This What A Feminist Looks Like! Commemorative Obama Issue of Ms. Magazine

Wow. Can't wait to pick up this one! I'm super curious! (Thanks for the heads up Leslie!)

Have people seen what Obama has stated on his transition site, under "agenda" and "women"? Its pretty extensive. And not only helpful on a domestic level, but globally. Also well done are what he has under "agenda" and "civil rights". There he states his platform of support for the LGBTQ community. All looking good for starters! I have been saying that Obama's picking of Rick Warren may be an indication of his political strategies to come, handing symbols to the right, while actually pushing through legislation that is pro-people. I feel like the right has done this to marginalized people forever- name a street after MLK, then actually do nothing for black people. Don't be suprised if Obama names a street after Rush Limbaugh, and then do real ish for the people on the under... it might get him a second term!

Needless to say, about the whole Rick Warren thing... I am now relieved to hear that Obama has appointed The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay bishop, to kick off the inaguration. And apparently this wasn't a response to the outrage, it was already in the plans. Interesting timing though!! Again, as I have said before, I am so psyched about this positive and powerful image of black masculinity that is now centerstage. Straight Black Man as a communicator, family man, president, feminist, and straight ally. Loving it!!

Imma look for that copy of Ms. this weekend...

(ps reportback from 2nd Oscar Grant Rally still comin!!)

41st Radical Women Conference, Oct 3-6, SF: The Persistent Power Of Socialist Feminism.

Radical Women's 41st Anniversary Conference
The Women's Building, 3543 18th St.
October 3-6, 2008, San Francisco

Theme: The Persistent Power of Socialist Feminism.

Speakers: Civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart and activists and scholars from Central America, China, Australia and the U.S.

Key topics: Multi-racial organizing; the dynamic leadership of youth and queers; women of color and immigrant women spark a labor revival; declaring independence from the twin parties of war.

Workshops: Skills building for women organizers; political theory; movement strategy and much, much more.

Radical Women’s 41st Anniversary Conference occurs at a very important time. Around the world, women are part of a bold resistance to reactionary social and political forces. In Latin America, women and indigenous people are providing vibrant workingclass leadership against crippling neoliberal trade agreements. In Mexico, “Adelita” brigades shut down congress to oppose privatization of the nationalized oil industry. These movements provide a powerful stimulus to the entire hemisphere.

In the U.S., women are both targets and opponents of repression. In the anti-war, racial equality, immigrant, labor, student and queer movements, organizing is sparked and driven by women, especially women of color. They demand justice for Sean Bell and Black youth in Jena as well as funding for services in New Orleans. They oppose racist shock-jocks and lead unionization campaigns. They have stopped shipments of Iraq war supplies on the streets of Washington State. They defend civil liberties and continue the fight for affirmative action, childcare, and an end to sexual violence. They infuse the immigrant rights movement with militancy inspired by anti-imperialist upsurges in Latin America and fueled by the fight against U.S. xenophobia.

U.S. women are fighting tooth and nail to keep gains won by past generations, as well as to advance women’s cause. But feminist reformists and NGOs hold back the movement by diverting organizing into single-issue and Democratic Party politics. Radical Women looks for inspiration and strategies to our revolutionary socialist foremothers, and to the civil rights militants, students, lesbians, and unionists who spearheaded the Second Wave women’s liberation movement. Such women today are the sparkplugs for radical change and, by working in coalition with supportive men who have their own stake in achieving human liberation, they can truly shake the status quo.

For more information or to register, go to www.RadicalWomen.org
or contact the Conference Organizing Center at
radicalwomenus@gmail.com or 206-722-6057 or 206-722-2453.

Femme 2008 Call for Submissions

Femme2008: The Architecture of Femme is a multi-threaded conference and forum for those who think about, talk about, and create Femme as a queer gender and identity.

Call for Workshops, Papers, Performance, and Art
Femme2008: The Architecture of Femme
Chicago Wyndham O'Hare
August 15th - 17th, 2008

We are soliciting contributions from anyone interested, including (but not limited to):
• Workshops
• Performances
• Research presentations
• Skill shares
• Activist & organizational topics
• Visual art
• Video or film

Submission deadline is May 1, 2008.
To submit a proposal, please submit the following to us at

http://www.femmecollective.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=42

*For research presentations, send a 300 word abstract
*For workshop and skillshare proposals, send a 300 word description of
your workshop or skillshare ideas
*Visual artists should send samples of work and a 300 word description
of their artistic vision
*Performers, filmmakers and other creative artists should contact us
for more information

for details:
www.femmecollective.com