Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f2KE2fg07339; Tue, 20 Mar 2001 09:02:41 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 09:02:41 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sab6707a.023@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1303] Labeling X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.3.1 Status: O Content-Length: 3805 Lines: 65 Wow-I agree-this was a great way to make people feel comfortable standing up or not standing up to be counted as gay. It also stressed the fact, that if few numbers stood, there was a real and important reason. I am curious-what other groups did they label? I am wondering if this introduction would also be effective and necessary for other groups. For example, depending on the group of people, people may or may not feel comfortable labeling themselves as Jewish, as incest survivors, as Buddhists, as atheists, as children of Alcoholic parents, as being psychiatrically ill, as having cancer, etc., etc., etc. Has anyone done this kind of exercise in the classroom? Daphne >>> knonesuch@TheHub.capcollege.bc.ca 03/16/01 14:11 PM >>> At an anti-racism workshop I attended, organizers were asking people to stand to indicate what groups they belonged to, and when they got to lesbians, gays and bisexuals, did a little preamble that went something like this: "We think that about 10% of people are lesbians or gay men, but many people who are gay are in the closet. GIven the persecution of gays and the homophobia that pervades our society, there are many good reasons why someone who is homosexual will not want to stand today in this place to say so. We respect those reasons. However, there are also lesbians and gays here who would like to stand to say they are gay, and we invite them to stand now." As an out lesbian, I was glad to stand. I was also happy that the preamble made it possible for some not to stand, and made it clear that those standing were not the only queers in the room. I don't know how effective this was for gays who chose not to stand. Everyone who I knew was gay stood, and was proud to do so; of those who remained sitting, I don't know who was gayand who wasn't, so I never heard their experience of that technique. nifl-womenlit@nifl.gov writes: > >Daphne, > >Your story brings to mind an experience I had several years ago at a >conference. It took place shortly after Lani Guinier was denied a cabinet >position in the Clinton administration supposedly because of the >divisiveness of her ideas as interpreted by political conservatives. The >tone of the conference seemed to pick up where the emotional tide of >Guinier's upset left off. We were all outraged at her treatment by the >political right and the silence of the president in her defense. Women >disclosed painful experiences they'd had as Black women being >systematically silenced in the academy. A lot of crying and emotional >outbursts occured in several workshops, and among the vendors in the lobby >stood a young Ph.D candidate who urged people to sign her petition in >favor >of removing a renowned male scholar from an influential board. This woman >had brought charges of sexual assault against this scholar. Subsequently, >she was in danger of not receiving her Ph.D, as one of the scholar's most >vigorous supporters is also a prominent scholar as well as the young >woman's academic adviser. > >During general session at the end of the conference, a woman stood up and >disclosed that as a child she had been sexually abused by her uncle, who >happened to be the scholar who was charged with sexual assault. Through >tears and with a quivering yet strong voice, this woman urged us all sign >the Ph.D student's petition. An ignominious hush filled the auditorium. >Each woman, young and aged, held a strong position on her face. Anger, >shame, fear, sorrow, sadness, resolve, outrage, disgust. The gamut of >emotions could be seen throughout the room. > >An instant after the silence, as one body stung by the pop of a >rubberband, >we all snapped back into our public facades. Several of us directed fury >at the woman who dared to air such private busness in
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