HUMOUR:

THE FINAL END IS THE SAME:

LOCAL EVENTS MANITOBA:

TWO SPIRIT GATHERING COMING SOON:

The 22nd annual 'Two Spirit Gathering' is coming to the Manitoba town of Beausejeur next weekend. Here's the promo.>>>
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22nd Annual International Two Spirit Gathering

The 22nd Annual International Two Spirit Gathering will take place on September 3-6, 2010 at the Dr. Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre, Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada (64 kilometers or 40 miles) northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Aboriginal/Native American gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender people, their partners, friends & families are invited to gather in the land of the Cree, Dene, Dakota, Inuit, Metis, Ojibway-Cree and Ojibway.

This is an alcohol and drug-free event sponsored by Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. (“Those Who Lead”) and the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba.

To register for the gathering, visit the International Two Spirit Gathering website.

For information about registration, accommodation and travel, contact Albert McLeod at 204-783-6424 (in Canada) or by email at twospiritedmanitoba@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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Here's a brief description of what the Two Spirit Gathering is all about from their website.
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Executive Summary
Ka Ni Kanichihk (KNK) and the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba (TSPM) have partnered to host the twenty-second annual gathering of Two Spirit people in North America, A Gathering of Medicine Stones. The following definition of Two Spirit people is found in Manitoba’s Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS:

Two Spirit People – a term used to describe Aboriginal people who assume cross -, or multiple gender roles, attributes, dress and attitudes for personal, spiritual, cultural, ceremonial or social reasons. These roles are defined by each cultural group and can be fluid over a person’s lifetime. Modern terms like gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, [GLBT] transsexual and intersexed (in combination with, or exclusive to, Two Spirit) may be adopted by some Aboriginal people to define who they are.

This special gathering began in 1988 in Minnesota when a local group of Native American gay and lesbian community members saw the need to launch a cultural revitalization movement that was based on the principle of being alcohol and drug-free. The world-wide HIV pandemic had also reached the Two Spirit community at this time galvanizing many local activists to become involved in the HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention movement.

The Minneapolis gathering was organized with the support of allies such as the Minneapolis American Indian Center, Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council, and the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department, along with community businesses and private donors. For the past 21 years annual gatherings have continued to be supported by various levels of government, Aboriginal organizations, foundations and private donations. There is also a component of regional and local fundraising and in-kind support for this event.

TSPM hosted the gathering in 1990 and 1998 with approximately 125 participants at each event (a full report on the 1998 gathering is available). TSPM will host the 20th anniversary of their first gathering on Labour Day Weekend, September 3-6, 2010 at a retreat centre outside of Winnipeg. The theme, “A Gathering of Medicine Stones” is reflective of the spiritual and ecological nature of this gathering. Approximately 125 participants representing various Aboriginal and Native American nations and tribes from across Canada and the US are expected to attend. The four-day agenda will include cultural activities, health and wellness sessions, leadership building, anti-homophobia and human rights training, and networking opportunities. A Two Spirit youth life-skills component and panel session will be included. Youth will be one of the priorities for travel scholarships.

Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., the auspicing body for this project will provide administrative support, financial accounting and will function as the central coordination and planning site. A joint committee of Ka Ni Kanichihk and TSPM representatives will lead the planning and coordination, and oversee fundraising efforts and the successful delivery of the project. A project financial audit will be included in Ka Ni Kanichihk’s annual report. As a registered charity Ka Ni Kanichihk will provide tax receipts for individual and corporate donations.

Contact
Albert McLeod, Co-Director
Two-Spirited People of Manitoba Inc.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
T: 204-783-6424 E: twospiritedmanitoba@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CANADIAN POLITICS:

DON'T HIDE THE TRUTH MINISTER KENNEY:

Last November a new guide for immigrants to Canada was issued by the federal government. Significantly it omitted references to the decriminalization of gay people and recognition of gay marriage. This was despite the fact that said references had been included in previous drafts of the pamphlet. The responsibility for the omission lays with Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney who vetoed the sections.

Now no doubt Minister Kenney would like it very much if gay people had no such protection in Canada, but they do. I guess the next best thing in his mind, petty as such an action might be, is to eliminate all references to this fact in any matter that he has power over ie to lie by omission. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has a campaign to pressure the Minister to reinsert the missing sections. Here's the story.

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Tell Jason Kenney:

Equal rights are an important part of being Canadian
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney blocked references to LGBTTI rights in a new study guide for immigrants, which was released last November. News of the actions taken by Kenney, who opposed same-sex marriage when it was debated in Parliament, has just become public.

Documents show Kenney chose to omit references to Canada’s decriminalization of homosexual sex and recognition of same-sex marriage rights despite recommendations from his senior department officials. Both references were contained in earlier drafts of the 63-page guide.

Canada has been a leader in rights for LGBTTI persons. We guarantee same-sex spousal pensions and benefits. We have equal rights to marriage. These are hard won rights that Canadians and CUPE members are proud of and should be recognized in documents that our federal government produces.

By putting pressure on Minister Kenney, we can make sure that Canada's citizenship guide promotes the importance of the fundamental freedoms and rights outlined in the Charter.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to this link to send the following letter to Minister Kenney.

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I am writing to condemn your decision to remove all references to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans rights from Canada’s new guide for immigrants released last November.

The booklet provides immigrants applying for Canadian citizenship with information about Canada and why our country is a great place to live and work for everyone, especially members of the LGBTTI community.

As a representative of our federal government, you have a responsibility to uphold the rights of all Canadians as guaranteed under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Under Canadian law, all citizens have the right to freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

I demand that all references to these rights be put back into the guide and further that your department proudly promote the importance of these rights to citizenship applicants.

GAY RIGHTS CANADA:

NO KISSING IN PUBLIC ?:

Here's a interesting item from XTRA, which bills itself as Canada's gay and lesbian news. Four days ago two women were ejected from the restaurant at the Huether Hotel in Waterloo Ontario for "kissing in public". Seems rather Iranian or Saudi of the owner. Here's the story.

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Lesbians kicked out of Waterloo cafe for kissing
Two women were kicked out of Waterloo's Café 1842 at the Huether Hotel on March 29. Why? They exchanged a kiss.


A note posted on Facebook explains how university student Jenny Kirby and her girlfriend were asked to leave:

"Tonight, as we were getting ready to leave, my girlfriend and I exchanged a short kiss (no tongues I swear!) and we heard her [the café owner] exclaim "What's going on here!" and walk over to us and angrily say, "Stop that. That's enough. This is not the place for that."

"She was so loud that the whole café stopped and stared. One man was wearing a bathrobe (no pants) and actually said, "So it's ok for me to wear a bathrobe?" (Weird cafe-Molly ) Of course, she had no response and quickly disappeared, but she made it clear that we (dirty lesbians) were not welcome. In the past, I have been in there with ex boyfriends and we have engaged in much more physical activity than just an innocent kiss, so I know that this is not just about people in her café kissing. It's a "gay" problem..."
Wilfrid Laurier University's TheCord.ca spoke to the owner:

Owner of Huether Hotel Sonia Adlys saw the situation a little differently.

"I'm walking up to the café, standing beside the dessert fridge, and I see two young girls necking. I was hoping it would stop, but it didn't," said Adlys.

"We have senior people, families, we're a family restaurant. I walked up to them, yes I was maybe a little bit loud, and I said "excuse me, can you please leave?

"Whether it had been two males, a male and a female or two females, I don't want to look at that. It makes me uncomfortable," said Adlys.

"I don't care who she was with, it's not appropriate in a family restaurant." (read more at TheCord.ca)

Gay kissing! In public! Think of the seniors! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

In protest, more than 900 people have joined a Facebook page since it was created on Tuesday: Taking Action Against Homophobia in Waterloo Region. There are rumblings of a boycott or kiss-in.

My two cents: go with a kiss-in, rather than a boycott. One of the first stories I covered for Xtra was a similar incident in Ottawa in 2007, when two men were asked to stop kissing at a restaurant. Ottawa queers organized a kiss-in at the restaurant, and a day later, the gay couple received an apology from the owner. Watch the guys talk about what happened, and read more about the 2007 Ottawa kiss-in (Video at the original site-Molly ).

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Molly Note:

The "kiss-in" has been arranged for Saturday, April 10 in front of the Huether Restaurant.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS:

GAY MARRIAGE INTERNATIONALLY:

The subject of gay marriage has been a matter of recent legal dispute, both here in Canada and down in the USA. Despite setbacks it seems inevitable that gays are likely to win the legal right to marry in all but the most backward of jurisdictions. It will be faster in some cases and slower in others. Molly recently came across the following extremely informative article on the Care2 site. It documents the present state of affairs internationally and also has links to the situation in US states and the timeline of developments in this matter. To say the least it contains a wealth of information, as do many of the entries on the Care 2 site. Highly recommended.

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Which Countries Have Legalized Gay Marriage?:
posted by: Steve Williams

Which Countries Have Legalized Gay Marriage?
While several states allow gay marriage in the US, the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage due to the Defense of Marriage Act. However, there are several countries that do recognize gay marriage.

Here is a resource page that contains information on which countries allow same-sex couples to get married. It will be updated to reflect future changes in marriage laws as they happen. For the sake of clarity, this page will only include those countries where same-sex marriage has been recognized. It will not include civil unions and other forms of legal recognition, as they will be part of a future list.

Gay Marriage in the Netherlands

The Netherlands became the first country to officially allow same-sex marriages on April 1, 2001. The bill, which widened the definition of marriage to include same-sex partners, was passed in September, 2000. The legislation also allowed same-sex couples the right to adopt. To find out more about the history of gay marriage in the Netherlands, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Belgium

On January 30, 2003, Belgium became the second country to recognize gay marriage. The change in the law granted almost all the rights open to heterosexual married couples, however it did not include the right to adopt. Legal co-parenting for Belgium's same-sex couples came into force just over three years later in April, 2006. For more information about gay marriage in Belgium, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Spain

Despite heavy opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, the Spanish parliament passed same-sex marriage legislation on June 30, 2005. The legislation, which made Spain the third country to recognize gay marriage, also granted adoption rights for same-sex couples, however some disparities between homosexual and heterosexual marriages remained. To help remedy this, the law on assisted reproduction was amended in 2006, allowing co-parenting recognition for married lesbian partners who had used IVF treatment to have a child. For more information on gay marriage in Spain, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Canada

Although the Netherlands was the first country to legally recognize gay marriage, a joint wedding by two Canadian same-sex couples actually preceded the recognition of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands, and seemed to precipitate, at least in part, full recognition of gay marriage throughout Canada some years later. Here is a little more detail about that case:

The couples involved were Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell and Anne and Elaine Vautour. The two couples had a joint marriage ceremony officiated by Rev. Brent Hawkes at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto on January 14, 2001. Both couples were given a government record-of-marriage following their unions. However, Ontario officials refused to acknowledge the legality of the same-sex marriages that had been carried out that day.

After a lengthy legal battle, on July 12, 2002, a lower court ruled that the marriages were legal. This decision was affirmed in the Court of Appeal for Ontario on June 10, 2003. The Court of Appeal deemed that the exclusion of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

This decision was not appealed by Ontario's government, and as such the couples' unions were formally recognized as having been carried out on the aforementioned date of January 14, 2001, making it, in retrospect, a quiet landmark for same-sex marriage in Canada. The date of registration the two couples eventually received was June 11, 2003.

Similar legal victories were had in British Columbia and Quebec, and eventually in nine of Canada's provinces, until the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2004 in Re Same-Sex Marriage that same-sex marriage had constitutional validity.

The Court compelled the Canadian federal government to enact legislation to recognize gay marriage. The Canadian legislature eventually then codified the revised definition of civil marriage in the Civil Marriage Act. The legislation received Royal Assent (and therein became law) on July 20, 2005. To find out more about the history of gay marriage in Canada, please click here.

Gay Marriage in South Africa

Almost one year after South Africa's highest court ruled that the country's existing definition of marriage violated its constitution's guarantee of equal rights, gay marriages in South Africa became legal on November 30, 2006, following the South African parliament having passed a bill for same-sex marriage earlier in the month.

This made South Africa the first country in Africa to officially grant same-sex marriage, and the fifth country in the world. Same-sex adoption rights had already been affirmed in 2002. To see a brief history of the recognition of gay partnerships and how this culminated in gay marriage in South Africa, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Norway

Following a gender-neutral marriage bill that was passed by the Norwegian legislature on June 11, 2008, Norway became the sixth country to officially allow same-sex marriage on January 1, 2009. The new law also allowed co-parenting same-sex adoption rights and state funded IVF treatment for married lesbian couples. To find out more about gay marriage in Norway, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Sweden

Following a gender-neutral marriage bill being passed by the Swedish legislature in April, 2009, Sweden became the seventh country to recognize gay marriage on May 1, 2009. Sweden had previously passed a law to allow same-sex couples to adopt in June, 2002.

Notably, Sweden's Lutheran Church voted to permit gay marriages to be carried out in its congregation from November 1, 2009. This decision was a result of a vote in which nearly 70 percent of the 250 synod members of the Church of Sweden voted in favor of the move.

In 2007 the Church had approved the recognition of gay partnerships within the congregation, but without the term "marriage" being attached. To find out more about gay marriage in Sweden, please click here.

*Pending* - Gay Marriage in Portugal

On January 8, 2010, Portugal's parliament voted to approve gay marriage. The bill was passed by 125 votes to 99. A provision to allow adoption by same-sex partners was struck down. At the time of writing this, the bill must now be reviewed in committee before coming back to parliament for a final vote. However, the bill is expected to pass, and President Anibal Cavaco Silva is not expected to veto the legislation, meaning that gay marriage in Portugal could be a reality as soon as April, 2010.

*Pending* - Gay Marriage in Nepal

Following a Supreme Court decision in November 2008, in which the Court found laws against homosexuality to be unconstitutional, Nepal is now on its way to having a new range of LGBT friendly laws which will also legalize same-sex marriage. This change is expected to come into force in May, 2010.

Care2 Related Content:
Which States in the US Allow Gay Marriage?

Resources:
BBC Gay Marriage/Same-Sex Partner Recognition Time-line

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS-UGANDA:

AGAINST THE UGANDA ANTI-GAY BILL:

Over in Uganda the government, under the influence of American Christian Right missionaries has introduced a bill that prescribes not just criminal penalties for "homosexual acts" but penalties up to and including death. Sort of a "trial run" for what some might like to see in the USA. Here, from the Care2 site is the story and an appeal to write the Ugandan government against this bill.

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Uganda to Debate Anti-Homosexuality Bill:

I know that many of you have been concerned about proposed legislation in Uganda that further criminalizes homosexuality and, in certain circumstances, could mean the death penalty for the so-called crime of "aggravated homosexuality".

Well, now you can speak out.Care2 has created a petition that you can sign to protest Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill that will then be sent to Uganda's President, Yowen Museveni.

More on this below.

First, here are a few updates on the developing situation in Uganda.

Firstly, Times Online is reporting that the Ugandan parliament will begin debating the Anti-Homosexuality Bill today, Friday December 18. Times Online has also spoken to several members of the Ugandan public regarding the proposed Bill in order to gauge their reaction. In places, the article makes for uncomfortable reading:

“Homosexuality is not natural and it’s not African,” said Arthur Owori, a 43-year-old technician. “What next? Will people start going with animals?"

Robina Matanda, a 40-year-old businesswoman in Kampala, was adamant that homosexuality must be punished.“It’s very bad, it’s inhuman, it’s immoral, it’s abusive,” she said. “They should pass the Bill and it should be the death penalty.”Student Annitah Natukunda, 24, said: “I don’t support the death penalty but I would support castration."

However, not all Ugandans believed that the Bill should be passed, while one citizen contended that, rather than legislating the death penalty and longer prison sentences for homosexuals, gay people needed "help" instead.

This was echoed by a rumored amendment to the Bill that may have gained traction this week.

In our previous coverage of Uganda's "Kill the Gays" legislation (as it has been nicknamed by many in the media), it was mentioned that some members of the Ugandan parliament were considering ditching the death penalty clause in favor of forced reparative or "conversion" therapy.

Suddenly the "Kill the Gays" legislation becomes a "Cure the Gays" drive. While on the surface this may seem like an improvement, the degree to which this can be considered a victory is only very slight given the mental and physical damage that conversion therapy can cause.

While the MP that tabled the Bill, David Bahati, is adamant that the death penalty for repeated offenders should remain, Martin Ssempa, a Ugandan pastor credited as one of the main driving forces behind the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, has released a letter (.pdf, 4 pages, from Christianity Today) addressed to US pastor Rick Warren in which he attempts to counter international criticism leveled at the Bill, urges Warren to rethink his condemnation of the proposed legislation, and also says:

At a special sitting of the Uganda Joint Christian Council task force sat and reviewed the bill to make comments. We resolved to support the bill with some amendments which included the following: a. We suggested a less harsher sentence of 20 years instead of the death penalty for pedophilia or aggravated homosexuality. b. We suggested the inclusion of counseling and rehabilitation being offered to offenders and victims. The churches are willing to provide the necessary help for those who are willing to undergo counseling and rehabilitation.

You may remember that megachurch leader Rick Warren had gone to the liberty of announcing that he and his wife had severed all ties with Ssempa whom they had previously worked with as part of Warren's pastoral work.

In what he called an "extraordinary" statement that was issued earlier this month, Warren played down his connections to Uganda's religious leaders, saying that his pastoral work in Uganda was simply about spreading the teachings of Christianity.

In their ongoing (and excellent) coverage of this issue, Box Turtle Bulletin analyze Ssempa's letter further and provide evidence to show that, at least for Ssempa, Warren's trips to Uganda have served as an inspiration for the anti-gay drive.Meanwhile, international criticism of the Bill has continued. At a meeting in Strasbourg, France, on Dec. 17, EU leaders adopted a resolution opposing Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In the resolution, EU members went a step further than just condemning the Bill. They asked the Ugandan parliament not only to “not to approve the bill" but also "to review their laws to decriminalize homosexuality.”This is interesting, because this now becomes a challenge, not only calling for the Ugandan government to rethink their latest anti-gay bill, but to reconsider their entire vilification of homosexuals. They won't, of course, but the EU has put impetus behind its request. As previously stated, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill attempts to permit Uganda to break previous international commitments that do not correspond with the spirit of the Bill, for instance any previous treaties that promised not to make further attempts at criminalizing homosexuality. However, the EU resolution reminds Uganda of its inability to withdraw from ratified human rights treaties through the use of domestic legislation (Article 4; Joint Motion for a Resolution 0RC-B7-0258/2009). Further to this, the resolution formally warns that, should the legislation be passed by the Ugandan government, EU member states will consider cutting aid to Uganda, saying in Article 5 of the resolution:

"5. [The EU parliament is] extremely concerned that international donors, non-governmental organisations and humanitarian organisations would have to reconsider or cease their activities in certain fields should the bill pass into law."Why have EU leaders gone to such lengths? One reason could be that they fear that once Uganda adopts such massively overreaching legislation, other African countries will intensify their own institutionalized homophobia. Evidence of this already happening appeared this week when the Rwandan government announced that they too are to consider legislation that would also criminalize homosexuality. Newsweek have an interesting article on the "domino effect" that Uganda's anti-gay legislation may have in Africa. To read it, please click here. In the US, prominent political figures have also continued to condemn the Bill, while Senator John Kerry, chairman of the US Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement, saying:

“I join many voices in the United States, Uganda and around the world in condemning Uganda's draft legislation imposing new and harsher penalties against homosexuality.

Discrimination in any form is wrong, and the United States must say so unequivocally. Many Ugandans are voicing concern that such a law will create witch-hunts against homosexuals, and hinder the fight against HIV/AIDS. Over the years the United States government, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has worked closely with Ugandans to combat HIV/AIDS and other public health issues; we value our relationship with Uganda's people. Given the pressing HIV/AIDS crisis Uganda is facing, this bill is extremely counterproductive.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke out this week when she again condemned the Bill as she spoke to students at Georgetown University and responded to their questions:
Also noteworthy this week, Pope Benedict reiterated his opposition to what he described as "unjust discrimination" against gay men and women as well as “violations of human rights against homosexual persons.” Read more about the Pope's statement here.

As always, I'll keep you updated on this issue, including information from Uganda's parliamentary debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill when it becomes available. Care2 Action:Stop the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Sign the Care2 petition now, and forward it to your friends.
Find Out More at Care2:
To find out more on Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill, links to our continued coverage of this story are provided below:
Rowan Williams, Leader of the Anglican Church, Publicly Denounces Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill: Rick Warren Speaks Out While Uganda Reportedly Drops Death Penalty Clause
Ugandan Gay Death Penalty Bill: Sweden Threatens to Withdraw Aid, Should the USA?
Uganda's Gay Death Penalty Bill is 'Morally Repugnant' Says United Reform Church

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THE PETITION:

Please go to THIS LINK to sign the following petition to the Ugandan government to reconsider their bill to "kill gays".

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Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill Threatens Human Rights

Target: Yowen Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda

Sponsored by: Care2.com
There is a dangerous proposal that threatens the human rights of LGBT people in Uganda.

If passed, Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill would start a witch-hunt for homosexuals in the country. Its punishments include:

* A 7 year jail sentence for consenting adults who have LGBT sex

* A life sentence for people in same-sex marriages

* Extradition and prosecution of LGBT Ugandans living abroad

* The death penalty for adults who have LGBT sex with minors or who communicate HIV via LGBT sex, regardless of condom usage

* Jail for anyone who doesn't report suspected LGBT activity within 24 hours

The bill also endangers HIV/AIDS programs, and may be exploited by those wanting to abolish these programs.

This proposed legislation is anti-ethical, anti-equality and anti-human rights. Tell Uganda's President Museveni that this bill is unacceptable, and that people should not be criminalized for sexual orientation or gender identity.

CANADIAN LABOUR/HUMAN RIGHTS:

LABOUR AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS:

This item from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)comes from yesterday, but the issue it speaks about is 365. It was once that socialism and "the left" believed that all that was necessary to liberate humanity was to remove the bosses of the economy. Worse than that the majority of socialists believed that the best way to to this was by replacing private bosses with government bosses, nationalization either by electoral or revolutionary means. That dream is over in many different ways. The "public bosses" have proven to be just as tyrannical as the private ones. In the case of revolutionary regimes they have usually proven to be far, far worse. Besides that, the wheel of history has travelled far down many other roads as well. Nowadays it is pretty well understood that improving the human condition involves many more aspects of life than the purely economic.

Anarchist socialism has always stood solidly against the 'political illusion', has always known what has been proven repeatedly over the course of the last century- without a single exception -that humans are too fallible a creature to allow economic power to be concentrated in the hands of a "benevolent" elite. The disease of inequality has never been cured by political medications, and far too often the result has been not just that the original disease worsened or remained the same. Far too often a new and much more horrible syndrome has developed. In medicine it's called "iatrogenic disease".

Anarchist socialism has also historically actively stood for the concept that the "liberation" of humanity doesn't just involve economics. In recent decades, as socialist movements rebuild, pretty well 100% of the brightest economic ideas- self management, producer coops, community control, etc., have come from the anarchist grab bag where they have been sitting for almost a century and a half. How well and, unfortunately in some cases how honestly, the lessons that anarchism always had to teach have been absorbed may be questioned, but the historical trend is clear.

Nowadays socialism, and the general labour movement, is also rediscovering the fact that "liberation" is not just about economics. To a large extent even the economic goals of labour will be unachievable unless labour ties itself to a much broader movement for justice. Only some of these causes are from the anarchist tradition. Others are much more recent, brought to light by the glare of the past few decades. The advantage anarchism has always had, in relation to more well known forms of socialism, is that it is at its basis an ethical choice. It is not a set of theories, though those it does indeed have aplenty. Its ethical basis has always been a safeguard (not an infallible one-there is no such thing- but a pretty damn effective one) against the sort of perverted pathways that other socialisms have far too often taken. New emphases/causes slide more easier into place in such a system of though than in statist systems. These news causes are, of course, just as susceptible to perversion as the economic cause has proven to be. One can hope that anarchism has an advantage there as well, that its ethical basis provides the sort of "natural immunity" that can prevent malignancies other than economic from taking hold.

I take no special view of anarchism, that it is some sort of infallible guide that can never go wrong. Regular readers of this blog know very well just how critical of some 'anarchist" ideas I am. Some fashionable "anarchisms" I hold in complete and utter contempt. History is also full of examples where large numbers of anarchists went down ways that were not just wrong but visibly absurd and even evil from top to bottom. Yet....the centre held.

Today the wider labour movement is also rediscovering what exactly it should be- part of a wider movement for general human betterment. Labour is increasingly realizing that it must rediscover ethics and its place in a wider movement if it is even to succeed in its own goals. Most often this rediscovery is being done by workers who are not anarchists, people who may never even have heard much about it. People whose only acquaintance with it may come from reading about the "kindergarten terrorism" or silly freak shows that a minority of anarchists practice. Some may even know more or less what the word means but may still disagree, honestly or otherwise. As I said I do not see anarchism as some GPS system that will always tell you where to go, but what it is is at least a crude map that is a better guide than any other available.

But I'm sure the crowd is getting tired of Molly's soapbox. Here is one bright example from CUPE about how labour is setting down new roots in very fertile soil. It is merely one happy story out of tens of thousands.

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Remember and Organize:
November 20 marks the 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to remember our transgender sisters and brothers at home and abroad who have been murdered as a result of transphobic violence.

Toronto’s 519 Community Centre estimates that more than one trans person per month dies from transphobic violence and that trans women of colour who are sex workers are disproportionately affected by violence. Most often, these tragic events are not reported in the mainstream media and the perpetrators are seldom prosecuted.

Most instances of discrimination, however, are more subtle than these shocking acts of violence - and today is an opportunity to think about some of the ways that, as trade unionists, we can commit ourselves to working toward the full equality of our transgender sisters and brothers in our workplaces, in our communities and in our union.
We can:
**Educate ourselves and our members about the challenging affecting trans people in the workplace. One way to do this is the Pride in CUPE workshop offered through our union education.
**Put trans issues on our list of priorities at the bargaining table. Sample language can be found in CUPE's Bargaining Equality guide.
**Work with our divisions to lobby for inclusion of gender identity and gender expression in our human rights legislation.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to security of person and to protection from violence or bodily harm. The labour movement embodies these principles through our sense of solidarity with one another and the notion that an injury to one is an injury to all. Let us honour those who have died but let us also commit individually and collectively to re-energize our support for trans communities and their struggle for equality – in our locals, in our divisions and nationally.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-BULGARIA:

SOLIDARITY WITH QUEER BULGARIA:

The following item first came to Molly's attention via the Europe section of the Anarchist Black Cat Discussion board. It is originally from the International Queer Solidarity Network.

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Solidarity with Queer Bulgaria: 27 June 2009:

The International Queer Solidarity Network calls for a European mobilization, with support from the United States, that will stand in solidarity with Queer Bulgaria. On June 28th 2008, neo-Nazi groups aggressively attacked the first LGBTQ Pride march in Sofia, Bulgaria. A week before the march, the Bulgarian National Alliance, the most visible nationalist organization in the country, called for a “week of intolerance.” The BNA strongly encouraged nationalistic groups to organize themselves against the right of the queer community in Bulgaria to peacefully march, which resulted in loosely organized violence during the festivities.(I find it pleasant that the other side can be at least as "loosely organized" as we anarchists all too often are-Molly)

BNA members and other neo-Nazis threw molotov cocktails and small explosives at the participants of the Pride march. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, more than eighty skinheads, including Boyan Rasate (head of the BNA) were arrested for their attempted harm and direct violence toward pride participants. This year neo-Nazi groups are once again organizing themselves against the march and Bulgarian queers’ ability to defend their human rights. The Bulgarian government not only tolerates but also encourages such attitudes. Two of the parties in the Parliament of Bulgaria are nationalistic and one of them, Ataka, called for “the men to beat up the gays.”

In addition, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria and head of the “socialist” party, Sergei Stanishev, subtly, through hidden sparks of hatred, said that he did not like the “manifestation and demonstration of such orientations.” Even though the rights of LGBTQ people in Bulgaria are protected by the constitution, this is yet more empty rhetoric in the hands of the powerful. The queer community refuses to give up its rights to a free assembly. There will be another Pride march on the 27th of June 2009. Let’s unite and stand together against the homophobic and transphobic state of Bulgaria and growing neo-Nazism in Europe.

The International Queer Solidarity Network calls for a European mobilization, with support from the United States, that will stand in solidarity with Queer Bulgaria. For more information on how you can help you can contact: iqsn@riseup.net or sofiagaypride2009@gmail.com If you cannot attend the Pride, visit http://www.iqsn.org/ for more information on how you can help. www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6oz3yeW5yo

e-mail:

iqsn@riseup.net

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For those curious about what the International Queer Solidarity Network is all about see the following statement from their website.

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About Us:
The International Queer Solidarity Network is a developing network of collectives and individuals working to strengthen the global movement of queer liberation. IQSN brings to light the injustices faced by the Queer community world-wide, and builds global solidarity with local struggles. IQSN is part of the larger movement building a world that is free from oppression of all people, including queer and trans people.
Points Of Unity:
* Our work thrives to provide a true sense of total liberation for everyone as we desire to live in a world that is free from discrimination, hatred and intolerance.

* We support a diversity of tactics, ranging from web-based and person-to-person education, to electoral/legislative campaigning to direct action and militant resistance.

* We stand in solidarity and support the tactics used by the community most affected.

* We oppose domination and hierarchy in all it’s forms.

* We value the skills and wisdoms(sic-Molly) possessed by the many different cultures in our world, and support the right to cultural self-determination.

* We believe that governments and institutions are violent and oppressive forces to queer and trans people and other marginalized peoples.

* As part of a global movement towards universal liberation, we recognize the interconnectedness of all forms of oppression. Queer and trans people will not be free until all people are free! and that means you, muthafuckas!!!

* We are in solidarity with all groups and individuals working to end oppression on institutional, socialized, and inter-personal levels.

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-LONDON ONTARIO:

ARA 1-FASCISTS 0:

Here's a report from the Linchpin/Common Cause site down Ontario way. Seems that the fascists last July 27th had a no score day in harassing the 2008 London Pride Parade, thanks to the actions of Anti Racist Action.

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SOUTHERN ONTARIO ARA SHUTS DOWN FASCISTS IN LONDON!:
On Sunday, July 27th, anti-fascists ("antifa") came together from across Southern Ontario to confront and shut down an attempt by long time hate organizers to intimidate the participants of London's 2008 Pride Parade. Acting on information found posted on white supremacist websites, antifa in several cities were able to organize and produce the numbers despite minimal preparation time.

Close to 30 people gathered at Victoria Park at 11:30AM to discuss the plan for the day and create banners that would be used to block out the homophobic and anti-gay signs. As expected, harassment from the London Police Department was heavy from the get-go. Police used several tactics in an unsuccessful attempt to get information from and intimidate those gathered at Victoria Park (i.e. good cop / bad cop, isolating individuals and pressing for answers, intrusive photographs, etc). The group was approached by the cops repeatedly before they even left the park.

At around 12:15PM the 30-person strong crew left Victoria Park with several large banners, flags, and signs, heading down to pay the the fascists a visit at their meeting spot, the corner of Dundas and Colborne. Rumors had circulated earlier that upwards of 20 white supremacists would be present for the hate demonstration. However, in reality an unimpressive 5 people (including Randall Linton, Melissa Guille, Dave Ruud, and Louis Morin), primarily washed up Canadian Heritage Alliance (CHA) members, managed to drag their sorry selves out of bed early enough on a Sunday to wave around bristle board signs with sloppy slogans scrawled across in black sharpie.

During the initial confrontation a minor incident broke out that resulted in one ARA activist being arrested after a bonehead grabbed at a member of ARA. This police action was completely unwarranted and was a weak attempt to discourage those involved in the ARA demonstration. Our comrade was released from detention after we came together and arranged support for him.

Throughout the entirety of the parade, the fascists' signs were completely covered by ARA banners and flags, which was not exactly difficult considering that the homophobes were outnumbered by ARA 6 to 1. It did not take long for the members of the CHA and their supporters to become visibly frustrated and downright embarrassed that their day had been such an obviously miserable failure. On several occasions various boneheads found themselves completely alone and encircled by Rainbow banners, pro-Queer and ARA slogans as they scurried up and down the streets.

Towards the end of the parade the fascists called it quits after having several of their signs torn up, being publicly humiliated, and generally having a terrible Sunday out. They dispersed without incident, enjoying the police protection that they had greatly benefited from all day long.
No Homophobia! No Fascist Canada!
- SOUTHERN ONTARIO A.R.A.

ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SWEDEN:

ANARCHOPRIDE GATHERING IN STOCKHOLM:

The AnarchoPride group is composed of Swedish gay anarchists, and this summer they hope to hold an alternative festival to contrast with the official gay Europride festival in Stockholm. Here is their announcement from the A-Infos website.

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Sweden, Stockholm, Anarchopride 31/7-3/8:

We want anarchists to gather during Europride in Stockholm, Sweden. Camp with us, do discussions, workshops and actions. Join us in the parade and go to our party. We welcome everyone to anarchopride at Cyklopen and Kaf? 44.Anarchopride wants to be an alternative to the commercial europride and the superficial gay culture. Norms about sexuality and gender is one of several structures in the society that oppress people. We struggle not just against homophobia or heterosexism, we struggle against all oppressions and against capitalism and the state. We believe that the arranging of people in small heterosexual families helps the state to maintain control.

During anarchopride we will discuss and act. We will fill these days with a lot of inspiration and DIY-culture.

No one is free until we're all free! Smash capitalism! Reclaim pride!

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CAMP

31/7-3/8 at Cyklopen. You can stay with us for free in the house of culture, Cyklopen, in a suburb of Stockholm.

WORKSHOPS

1/8 at Cyklopen. A day full of inspiration, action and DIY-culture.

PARADE

2/8. Join us behind the banner "Anarchists breaking borders".

PARTY

31/7 at Kaf? 44. Punk and other live music and performances at Kaf? 44, in the city centre of Stockholm.

Organizers: Stockholms anarchafeminists

More information: http://www.anarchopride.kamplust.se/

Contact us: anarchopride08@gmail.com

At the same time, there will be held "Autonomous Action Days" (29/7-2/8) in Helsinki. Its easy to take a ferry between Helsinki and Stockholm.

http://www.valtaus.org/

And if you want to come to Sweden earlier... from Stockholm you can take another cheep boat to the island Gotland and the medieval city Visby, there the Alternative Week - like a summer camp for radical movements - is going to take place 6-12 july. Meet syndicalists, greens, autonomists, anarchists... its gonna take place in an art school. Unfortunately they haven't translated any information to English, but normally it's an interesting week. People from the ESF Action network will also be there.

http://www.alternativveckan.se/

At the same time the official "Politician week"(?????-Molly-perhaps akin to "poisonous snake week") is held in Visby, with all the big names from the establishment, company bosses and politicians... so there is also a lot of possibilities for actions (or just going to their seminars and finding out their next big plans that gonna be launched... this is the lobbyist paradise in Sweden...and also fun for trubblemakers like us).

/ mathias.motkraft.net

CUBA;

CUBA AND GAY RIGHTS:

To say the least Molly hardly finds the following item "surprising". Managers may come to power in many ways, as they replace the capitalists as a ruling class. When they come to power via a "revolution", as what happened in Cuba, the new ruling class will generally be much more conservative than one that has come to power via a natural evolution. Thus the fact that the Cuban "peoples' dictatorship" (sic) is far more opposed to gay rights than other social democratic regimes that have recently come to power in South America. It's one of the unforeseen (to those who believe in "revolution") consequences of "revolution", whatever the ideology of the revolutionists. The following is a Molly translation of a recent item from a Spanish language item at the A-Infos website. What I can say is that, as the dictator lies dying piece by piece, like his fascist progenitor Franco did, that the people of Cuba will gradually attempt to expand their realm of freedom. Soon there will be no more communist dictatorship for our paleolithic leftists to "support". Look for them to find good things about the hereditary monarchy of North Korea.

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[Cuba] The government aborted gay march

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The demonstration was called by the Cuban Commission on Human Rights for sick people with HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases(A Molly interpretation) Eni, the Cuban League Against Aids Foundation "Elena Mederos," the Foundation LGTB (lesbian gay bisexual transgender) "Reynaldo Arenas, the Cuban Movement for Homosexual Liberation, Collective Transsexual Havana Cultural Center LGTB y. the Gay Political Organization Presidio "Reynaldo Arenas in Memorian ". The First Gay Pride Parade, as it was called by its organizers,was planned to take place since the Don Quixote Park, located at 23 and J streets in the El Vedado neighborhood in until the Ministry of Justice ,agreed to demands of the Cuban government.

Gay Universe: A detainee in Cuba in Gay Pride parade

Nearly 20 people(Molly Note-great social changes always begin with small numbers of courageous people) were gathered in Havana under the slogan "For the respect for sexual diversity ", without police repression. Due to the poor attendance, after waiting half an hour, they proceeded to disperse on their own initiative. However, a few hours later

the president of the Cuban League against AIDS, Ignacio Estrada,was arrested. He was, coincidentally, one of the most prominent conveners of the march(how communist of them-Molly).It is still not known whether he was released. According to statements via telephone by Fidel Valdes, a member of one of the groups participating, the small attendance at the demonstration was due to visits by selective Officers of the State Security Department to well-known figures of the local the gay scene. It was also known that a group of transvestites that travelled inland with the intention to participate in the so-called First Lesbian Gay Pride march, was detained at the terminal at the time of arrival at the capital; being released hours later.

Molly Note- the paleolithic leftists here in North America do major efforts in terms of lieing on behalf of the Cuban dictatorship. Sometimes their gymnastics can be amusing, as when Maoists, with a lack of any thuggish murderous regime to support, are reduced to supporting the Cuba that they formerly denounced as "revisionist" at the same time as it is more and more involved in capitalist partnerships(never say such a bad word). or when leftists here in NA continue to trumpet the "superiority" of the Cuban health care system while at the same time doing their little "solidarity bit" to gather expired !!! medical supplies to ship down to this "superior" system. I shit you not. That is what these people do and they have no idea of the contradiction in their efforts. May I say that the Cuban ruling class doesn't have to depend upon such charity. No expired materials for those managers. They get the same quality that managers of social control receive up here or that those rich people from here can buy from the Cuban ruling class while the average Cuban is denied. Love that "socialism".