Big Gay Memorial Day Picnic 2010

[Derval]

Well spoken Oni.

[Im1ru1]

OK, I had a very eloquent response drafted which when I tried to post it the site gave me some BS about cookies and erased my reply.  I'll try to recreate it, but it'll be composed differently.  I hope to capture all of the points that I wanted to make.  (THE OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE IMPERIAL COURT OF ALL ALASKA OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THAT ORGANIZATION.  I AM SPEAKING ONLY AS A LONG STANDING MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION, NOT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF IT)

I feel that I have got the attention of the Imperial Court, though have not actually had any of the concerns of the Members of AKC addressed.  It feels as if you were defending the event, when the only issue we had brought up was the message the flier gives, which was not addressed at all.  We appreciate the work that is done by volunteers putting on this and other events, all we were trying to do was point out another perspective on how the flier is being received by others.

Perhaps if that were the point, a better way of getting the message across would be to contact a representative of the ICOAA (maybe before the posters were printed) and remind them that there were concerns about it last year.  As for appreciating the work done by the volunteers, please understand that some of these volunteers (The College of Emperors and Empresses) have been doing this for decades...Myrna and Reyna are over 25 years and Madeline (Empress 9) is approaching 30 years.  It's disheartening to see anything that you've put that many years into being denigrated.  The closest to a complimentary post I've seen are these from Fox:

This is usually interesting to go to each year, I know Cat and I plan to go, hope to see some of you all there as well.

and

The event itself, I have no real problems with, I just think the flier makes it sound like a gay-only event you might not want to bring your kids to, while everything I hear from people talking about it says it's actually family-friendly.

 

I have to say, you are not making a good impression with your first post.  See, this statement right here comes across to me (and probably others) as "F*** you, if you don't like what we're doing then come do it yourself!"  That just reinforces the impression that Fox already pointed out:

 
I think you've hit it on the head (sort of)...this is simply a problem of perception.  There are any number of events that the GLBT community are welcome at (like the Three barons Fair) but aren't specifically invited to on the flier for the event.  In the planning stages of the 1993 March on Washington, all segments of the community (gays, Lesbians, bisexuals, Transgendered, Transsexuals, Antisexuals, etc. wanted included in the name of the March.  In the end, we (The National Steering Committee) chose as the name "The 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian Gay and Bi Equal rights and Liberation"  Did not including the other groups in the name mean that we didn't want them included inthe events, or that we didn't support them and their rights? No  Does not specifically inviting Straight people or Allies on a flier (that frankly I didn't see ANYONE specifically invited on) mean that we don't want them there or value their involvement (at whatever level) in our organization? Also no.  But to reiterate a previous point, it's upsetting to see such a great organization that donates THOUSANDS of dollars a year to all kinds of organizations turned into an "anti-straight" organization simply because some don't like the look of one of our event posters.  We have all kinds of events in and out of bars to raise this money, so we can support AWAIC, Kids Kitchen, Animal Rescue Groups, not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars that the Imperial Court has given to students over the years to help them better themselves.  NOT ONE DOLLAR has strings attached requiring the recipient to become a member of our organization, attend any functions or donate any money (though support from those we benefit is appreciated). 

At times it just sounds like the "A" in GLBTA just includes straight people that are active in supporting the gay community rather than people who just don't care about labels.  I doubt it's even intentional but I've seen this in different gay events or organizations and it gives off this idea that the gay community isn't interested in anyone that isn't helping them in some way.

As someone who has been involved in this organization for 15+ years, I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that there is NO GLBTA organization in Anchorage that is MORE welcoming to our Straight Allies than the ICOAA.  For at least the past 10 years there have been straight people on our Board of Directors, and three of our RECENT monarchs have been straight people.  As for what straight people we welcome, we welcome those that want to get involved in the running of the organization, those that want to run for titles, those that want to help behind the scenes, and those that want to simply come to our events and have a good time.  We are welcoming to Gays, Lesbians, Straights, Bisexuals, Transgendered, Transsexuals, Furries, and everything in between...Men, Women, Intersex, Furries, it doesn't matter, really...

I myself find it quite insulting that there is no invite to "others" on that flier.

No, I won't be going because the poster still makes no mention of anyone other than gay folk being welcome.  Old argument, I know, but it still hasn't been properly addressed.

Just to reiterate...I don't see ANYONE invited...it's an announcement of an event...it doesn't invite or exclude anyone. 

To those who were wondering why I hadn't been around much, physically, I'm not in AK any longer, and for the time being I'm not in Chicago either.  My sister who is fighting Cancer got worse, and I was needed at "home" in West Virginia to help her out.  That's where I am now.  (and I'm fighting with every fiber of my being to NOT get a hillbilly accent, y'all).  As for not posting much on AKC lately, I've been more focused on FB...sorry.  I'll try to keep up with both a bit better.

Again, the above is just my $0.02

Herman

[Goman Fox]

Thank you for your post Herman, you always bring another strong voice to our discussions when you post, lol.  I think you're right about it just being a problem with perception.  Inside the gay community, a GLBT-oriented event, or one put together by a GLBT organization (like this picnic), may just be assumed to extend to anyone interested, basically anyone that's not going to cause problems.  Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm not really a part of the gay community, my only real connection to it is just being gay, lol.

So a flier like this one may not seem like a problem to gay people, or even anyone active enough in the community.  But from outside the community, the wording may sound more exclusive when it isn't meant to be taken that way.  The last time this got brought up, TMAK used the example of a "Big Straight Memorial Day Picnic" and how that sounds like it's excluding non-heterosexuals.  Maybe a "Big GLBTA Picnic" might sound better, but GLBTA doesn't roll off the tongue like Gay does.   Since I'm kinda in the middle here, not being active in the gay community, but having some exposure to it, I didn't even notice the problem TMAK mentioned, although I can see why he might see it that way.

I really think this whole thing got blown a bit out of proportion, since I thought it was just trying to offer some constructive criticism about the flier.  Otherwise I wouldn't have thought it was a good idea when Cat tried (and apparently succeeded) in getting the attention of someone at the ICOAA and directing them here.  But between your post, Herman, and the response from Mikey Lachoy, it seems like it was seen as more of a criticism of the event or the ICOAA and those helping with the event, which was definitely not intended.  A private email might have been a better approach to this, or even better, speaking in person to get rid of the ambiguity that text has online.

Thank you again for posting Herman, I hope all goes well with you and your family and that your sister gets better.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

I don't mean any disrespect to anybody or the event itself.  Come on, Herman, you've met me in person a few times, you at least should have some idea of whether or not I'm in support of equality.  I don't mean any harm, I'm just naturally abrasive.   Exercise some patience when reading my posts, please.

As someone who has been involved in this organization for 15+ years, I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that there is NO GLBTA organization in Anchorage that is MORE welcoming to our Straight Allies than the ICOAA.  For at least the past 10 years there have been straight people on our Board of Directors, and three of our RECENT monarchs have been straight people.  As for what straight people we welcome, we welcome those that want to get involved in the running of the organization, those that want to run for titles, those that want to help behind the scenes, and those that want to simply come to our events and have a good time.  We are welcoming to Gays, Lesbians, Straights, Bisexuals, Transgendered, Transsexuals, Furries, and everything in between...Men, Women, Intersex, Furries, it doesn't matter, really...

I am not calling into question whether or not the event is everything you say it is.  I don't dispute that, even though I've never been to the BIG GAY MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC.

A couple years ago I simply posted a concern and a suggestion on how the particular part of the GLBTAWTFBBQSAUZ community that is behind the event could improve their advertising and thereby increase their turnout and the amount of support (physical, financial, moral, whatever) they receive from us heterosexual folk. 

I was ignored.

Well, I figure the squeaky wheel usually gets some kind of attention, so I figured I'd continue to make some noise.  This is the result, I guess.

Just to reiterate...I don't see ANYONE invited...it's an announcement of an event...it doesn't invite or exclude anyone.

I'm getting a distinct sense of déjà vu here.  I could've sworn that there were several posts where I pointed out that the "BIG GAY MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC" name itself implies exclusivity.  Heck, I think even Fox and OniC@ have said it.  No, the word "invite" or any of its synonyms and conjugations are on the flier, but the implication is still present.

Looking at that flier, we straight folk who are not currently active members of the GLBTAOMGWTFBBQSAUZ community have absolutely no idea that we are welcome to attend.  It's not spelled out, nor is it implied.  The only way to even find out is to have somebody who is already an active member of that community (like Herman) explain it to us. 

Why is it still a mystery why I would say this is shooting yourself in the foot?

There are any number of events that the GLBT community are welcome at (like the Three barons Fair) but aren't specifically invited to on the flier for the event.

But none of their fliers, posters, or other advertisements say (for example) "BIG STRAIGHT Renaissance Faire," do they?  I'm just sayin'....

To those who were wondering why I hadn't been around much, physically, I'm not in AK any longer, and for the time being I'm not in Chicago either.  My sister who is fighting Cancer got worse, and I was needed at "home" in West Virginia to help her out.  That's where I am now.  (and I'm fighting with every fiber of my being to NOT get a hillbilly accent, y'all).

Ah, I wondered where you disappeared to.  I miss you, man.    I'm sorry to hear about your sister.  Cancer's one of those things where even a "get well soon" wish doesn't really seem appropriate, but I sincerely do hope she pulls through. 

Good luck with that accent thing.  Even I acquired a Georgia accent just by living there for a couple years when I was a kid....

I really think this whole thing got blown a bit out of proportion, since I thought it was just trying to offer some constructive criticism about the flier.  Otherwise I wouldn't have thought it was a good idea when Cat tried (and apparently succeeded) in getting the attention of someone at the ICOAA and directing them here.  But between your post, Herman, and the response from Mikey Lachoy, it seems like it was seen as more of a criticism of the event or the ICOAA and those helping with the event, which was definitely not intended.  A private email might have been a better approach to this, or even better, speaking in person to get rid of the ambiguity that text has online.

Ditto, man.  Ditto.  I simply wanted to point out that the flier for such a big event could be reworded to seem more welcoming to your "straight allies," but I'm done getting slapped around for it.

[Im1ru1]

no slapping around intended TMAK, even though I suspect you like it (even if you wouldn't admit it)

[j 4 |2 ! p |-|]

I will see what i can do to go, dont know though, i may be camping.