from the grassroots to make this historic film.

http://shewasntlastnight.ning.com

Thanks,

dj

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Lesbian Victims sentenced for self-defense in Hate Crime

2007-07-03T00:40:35Z

Perhaps there would be some way to spread the word about this terrible thing.

-----

FREE THEM NOW!
Lesbians sentenced for self-defense
All-white jury convicts Black women

By Imani Henry
New York

Published Jun 21, 2007 2:58 AM
On June 14, four African-American women—Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20) and Renata Hill (24)—received sentences ranging from three-and-a-half to 11 years in prison. None of them had previous criminal records. Two of them are parents of small children.

Their crime? Defending themselves from a physical attack by a man who held them down and choked them, ripped hair from their scalps, spat on them, and threatened to sexually assault them—all because they are lesbians.

The mere fact that any victim of a bigoted attack would be arrested, jailed and then convicted for self-defense is an outrage. But the length of prison time given further demonstrates the highly political nature of this case and just how racist, misogynistic, anti-gay, anti-youth and anti-worker the so-called U.S. justice system truly is.

The description of the events, reported below, is based on written statements by a community organization (FIERCE) that has made a call to action to defend the four women, verbal accounts from court observers and evidence from a surveillance camera.

The attack

On Aug. 16, 2006, seven young, African-American, lesbian-identified friends were walking in the West Village. The Village is a historic center for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) communities, and is seen as a safe haven for working-class LGBT youth, especially youth of color.

As they passed the Independent Film Cinema, 29-year-old Dwayne Buckle, an African-American vendor selling DVDs, sexually propositioned one of the women. They rebuffed his advances and kept walking.

“I’ll f— you straight, sweetheart!” Buckle shouted. A video camera from a nearby store shows the women walking away. He followed them, all the while hurling anti-lesbian slurs, grabbing his genitals and making explicitly obscene remarks. The women finally stopped and confronted him. A heated argument ensued. Buckle spat in the face of one of the women and threw his lit cigarette at them, escalating the verbal attack into a physical one.

Buckle is seen on the video grabbing and pulling out large patches of hair from one of the young women. When Buckle ended up on top of one of the women, choking her, Johnson pulled a small steak knife out of her purse. She aimed for his arm to stop him from killing her friend.

The video captures two men finally running over to help the women and beating Buckle. At some point he was stabbed in the abdomen. The women were already walking away across the street by the time the police arrived.

Buckle was hospitalized for five days after surgery for a lacerated liver and stomach. When asked at the hospital, he responded at least twice that men had attacked him.

There was no evidence that Johnson’s kitchen knife was the weapon that penetrated his abdomen, nor was there any blood visible on it. In fact, there was never any forensics testing done on her knife. On the night they were arrested, the police told the women that there would be a search by the New York Police Department for the two men—which to date has not happened.

After almost a year of trial, four of the seven were convicted in April. Johnson was sentenced to 11 years on June 14.

Even with Buckle’s admission and the video footage proving that he instigated this anti-gay attack, the women were relentlessly demonized in the press, had trumped-up felony charges levied against them, and were subsequently given long sentences in order to send a clear resounding message—that self-defense is a crime and no one should dare to fight back.

Political backdrop of the case

Why were these young women used as an example? At stake are the billions of dollars in tourism and real estate development involved in the continued gentrification of the West Village. This particular incident happened near the Washington Square area—home of New York University, one of most expensive private colleges in the country and one of the biggest employers and landlords in New York City. The New York Times reported that Justice Edward J. McLaughlin used his sentencing speech to comment on “how New York welcomes tourists.” (June 17)

The Village is also the home of the Stonewall Rebellion, the three-day street battle against the NYPD that, along with the Compton Cafeteria “Riots” in California, helped launch the modern-day LGBT liberation movement in 1969. The Manhattan LGBT Pride march, one of the biggest demonstrations of LGBT peoples in the world, ends near the Christopher Street Piers in the Village, which have been the historical “hangout” and home for working-class trans and LGBT youth in New York City for decades.

Because of growing gentrification in recent years, young people of color, homeless and transgender communities, LGBT and straight, have faced curfews and brutality by police sanctioned by the West Village community board and politicians. On Oct. 31, 2006, police officers from the NYPD’s 6th Precinct indiscriminately beat and arrested several people of color in sweeps on Christopher Street after the Halloween parade.

Since the 1980s there has been a steady increase in anti-LGBT violence in the area, with bashers going there with that purpose in mind.

For trans people and LGBT youth of color, who statistically experience higher amounts of bigoted violence, the impact of the gentrification has been severe. As their once-safe haven is encroached on by real estate developers, the new white and majority heterosexual residents of the West Village then call in the state to brutalize them.

For the last six years the political LGBT youth group FIERCE has been at the forefront of mobilizing young people “to counter the displacement and criminalization of LGBTSTQ [lesbian, gay, bi, two spirit, trans, and queer] youth of color and homeless youth at the Christopher Street Pier and in Manhattan’s West Village.” (www.fiercenyc.org) FIERCE has also been the lead organization supporting the Jersey Seven and their families.

The trial and the media

Deemed a so-called “hate crime” against a straight man, every possible racist, anti-woman, anti-LGBT and anti-youth tactic was used by the entire state apparatus and media. Everything from the fact that they lived outside of New York, in the working-class majority Black city of Newark, N.J., to their gender expressions and body structures were twisted and dehumanized in the public eye and to the jury.

According to court observers, McLaughlin stated throughout the trial that he had no sympathy for these women. The jury, although they were all women, were all white. All witnesses for the district attorney were white men, except for one Black male who had several felony charges.

Court observers report that the defense attorneys had to put enormous effort into simply convincing the jury that they were “average women” who had planned to just hang out together that night. Some jurists asked why they were in the Village if they were from New Jersey. The DA brought up whether they could afford to hang out there—raising the issue of who has the right to be there in the first place.

The Daily News reporting was relentless in its racist anti-lesbian misogyny, portraying Buckle as a “filmmaker” and “sound engineer” preyed upon by a “lesbian wolf pack” (April 19) and a “gang of angry lesbians.” (April 13)

Everyone has been socialized by cultural archetypes of what it means to be a “man” or “masculine” and “woman” or “feminine.” Gender identity/expression is the way each indivdual chooses or not to express gender in their everyday lives, including how they dress, walk, talk, etc. Transgender people and other gender non-conforming people face oppression based on their gender expression/identity.

The only pictures shown in the Daily News were of the more masculine-appearing women. One of the most despiciable headlines in the Daily News, “‘I’m a man!’ lesbian growled during fight,” (April 13) was targeted against Renata Hill, who was taunted by Buckle because of her masculinity.

Ironically, Johnson, who was singled out by the judge as the “ringleader,” is the more feminine of the four. According to the New York Times, in his sentencing remarks, “Justice McLaughlin scoffed at the assertion made by ... Johnson, that she carried a knife because she was just 4-foot-11 and 95 pounds, worked nights and lived in a dangerous neighborhood.” He quoted the nursery rhyme, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” (June 15)

All of the seven women knew and went to school with Sakia Gunn, a 19-year-old butch lesbian who was stabbed to death in Newark, N.J., in May 2003. Paralleling the present case, Gunn was out with three of her friends when a man made sexual advances to one of the women. When she replied that she was a lesbian and not interested, he attacked them. Gunn fought back and was stabbed to death.

“You can’t help but wonder that if Sakia Gunn had a weapon, would she be in jail right now?” Bran Fenner, a founding member and co-executive director of FIERCE, told Workers World. “If we don’t have the right to self-defense, how are we supposed to survive?”

National call to action

While racist killer cops continue to go without indictment and anti-immigrant paramilitary groups like the Minutemen are on the rise in the U.S., The Jersey Four sit behind bars for simply defending themselves against a bigot who attacked them in the Village.

Capitalism at its very core is a racist, sexist, anti-LGBT system, sanctioning state violence through cops, courts and its so-called laws. The case of the Jersey Four gives more legal precedence for bigoted violence to go unchallenged. The ruling class saw this case as a political one; FIERCE and other groups believe the entire progressive movement should as well.

Fenner said, “We are organizing in the hope that this wakes up all oppressed people and sparks a huge, broad campaign to demand freedom for the Jersey Four.”

FIERCE is asking for assistance for these young women, including pro-bono legal support, media contacts and writers, pen pals, financial support, and diverse organizational support. For details, visit www.fiercenyc.org.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles copyright 1995-2007 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.

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trial balloon -- idea for GLBT-friendly weight loss support group

2007-06-29T23:14:38Z

The times I've been to Weight Watchers and places like that, I've enjoyed the support group/brainstorming part of it, where someone can come in with an issue -- "I'm going to a family potluck next week and I'm really worried about being pressured to eat too much," or something like that -- and the rest of the group can help think of solutions. But I've hated the sort of sloganeering infantilizing quality of the leadership, and I've found very little support for the social issues faced by queers, especially the questioning of beauty norms.

So it occurred to me: would anybody be interested in some sort of weekly get-together, maybe in the back room of a restaurant or library, where we could provide the good stuff for one another without the nasty corporate values? We could do weigh-ins if people found that appropriate, or not, or we could keep them optional. We could brainstorm solutions for eating and exercise issues, maybe find workout buddies, stuff like that. While it wouldn't be restricted to GLBT folks, we'd start by advertising it in our own communities; if hets felt like it was the right place for them, they could join us.

Does this pique anybody else's interest?

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Lesbians sentenced for self-defense. FREE THEM NOW!

2007-06-23T02:43:38Z

FREE THEM NOW!
Lesbians sentenced for self-defense
All-white jury convicts Black women

By Imani Henry
New York

Published Jun 21, 2007 2:58 AM
On June 14, four African-American women—Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20) and Renata Hill (24)—received sentences ranging from three-and-a-half to 11 years in prison. None of them had previous criminal records. Two of them are parents of small children.

Their crime? Defending themselves from a physical attack by a man who held them down and choked them, ripped hair from their scalps, spat on them, and threatened to sexually assault them—all because they are lesbians.

The mere fact that any victim of a bigoted attack would be arrested, jailed and then convicted for self-defense is an outrage. But the length of prison time given further demonstrates the highly political nature of this case and just how racist, misogynistic, anti-gay, anti-youth and anti-worker the so-called U.S. justice system truly is.

The description of the events, reported below, is based on written statements by a community organization (FIERCE) that has made a call to action to defend the four women, verbal accounts from court observers and evidence from a surveillance camera.

The attack

On Aug. 16, 2006, seven young, African-American, lesbian-identified friends were walking in the West Village. The Village is a historic center for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) communities, and is seen as a safe haven for working-class LGBT youth, especially youth of color.

As they passed the Independent Film Cinema, 29-year-old Dwayne Buckle, an African-American vendor selling DVDs, sexually propositioned one of the women. They rebuffed his advances and kept walking.

“I’ll f— you straight, sweetheart!” Buckle shouted. A video camera from a nearby store shows the women walking away. He followed them, all the while hurling anti-lesbian slurs, grabbing his genitals and making explicitly obscene remarks. The women finally stopped and confronted him. A heated argument ensued. Buckle spat in the face of one of the women and threw his lit cigarette at them, escalating the verbal attack into a physical one.

Buckle is seen on the video grabbing and pulling out large patches of hair from one of the young women. When Buckle ended up on top of one of the women, choking her, Johnson pulled a small steak knife out of her purse. She aimed for his arm to stop him from killing her friend.

The video captures two men finally running over to help the women and beating Buckle. At some point he was stabbed in the abdomen. The women were already walking away across the street by the time the police arrived.

Buckle was hospitalized for five days after surgery for a lacerated liver and stomach. When asked at the hospital, he responded at least twice that men had attacked him.

There was no evidence that Johnson’s kitchen knife was the weapon that penetrated his abdomen, nor was there any blood visible on it. In fact, there was never any forensics testing done on her knife. On the night they were arrested, the police told the women that there would be a search by the New York Police Department for the two men—which to date has not happened.

After almost a year of trial, four of the seven were convicted in April. Johnson was sentenced to 11 years on June 14.

Even with Buckle’s admission and the video footage proving that he instigated this anti-gay attack, the women were relentlessly demonized in the press, had trumped-up felony charges levied against them, and were subsequently given long sentences in order to send a clear resounding message—that self-defense is a crime and no one should dare to fight back.

Political backdrop of the case

Why were these young women used as an example? At stake are the billions of dollars in tourism and real estate development involved in the continued gentrification of the West Village. This particular incident happened near the Washington Square area—home of New York University, one of most expensive private colleges in the country and one of the biggest employers and landlords in New York City. The New York Times reported that Justice Edward J. McLaughlin used his sentencing speech to comment on “how New York welcomes tourists.” (June 17)

The Village is also the home of the Stonewall Rebellion, the three-day street battle against the NYPD that, along with the Compton Cafeteria “Riots” in California, helped launch the modern-day LGBT liberation movement in 1969. The Manhattan LGBT Pride march, one of the biggest demonstrations of LGBT peoples in the world, ends near the Christopher Street Piers in the Village, which have been the historical “hangout” and home for working-class trans and LGBT youth in New York City for decades.

Because of growing gentrification in recent years, young people of color, homeless and transgender communities, LGBT and straight, have faced curfews and brutality by police sanctioned by the West Village community board and politicians. On Oct. 31, 2006, police officers from the NYPD’s 6th Precinct indiscriminately beat and arrested several people of color in sweeps on Christopher Street after the Halloween parade.

Since the 1980s there has been a steady increase in anti-LGBT violence in the area, with bashers going there with that purpose in mind.

For trans people and LGBT youth of color, who statistically experience higher amounts of bigoted violence, the impact of the gentrification has been severe. As their once-safe haven is encroached on by real estate developers, the new white and majority heterosexual residents of the West Village then call in the state to brutalize them.

For the last six years the political LGBT youth group FIERCE has been at the forefront of mobilizing young people “to counter the displacement and criminalization of LGBTSTQ [lesbian, gay, bi, two spirit, trans, and queer] youth of color and homeless youth at the Christopher Street Pier and in Manhattan’s West Village.” (www.fiercenyc.org) FIERCE has also been the lead organization supporting the Jersey Seven and their families.

The trial and the media

Deemed a so-called “hate crime” against a straight man, every possible racist, anti-woman, anti-LGBT and anti-youth tactic was used by the entire state apparatus and media. Everything from the fact that they lived outside of New York, in the working-class majority Black city of Newark, N.J., to their gender expressions and body structures were twisted and dehumanized in the public eye and to the jury.

According to court observers, McLaughlin stated throughout the trial that he had no sympathy for these women. The jury, although they were all women, were all white. All witnesses for the district attorney were white men, except for one Black male who had several felony charges.

Court observers report that the defense attorneys had to put enormous effort into simply convincing the jury that they were “average women” who had planned to just hang out together that night. Some jurists asked why they were in the Village if they were from New Jersey. The DA brought up whether they could afford to hang out there—raising the issue of who has the right to be there in the first place.

The Daily News reporting was relentless in its racist anti-lesbian misogyny, portraying Buckle as a “filmmaker” and “sound engineer” preyed upon by a “lesbian wolf pack” (April 19) and a “gang of angry lesbians.” (April 13)

Everyone has been socialized by cultural archetypes of what it means to be a “man” or “masculine” and “woman” or “feminine.” Gender identity/expression is the way each indivdual chooses or not to express gender in their everyday lives, including how they dress, walk, talk, etc. Transgender people and other gender non-conforming people face oppression based on their gender expression/identity.

The only pictures shown in the Daily News were of the more masculine-appearing women. One of the most despiciable headlines in the Daily News, “‘I’m a man!’ lesbian growled during fight,” (April 13) was targeted against Renata Hill, who was taunted by Buckle because of her masculinity.

Ironically, Johnson, who was singled out by the judge as the “ringleader,” is the more feminine of the four. According to the New York Times, in his sentencing remarks, “Justice McLaughlin scoffed at the assertion made by ... Johnson, that she carried a knife because she was just 4-foot-11 and 95 pounds, worked nights and lived in a dangerous neighborhood.” He quoted the nursery rhyme, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” (June 15)

All of the seven women knew and went to school with Sakia Gunn, a 19-year-old butch lesbian who was stabbed to death in Newark, N.J., in May 2003. Paralleling the present case, Gunn was out with three of her friends when a man made sexual advances to one of the women. When she replied that she was a lesbian and not interested, he attacked them. Gunn fought back and was stabbed to death.

“You can’t help but wonder that if Sakia Gunn had a weapon, would she be in jail right now?” Bran Fenner, a founding member and co-executive director of FIERCE, told Workers World. “If we don’t have the right to self-defense, how are we supposed to survive?”

National call to action

While racist killer cops continue to go without indictment and anti-immigrant paramilitary groups like the Minutemen are on the rise in the U.S., The Jersey Four sit behind bars for simply defending themselves against a bigot who attacked them in the Village.

Capitalism at its very core is a racist, sexist, anti-LGBT system, sanctioning state violence through cops, courts and its so-called laws. The case of the Jersey Four gives more legal precedence for bigoted violence to go unchallenged. The ruling class saw this case as a political one; FIERCE and other groups believe the entire progressive movement should as well.

Fenner said, “We are organizing in the hope that this wakes up all oppressed people and sparks a huge, broad campaign to demand freedom for the Jersey Four.”

FIERCE is asking for assistance for these young women, including pro-bono legal support, media contacts and writers, pen pals, financial support, and diverse organizational support. For details, visit www.fiercenyc.org.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles copyright 1995-2007 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

6/01 Primal "Pulse" queer erotic party, in SF

2007-05-31T08:42:17Z

Reminder - It's this Friday.

This is a mixed energy event. Wide range of ages (18+) and queerness (bi, butch, femme, trans, gender queer, leather, etc). A unique event, open to any non-mainstream (hetero-normative) sexuality. We also transform the venue.

- -
Primal "Pulse"

A Private, Queer Erotic Party
Hosted by Iain & Angela of EduKink

Friday, June 1, 2007, 8 pm – 1 am
SF Citadel, 1277 Mission Street, at Ninth Street
$20 per person

The Primal parties are alternative sexuality parties for queer and queer-friendly adults, celebrating all genders, orientations, and preferences.

You must be on the invitation list to attend. Anyone 18 or older with a positive, personal interest in celebrating sexuality in all its flavors, colors, shapes, and expressions, may apply at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EduKink-Erotic-Events

Strict Dress code. Basics:
- Ordinary street clothes not permitted.
- Red sexy attire admired, but not required.
- Trans folk may dress as they please.

Featuring live music by Cuir Bleu
(CuirBleu.com)

Feel the pulse … .. low beat of the drum … .. feel it throbbing in your veins … .. the rhythm of sex … ..
… .. the pulse … .. … .. pulse … .. … .. pulse … .. … .. Feel it.

For more information, see http://EduKink.org/Primal

Do not forward this message to other lists without permission.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

North Bay lesbian looking to relocate in the East Bay

2007-05-08T02:51:52Z

Hi. I am planning to move to the East Bay on July 1st and am looking for a studio to rent or a house to share with other lesbians/gays. I am 39 years old, work full time, and have no pets. I enjoy all types of people and am hoping to expand my creative circle. If anyone knows of a place to rent, can suggest fun activities in the East Bay, or would be interested in showing a new kid on the block around, I would be very appreciative. I look forward to my move to the East Bay and meeting all of you!
Thank you,
Panda Jim

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Berkeley + SF! Myriam Gurba reads from "Dahlia Season"

2007-05-03T02:32:57Z

Come on out for some sizzling Chicana dyke fiction from new Manic D author Myriam Gurba as she reads from her debut book "Dahlia Season" in Berkeley and SF!

Cinco de Mayo (Saturday, May 5th) 6 pm
FREE
Pegasus Books
2349 Shattuck Ave (x Durant)
Berkeley
510-649-1320

Sunday, May 6th 8:30 p.m.
FREE, over 21 only
K'vetch
Sadie's Flying Elephant
491 Potrero Ave (x Mariposa)
San Francisco
415-551-7988

See you there!

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

SF Bay Girls Who Wanna Meet Girls next event in Oakland -- link to event listing and some details

2007-04-05T22:12:09Z

Hello gals -- if you live in the SF Bay area (quite a few of you already are in the SFBay Girls Who Wanna Meet Girls tribe currently) the SFBay Girls Who Wanna Meet Girls tribe is having another event coming up on the last Friday of this month in the East Bay.

The event listing should be in within the event listings tab of this tribe...here's the URL for the event below:

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/event/SF-Bay-Girls-Who-Wanna-Meet-Girls-event-April-27-Pasta-Pomodora-in-Oakland/oakland-ca-94618/dcd616bc-6f15-4eff-95c5-34d3a26710a4

Moderator -- let me know if this is off topic and I'll understand if this thread needs to be removed.. :)

Thanks!

Carrie
Moderator of SBGWMG

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

queer contra dance in oakland on thursday!

2007-04-02T06:06:00Z

What: Queer Contra Dance
Who: Linda Leslie calling, with music by The Moving Violations
When: Thursday, April 5, 7:30-10:30 p.m. (Learn the basics at 7:30)
Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street (btwn Telegraph & Broadway) in Oakland
Map & Directions: http://www.humanisthall.net/DIRECTIONS.htm
How much: $10 (or pay what you can)

Contra dance is an exuberant, easy-to-learn American folk dance done to live old-timey music. No experience, partner, or skill required. All dances are taught. Beginners always welcome!

This extra-special dance features dynamite music by nationally-known contra band The Moving Violations, and crackerjack calling by Boston's Linda Leslie.

For more information, check out our website at:
http://www.lcfd.org/sf/

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

New Dyke Bar in Oakland

2007-03-28T18:33:20Z

Got this in my email:

To: > > Dear friends,
> I have some pretty fantastic news.
> I have signed a contract with the
> owners of a club in Oakland to open a Girls Bar,
> which will be open 7 nights a week. Like the old
> days. The name of the club will be: "Velvet"
> I am so excited to be able to provide, for the first
> time in my career, a venue that will be open all
> the time, providing our community with a gathering
> space every day. No more 3rd Tuesdays, 4th
> Fridays just always open. Always
> there when you want company.
> We finally have a HOME BASE again.

> This is a very cool small club in the Laurel
> District of Oakland near the corner of Macarthur
> Blvd and 35th Avenue. It has 2 rooms, one for the
> bar and lounge and one with a pool table
> and djs on Thursday Friday and Saturday nights.
> It's a perfect size to keep a good party going every
> weekend. For the first time, I am going to rely
> almost exclusively on the internet to
> get the word out
> and I was hoping that you would take the time to
> forward this to as many women as you can.
> to get the word out
> through the network of women in our community.
> The opening night is Saturday March 17, 2007.
> We will open the doors at 9 pm. I
> recommend getting there early as this is a small
> building and we will fill up I'm sure. The
> space is very raw but very cool at this point
> as we grow we are going to
> develop the space and really
> turn it into a dream club. For now we get the
> doors open and throw on great music and explode
> with the amazing energy and
> experience you have come to
> know and trust when we all get together.
> Please,
> send this along to all of your friends even if you
> think they don't go out. Maybe they will tell all
> there friends. I really am asking a favor to help
> me spread the word. There will be a few ads and some
> flyers but this time I want to reach person to
> person. Woman to woman
> Help me spread the word.
> We have a home again. -Velvet- 3511 Macarthur
> Blvd. @35th Oakland Ca 94619 phone 510.531.3321
> velverOAKLAND@gmail.com The club is very easy
> to get to. Tons of parking.
> From SF. Take Bay Bridge toward Oakland.
> Take 580 towards Hayward
> take the 35th avenue exit.. Left at the light on 35th
> and left at Macarthur. It's on the left.
> From Berkeley:
> Take 80 West to 580 east and follow
> directions above.
> From North Bay:
> Richmond Bridge Towards Berkeley on 80.
> follow directions from Berkeley above.
> South Bay:
> Take 101 north to Bay Bridge.
> After bridge take 580 towards Hayward. Follow directions above.
> Spread the word.
> Velvet OAKLAND
> Opening night
> Saturday March 17th, 2007.
> Thanks so much for your help.
> See you there.
> Page Hodel> > > > > > > >

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 8 replies

new LGBT meditation nites

2007-03-26T04:53:41Z

There is a new meditation center in downtown oakland.

Second & last Wednesday nites are queer. They also have youth focued and nites for folks of color.

It's all by donation.

http://www.eastbaymeditation.org/

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Research on Bisexuality and Well-Being

2007-03-16T01:16:53Z

Are you a bisexual female and at least 18 years old?

- You are invited to participate in an anonymous on
line survey concerning sexual experience and
feelings.
- This research is being conducted by a graduate
student at the California School of Professional
Psychology/Alliant International University.
- Participation will take approximately 60 to 70
minutes
- All Participants will be entered in a lottery for a
chance to win one of two raffle prizes for $100

- If you are interested, go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=165663204675

- For more information or questions email:
bisexualityresearch@yahoo.com

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Saturday night?

2007-03-10T07:48:08Z

any gay/lesbian friendly events going on Saturday night?
I haven't been out in a while and I actually have this Saturday night off. (woo!) so, if anyone knows of anything fun going on..let me know! : )

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Getting together for women - SFBay Girls Who Wanna Meet GIrls tribe in Oakland

2007-03-07T18:44:48Z

Hello gals...

I'm the moderator of the SFBay Girls Who Wanna Meet girls tribe and our next event's this Friday, March 9th.

It's actually two events -- dinner at Cactus off College Ave and the White Horse Inn/Bar.

The event listing should be in the events tab of this tribe.

If you're interested -- please rsvp to this event.

Here's the link to the event listing:

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/event/SFBay-Girls-Who-Wanna-Meet-Girls-Does-the-East-Bay/san-francisco-ca/a3eba086-c66f-4282-8538-9bd9398ace75

Thank you!.. :)

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Seeking Housing for March 1

2007-02-08T22:16:06Z

Please Forward and Repost to Other Lists:

My name is Axeen & I am a 26 y/o white trans-guy with disAbilites seeking
cheap housing that is both comfortable, as well as comforting, like home.
I am looking for a place in or near alameda county
(preferably close to public transportation) , with not much more than one
flight of stairs. I would love to live with people who are very kind &
thoughtful as well as
down-to-earth & respectful (&goofy in the reallyreally un-cool, un-hip
way), who also have an understanding of trans &
disAbility issues. I have been a social justice organizer for years but
am taking a break to do some healing as well as taking time to do more
art, writing & music, so I am very interested in living with people who
are interested in healing & spirituality as well as art & poetry.

I can pay up to $300/month in rent as well as contribute to house
chores/cleaning. Please write or call me if you have a room in your
house
that you can rent out for $300/mo, space in your house that could be
converted into a room with a decent amount of privacy and soundproofing
that you can rent out to me for up to $300/mo, or any ideas of housing
that would meet my criteria. I am up for living both in a house with
people or alone.

You can contact me by email at axeen@mutualaid. org or call me:
510-689-8119.

Thank you & take care,
Axeen

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

acupuncturist?

2006-12-17T08:08:40Z

anybody have recommendations for a queer friendly acupuncturist in the EB?

thanks

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

been to canela?

2006-11-24T20:09:36Z

anybody been to canela? what's it like?

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Leather Women! Play Parties, Monthly

2006-11-24T10:21:48Z

Last Saturday of each month!
Women-Only Play Parties
When: 8pm-1am, doors close promptly at 11pm
Cost: $15 for members, $35 to join or bring an Edges flyer for free membership!
Where: Santa Clara: easily accessible to many freeways

Open to anyone that identifies as a woman 24/7. There will be a demo during the evening as well: watch for further details.
X-Quis in Santa Cruz and Edges join together to Present a monthly women-only play party at Edges

Arrive at 8PM and spend some introductory time with one of the hostesses and your fellow party goers in the social area, or take a tour of the dungeon with a lovely guide. Or, just go right on with any evil plan you may have!

E-mail questions about X-Quis to: x.quis@yahoo.com

RSVP for location:
events@edges.biz or 408-496-1132
http://www.edges.biz

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Food Drive

2006-11-19T21:08:46Z

I've started a food drive for the Alameda County Food Bank( they don't have much food in the warehouse!). If any one lives in the Jingletown or 94601 area please drop off food at the Volia Cafe at Derby & Ford St.

I will try to make 2 deliveries, one for Thanksgiving & again for Christmas.

Thanks, I know us Dykes & Queers are very generous.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

How 'bout them A's?!

2006-11-18T20:27:12Z

Ooooh yeah....

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Funkin 4 Tanzania

2006-11-11T01:10:01Z

Thats Right Bay Area Folks Funkin 4 Tanzania the benefit party is November 18th from 5-12pm There will be food, drinks, and music all you need to do it bring some clothes that you are not wearing anymore so I can mail them to our family in Africa.

*675 32nd St Oakland all ages*family House Party vive*Positive energy only!

Your donations will allow women, men and children to recieve the AIDS medicine that has been denied to them for years. The holidays are coming and you know you are getting new gear so use this opportunity to make room for the new.
Use the following list as a guide for your giving. This list comes from the oranizers who will recieve and distribute our gifts.
Jeans
Tennis shoes
Shirts
Kids clothes
Notebooks
Markers
Portable CD players
Walkmans
Pens
Make sure its clean, free of stains and holes. bringing them in a box would help but not required.

Volunteers needed: sorters, packers, barstaff, serving staff and security. If you are interested in any of these post reply asap. * days until Party time. Please repost this message in your friends list. Thank you..Bushmama

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Queers over 40 tribe

2006-07-29T06:37:44Z

Hey all , just wanted to put this out there.
I have a queers over 40 tribe. for me Its for men, women, trans etc.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Bring It! Featuring Medusa--Check the Noise

2006-06-14T05:30:38Z

Saturday July 8th House of Stormz Studios and Frontline Riddims
present BRING IT! A Grand Opening and Promo Release Event

Featuring The High Priestess of Hip Hop MEDUSA (Feline Science/LA)
Performing with one of the bays hottest bands THE PARK featuring members of BUCHO!

Join us as we breathe life and spark momentum into one of the most progressive production studios and hippest event spaces in Oakland!

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
J.B.RAP (Deep Dick Collective/Naked Souls Artist Alliance)

PERFORMANCES BY RECORDING ARTISTS:
Aza (Herstory/The Playground/Frontline)
Syra (DJ Alpheta/Frontline/LIP)
Seneca (GIVING TREE)
Galen (Cov Records)
TZ Money (Frontline)
MC Taurus (Frontline)

DJ’s:
Jamin (B.I.G./LIP)
Discovery (Livingroom/Rise)

EROTIC PHOTO’S and URBAN ARTWORK BY:
REFA 1 (Oaklandish)
and
J.R.S. (Everywhere)

From the producers of LIP: An All Grrrl MC Battle and FLEX Drum’n’Bass, we bring you the bays freshest new talent in a slammin’ new space.
WITNESS! AS WE UNLEASH A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH...
1439 105th Ave. @ E. 14th St.::Oakland
Doors @ 10pm:: $8 Before 11pm/$12 After::21+ W/ID
INFO: alpheta@grrrlbattle.com

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival

2006-06-13T18:31:30Z

Frameline30, the 30th San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival

The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with Frameline30, 11 days of the best queer cinema from home and abroad. Cinematic stories of love, lust, friends, family, good deeds and bad behavior span countries and communities, revealing a stunning diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aesthetics and experiences. Festival favorites such as Charles Busch, Margaret Cho and François Ozon return with new features, icons such as Tony Kushner and George Michael are profiled in hard-hitting documentaries, and therell be plenty of fun in boys and girls shorts.

Advance tickets go on sale May 26 at the Frameline30 ticket outlet located inside Superstar Satellite, 474 Castro Street (between Market and 18th). Ticket Outlet hours are 1:00 pm8:00 pm daily beginning Friday, May 26 (for Frameline members) and Friday, June 2 (for general). Tickets also are available online (www.frameline.org/festival/30th), by phone (925.866.9559), and by fax (925.866.9597). Unless otherwise noted, tickets are $10 general, $9 members; and $7 general, $6 members for screenings beginning at 5:00 pm or earlier. Castro Passes, good for admission to all screenings other than Opening Night and Closing Night, are available for $175. Daytime Matinee Passes, good for admission to all daytime screenings at the Castro Theatre on Friday, June 16 and Monday, June 19 through Friday, June 23 starting no later than 5pm, are available for $35. For more information, visit www.frameline.org/festival/30th.

Persistent Vision Queer Media Arts Conference, June 19-22

Frameline is pleased to present Persistent Vision 2006: Envisioning the Future of Queer Media Arts, a four-day conference at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center and the Victoria Theatre, June 19-22. Taking its cue from the hugely successful Persistent Vision 2001, the 2006 conference will be a time for LGBT media-makers, programmers, distributors and others to discuss the state of the field and to chart what lies ahead for LGBT media arts. With the success of Brokeback Mountain, The L Word and Transamerica having thrust the LGBT community into the mainstream, the time is ripe to ask ourselves: Where are we? Whose images are not being seen? What are our next challenges? Featured keynote speakers are: film critic and cultural theorist B. Ruby Rich, writer and TV host Keith Boykin, and writer/director John Cameron Mitchell. The entire conference agenda is available at www.pv2006.org, where you can also register! Conference fees are $200 regular, $150 student. Questions? Feel free to email conference coordinators Matt Florence and Meg Daly at pv@frameline.org.

We have our own tribe too, please join us at http://tribes.tribe.net/frameline30

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

LIBERATION LOUNGE - Backyard Barbeque & Dance Party - Raises money for queer POC to go to New Orleans to rebuild - West Oakland - 6/9

2006-06-02T20:02:45Z

Hey - A friend of mine is helping organize a dance party in Oakland to raise money for a bunch of local queer people of color to go to New Orleans together this summer to work on reconstruction. Everyone is welcome, whether straight or gay or whatever you might be - The DJ's supposed to be good. She asked me to pass this on. I'll be there. Check it out. And pass the word on to your friends.

Isaiah

--

LIBERATION LOUNGE
Backyard Barbeque & Dance Party
Come liberate yourself and your people

With Special Guest OLGA T spinning
On the ones and twos

Friday, June 9 from 6 to 12
677 32nd St. in West Oakland
(at MLK- near McArthur BART)

$5 suggested donation

Food and drinks available for additional donation

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HELPING PEOPLE OF COLOR TRAVEL TO NEW ORLEANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION SUMMER

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

lesbianpolyfuckery tribe

2006-05-27T21:17:39Z

Hi,

Is anyone on this tribe? When I try to go there it says:

The Requested Action Cannot Be Performed
You have attempted to do something that is not permitted according to this tribe's security configuration.

My guess is that you have to be invited in order to join. Can someone invite me? You will have my great appreciation and gratitude.

Thanks

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Alternative LIfestyles and The Law: A day with the NCSF

2006-05-14T08:22:21Z

A lot of people think that the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom deals primarily with issues of BDSM and the Law, and in reality they deal with all areas of Alternative Sexual Choices and the law. Come out for this day with the NCSF and be both entertained and informed about Sexuality, The Law and You !

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

Alternative lifestyles and the law, A day with the National Coalition for
Sexual Freedom

A day with the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom allows you an extremely rare opportunity to pick and chose from a plethora of topics that address the needs and concerns of the members of our community. Come and go as you like, pick and choose the seminars that affect you the most. Most importantly, come learn about the NCSF and how to better protect yourself and our lifestyle.

It is our pleasure to offer you:
A Special Viewing of Busted, A Citizens guide to Surviving Police
Encounters
*The Alleged Domestic Violence Call
*Protecting Yourself Legally
*SM Groups and Law Enforcement
*Traveling with Toys
*Life and Death Issues for the Alternative Community
*Doing SM Related Legal Research

* For more information on this seminar please see the course description
below.

Saturday, May 20th
10:30am to 5:00pm
Cost: $20.00 (All Day)
Location: The Citadel www.sfcitadel.org
RSVP: Preferred, but not required.

The mission of the NCSF - Education Outreach Program is to provide members
of the SM-Leather-Fetish, swing and polyamory communities educational information concerning relevant legal, medical and other issues. To provide education, as appropriate, to law enforcement, care providers, and other authorities about alternative sexuality, and to assist and support the outreach and education efforts of local communities.

Bio:
Jerome AKA 'TreasureDom' Bambrick has been a part of the SM/Leather/Fetish community since 1993. In that time he has been an officer of the Society of Janus, Staff officer/instructor for the House of Difference, Founder of smOdyssey, Founder of the Dungeon Monitors Association, Founder and three years Executive Director of the FolsomFringe and is currently a presenter for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (LEOP division).

He has been nominated by the Pantheon of Leather for Northern California's Man of the year, four years running, and is a nationally sought after instructor who has taught at groups and events such as: Black Rose, Society of Janus, Society of Janus 25th Anniversary, Kinky Kollege, SINSations in Leather, Santa Clara County Leather Association, Threshold, Noble, Texas Leather Pride, The Leather Leadership Conference. And more.

Robin Spector:
Robin has been an Attorney in the state of California since 1987. Her area of expertise is primarily Criminal law, having worked as a Deputy District Attorney for seven years, then as a Criminal defense attorney. She has been active in the SM/Leather/Fetish community for several years and is a proud presenter for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.

The Alleged Domestic Violence Call

It is important for SM-Leather-Fetish practitioners to understand law enforcement and the numerous legal issues that can affect us - specifically the response to an alleged domestic violence call. Once this is accomplished, you can constructively interact with law enforcement officers if the need arises. This presentation will focus on two aspects: (1) constructively dealing with officers, and (2) avoiding legal trouble. This workshop does not deal with the "cycle of abuse" or actual domestic violence; instead it is about consensual
SM being misinterpreted as domestic violence by law enforcement.

Traveling With Toys

While there have always been security issues involved in travel, the current
political climate, as well as new legislation, has changed the procedures
used to achieve security, as well as changing the allowable items to be carried
with the traveler. Security measures have been heightened as never before - to the point of creating a legal risk to individuals who practice alternative sexual _expression for traveling with items that are commonplace for us. This presentation will address these issues and provide tips for traveling with toys.

Life & Death Issues for the Alternative Community

This presentation assists those who practice alternative sexual _expression
in understanding more about the legal issues involving their relationships.
People who are involved in dedicated relationships outside of the traditional
"Heterosexual-marriage-with-children" often acquire property and incur liabilities together. Yet many fail to realize that these relationships will eventually end; either from separation, or as a result of death or disability. This presentation addresses some of the issues and problems that might be encountered, and gives guidance on how to prepare for them.

SM Groups & Law Enforcement: Group Issues

It is important that SM-Leather-Fetish groups understand the relationship between the SM community and law enforcement authorities, as well as the numerous legalities that can affect group functions. Once this is accomplished, groups can dispel myths, educate members, and constructively interact with law enforcement as the need arises. This presentation will focus on three aspects: (1) interacting with local law enforcement, (2) avoiding legal trouble, and (3) group considerations.

Doing SM Related Legal Research

The law is interpreted - sometimes to our favor, and sometimes not. For example, while the NCSF firmly believes that consensual SM activity between adults is legal, there are those that have a differing opinion and will intentionally interpret the law in an unfavorable way. Therefore, it is extremely important for the SM-Leather-Fetish communities to have an understanding of the laws that may affect us. Knowing relevant laws will greatly assist our communities in safely organizing and maintaining SM-Leather-Fetish activities and functions. This presentation attempts to help those doing research navigate the sometimes complex waters that we find ourselves in legally.

Protecting Yourself Legally

Members of the SM/leather/fetish communities have always had some level of concern regarding the issues of privacy, discretion, and personal security. The radical right, employers, ex-partners, and others may pose threats to these concepts. Many times their motivation comes from ignorance, but new motivations like custody of children, and revenge are also becoming commonplace. This presentation provides tips for protecting yourself legally for various circumstances

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

colored and mixed women's dance parties?

2006-04-30T17:11:50Z

just got my heart broken the ... what must it be....60th? 70th time.
wow... love is that big i guess.
does anyone know what happened to butta?
any good dance parties to go out to?
i need to go out and have some fun!

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

AMAZING pilates instructor in Emeryville

2006-04-09T17:56:00Z

Hi Folks,
I've found an AMAZING Pilates instructor, Karen Fox, here in Emeryville, Ca, at Mind Body Connection on Doyle Street.

She's recently relocated to the area from the Southwest. Once people start knowing about her it's going to be hard to get appointements with this woman! Check her out.

About Karens approach, let me sing her praises!! Her private lessons are the best I've had in any yoga, body worker or pilates instructor yet and I've taken a lot being a dancer and athlete for some 22 years. In her work she brings in some type of body energy work/modality that allows the work you do together to cut right to point. The work feels explorative and intuitive and very opening. She pushes me in ways I've needed to be pushed and has a great sense of humor while doing it. She helps me relax. I have a lot of tension I didn't even realise I had, yikes! She's helping me build awareness about how I move, so that I can make changes. She's not fitness craze oriented. The focus feels balance and health oriented, very insightful and fun. She's a bit of a comedian, I think you'll like her as much as I do!

Karen Fox foxdanzing@yahoo.com

Enjoy!
Jill
!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
innovative bellydance theatre company
~~~U L T R A G Y P S Y~~~
The Golden Belly's Best Bellydance Company
info@ultragypsy.com
www.undulation.com
~~~Creative Director: Jill Parker~~~
Voted Best Bellydance Instructor
!~!~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~¡~

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Is your agency, community group or business interested in participating in upcoming community fair?

2006-03-17T01:04:01Z

Is your agency, community group or business interested in participating in upcoming community fair?

Several groups in the Dimond neighborhood are working together to plan an outdoor community fair for sometime after mid-April. The event will be held in a parking lot near the intersection of Fruitvale & MacArthur, will feature live music, informational booths and tables, multicultural activities of various kinds and will be several hours in length.

We'd like to invite community organizations, local businesses and public agencies to contact us about having a booth or table at the fair. At this time there is no charge for participation. You can also arrange to have your literature placed on our general information table.
Let me know if you are interested in participating :)

Edward Goehring
Board of Directors
Dimond Improvement Association
www.dimondnews.org

ebgb@sbcglobal.net
510 336-1256 phone
510 530-3308 fax

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

East Bay barber??

2005-12-04T06:01:53Z

anyoneknow of a cheap and good barber? I don't want to pay $40.00 for a trim, know what I mean?

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Lipstick Conspiracy at the Stork Club

2005-11-29T05:01:11Z

They're coming to the Stork on November 29. I was hoping to get an FTM band, Wood, as well for that date, but this hasn't happened. So, Wood will be another date, likely in December.

Meanwhile, the Lipstick Conspiracy show on the 29th should be good. More info on second band and other activities as I work them out.

My website: http://www.davidkaye.us

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Dance, Drink and Unleash! this Sunday 12/4

2005-11-29T00:31:31Z

COME CELEBRATE UNLEASH! ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY WITH YOUR HOST CARMEN
** SUNDAY, DEC. 4TH **
4-9P $5 b4 5:00P ** $10 after **

DJs: Black, Silvia, Mary XTC (This is Silvia's last time spinning in the Bay before she moves to Europe.)

Special Guest DJ: Page Hodel

Surprise Performances!!! ** Great Dancers ***

Beautiful Venue *** Drink Specials *** Easy Parking

Medjool, 2522 Mission Street, SF at 21st

Partial Proceeds Benefit Queer Arts Endowment

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Public Transit to the Lex

2005-11-05T21:36:14Z

hi all,
i have a date this friday at the lexington in sf. i know that i need to take bart to get to the city, but what next? which bart stop should i get off at? is the lex within walking distance? if not, what bus or muni gets me closer?
i could probably look up a route, but i figured there must be somebody that has made that trip before...let me know.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 2 replies

prejudice

2005-11-05T00:23:28Z

Often, people come out hoping to join the "queer community" but find within it the same prejudices that exist in hetero-world. Do you challenge racist acts, sexist comments, gender hate, bi-prejudice, etc. when you come across it in the queer-land? Do you recognize active prejudice as a problem? How do you address it?

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 3 replies

Tranny looking for a couch or cheap room

2005-10-19T02:59:58Z

for six months-1 year in Oakland. Employed. Can pay up to 300 rent per month.
Let me know if you have the space.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

any parties for women 9/17 in SF or Oakland

2005-10-10T01:27:18Z

soft butch lesbian seeking parties

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 3 replies

Anyone Interested in Anti-NSA sentiment is Invited to Join My Newly Created Tribe

2005-09-23T01:46:06Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/nsa_losers

Appreciate the Support,
~N

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 1 reply

Sistahs Steppin' In Pride March and Festival Saturday

2005-08-25T16:51:06Z

www.sistahssteppin.org

Don't forget Sistahs Steppin' In Pride's 4th Annual East Bay Dyke March & Festival on Saturday, August 27th at Lake Merritt in Oakland.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

East Bay Bellydance classes with Jill Parker of Ultra Gypsy

2005-08-24T02:41:00Z

STARTING August 25th, 2005

ATTENTION GYPSIES TRAMPS AND QUEENS....NEWLY ADDED EAST BAY BELLYDANCE CLASSES WITH JILL PARKER!
Get your shimmy on at Spring Fall Dance Sudio, 8th Street, between Dwight and Parker in the Sawtooth building, Berkeley Ca.

Thursday Evenings
7:00-8:00 beginner class, no prior experience neccesary
8:00-9:30 Intermediate/advanced, experience with the JP format is neccesary to attend this class.

All classes are drop in and ongoing
A single class is $12, or $20 to take both back to back, hours of bellydancing madness!

You will get a workout, bring a water bottle!
The class environment is challenging, focused, encouraging and most of all fun. We're gonna drill, drill, drill and dance!

All classes include some of the following; conditioning, stretching, postural alignment, isolations, technique drills and dance combinations. Intermediate/advanced class may employ concepts such as musicality, choreography exercises, tips for dancing resturaunt/cafe gigs and/or drum solo drills.

Hope to see you there!

For more information on other Ultra Gypsy performances and classes in the San Fransisco Bay Area and beyond visit our website WWW.ULTRAGYPSY.COM or at info@ultragypsy.com

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Sun 19th. Colored Queers. Chai Dance. International. PRIDE

2005-06-19T03:54:03Z

i just joined...so i'm plugging an event y'all should come to!

This once a year PRIDE event brings together international and local folks of all COLORS...

Southwest Asian & North African Bay Area Queers presents:

CHAI DANCE
Sunday June 19, 6pm-12am
Medjool @ ROOF TOP!
2518 Mission @ 21st

$12-$30 sliding scale
No on will be turned away for lack of funds

DJ Raffy
Sami, Kristina & Frederique belly dancers
Raffle prizes
Auction
Cash bar

Co-sponsors:
ADC-SF (Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee)
Trikone
Iranian Women's Project
Sheek Image
DJ Raffy

Funds will benefit Helem (LGBT Center in Lebanon) & ASWAT (Palestinian Gay Women)

www.swanaqueers.com

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women Results

2005-06-15T05:46:24Z

I recruited research participants from this chat/discussion group several months ago for a study on Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women. I want to thank the women who took part in this research. The study is now complete. If you have further questions or comments you may contact me at skycladgrrl@yahoo.com.
Thank You
Tera Beaber

Here is a summary of the study’s goals and results:

Goals and Results of the Study of Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women
The goal of this research was to study the relationship between sexual functioning and anxiety in two groups: lesbians and heterosexual women. One interest was in investigating whether there are differences in anxiety and sexual functioning between heterosexual women and lesbians. Additionally, based on prior results, I hypothesized that anxiety is negatively correlated with sexual functioning among both heterosexual women and lesbians.
Participants were 42 women in lesbian relationships and 78 women in heterosexual relationships recruited through announcements posted on internet sites. Women over the age of 18 who were in a monogamous romantic relationship for at least 6 months were eligible to participate. The average age for lesbians was 30.05 years and the average age for heterosexuals was 28.77 years. The majority of participants were Caucasian, (76.2% of lesbians and 78.2% of heterosexuals), with smaller proportions of American Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. The average length of the current relationship was 40.13 months for lesbians and 38.91 months for heterosexuals.
One of the questionnaires used in this research measured anxiety. I found that lesbians and heterosexuals reported similar levels of anxiety. Another questionnaire that I used asked for reports of sexual functioning. I found that lesbian participants reported higher levels of arousal and orgasm than heterosexual participants, but that the groups did not differ in reports of desire, lubrication, satisfaction, pain, or overall sexual functioning. Additionally, I found that the various aspects of sexual functioning correlate with one another differently for lesbians and for heterosexuals. When I analyzed the relationship between anxiety and sexual functioning, I found different results in the lesbian and heterosexual groups. Among lesbian women, anxiety was not related to any aspect of sexual functioning. However, among heterosexual participants higher anxiety was associated with higher reports of pain and lower reports of orgasm, lubrication, and overall sexual functioning. In other words, the results suggest that anxiety is negatively related to sexual functioning among heterosexuals, but that it is unrelated to sexual functioning among lesbians. Again, I want to express my thanks to the women who participated in my research. My findings were intriguing, and I am looking forward to conducting more extensive research on this topic in the future.

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies

I need Poets for June 19th

2005-06-03T17:38:02Z

SistaSpitSpokenWord Series June
Sistahs are Laying it on us in June!!

Featured Poets:
Have not be picked yet. We were hoping you wanted to be the next one!

we want all of are sistahs to be represented. Our Latin Sistahs, Asian Sistahs, Islander Sistahs, White Sistahs, everyone who loves women should come and share. Diversity is our friend.

This is the month of Pride and we will be celebrating my birthday so the theme will be the goddess Hathor...the goddess of women, wine, dance and love. If thats too hard just make sure to dust off you sexy poems or love poems. If you got it bring it! Vocalist and dancers are encouraged to sign up.

Featured Poets get in free plus free food. Downtown Oakland between Madison and Oak on 13th street. www.butterflyproductions.net If you are interested in being a featured poet please send me a poetry sample to bushmag1@juno.com

Read more about whats happening in June: http://bushmagazine.blogs.friendster.com/bush_magazine

posted in Oakland Dykes and Queers - 0 replies