Folks from Equality Across America will be attending the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit from June 22nd to June 26th. Before going into anything, here’s a blurb from the website.
The US Social Forum will provide a space to build relationships, learn from each other’s experiences, and share analysis of the problems our communities face. It will help develop leadership, vision, and strategy needed to realize another world.
Leadership, vision and strategy! Something every part of every movement needs, right? Be it a grassroots group of a few people trying to build their vision or the entire LGBTQ movement as a whole, even though sometimes it doesn’t look, sound or feel that whole, those three words are essential to not just a particular organization or movement, but to life in general.
When I first became involved in LGBTQ activism, I found comfort in talking to people involved in movements against racism or other forms of bigotry because I heard the same struggles, the same concerns and the same passion. Everyone wants to be equal. Everyone wants to figure out a way to make their movement more cohesive and unified. At the forum, union organizers will have the chance to sit face to face with those struggling in the movement against racism. Queer folk can sit FACE to FACE with women’s rights organizations and see where the opportunity lies to learn from one another.
We all know from organizing ourselves and even just living in this electronic world that e-mail doesn’t replace a human conversation. Our movements can only become stronger individually if we are willing to sit and listen to everyone struggling, and perhaps make statements together.
Already people are finding ways to make a grand statement before they even arrive. Organizations are planning biking tours that will bring activists to their destination with practically no carbon footprint. Many cyclists are donating their bikes and gear upon arrival to help those with transportation needs in a city with little to no options without a car.
You can still register for the forum if you feel like taking an impromptu trip for your activist soul. If you’re contemplating, do it QUICK. Hotels are filling fast. Another world that embraces LGBTQ people IS possible – and we’re excited to take this opportunity to network and collaborate with other folks fighting various forms of oppression.
