immigrant freedom ride, new york city
international |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Friday October 03, 2003 18:50
by john francis - irish queers
irishqueers at hotmail dot com
if you are in the ny area on saturday
This is a reminder to come out to IQ's Immigrant Freedom Ride contingent, tomorrow (Saturday) -- and to make sure everyone knows that Wyclef Jean is a headline performer at the event! (So is local homophobe Cardinal Egan, but whatever.)
We'll have signs that identify us as Irish community members and queers supporting the demands of immigrant workers: legalization, fair rewards for work, and civil and human rights. Our signs will also demand that queer immigrants -- not just traditional, heterosexual immigrant families -- be included in that struggle. Bring your own signs if you can...
Meeting-up info:
9:45 am
111th St. and 45th Ave. (corner of the park)
Take the 7 train to 111th St.
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4First off, good luck with the protest.
Second, a question. I have zero experience with the 'gay community' either in Ireland or anywhere else. And by 'gc' I mean like those who organise themselves, or go to Pride marches etc.
So my question is this, why do you use the word Queer? I thought it was a derogatory term? Is calling yourself Irish Queers not a bit like a black group calling itself "Niggers United" or a Latino group called "Spick Action" or even an Irish group called "Paddys Power" ? I know when I lived in the UK there was nothing more I hated being called than a Paddy. It used to wind me right up.
This is a serious question. I am genuinely interested in why you chose the name Irish Queers - surely its not because IQ is such a good anacronym?
good point, curious... there is certainly a trend stateside that only those belonging to a specific minority group may address one another by their worst slur... I think this is part of the melting-pot mind-frame, desensitizing people to the massive differences in life preferences or ethnic background... there's a govt ad-campaign over here presently promoting the Bill of Rights, with kids of all colours reciting the words, maybe not comprehending what they say... as you're an American no matter where you're from and what way you choose to be, but the real crunch is where it comes to foreign nationals, for which Americans hold particular disregard, particularly middle-easterners and mexicans...
Congress has recently swiped persecution of homosexuals off its list of applicable reasons for refugee status... I don't know what the refugee laws in Ireland are like presently, though understanding there are regions of the world where homosexuality can earn you jail time, I believe it is a valid cause for granting refuge.
I'd be interested to know how the New York Irish Gay Lesbian community are organizing themselves for the next Paddy's parade... are tey still being kept out? I'd like to see them there... as an Irish New Yorker myself...
Good luck today at the immigrant bus ride, that is a most worthy cause...
queer is more inclusive than gay (which usually just means male) queer is a more politicized/radical term to include lesbian, gay and trans peoples.
reclaiming the word and calling myself queer takes the 'power' or the sting from the homophobe.
'queer..'
'yes, thats me how may i help you.'
so queer is a more inclusive, more political term.
as far as patricks day-the irish govt' will probably continue to send a representative. bord failte, aer lingus, ford motor company, will continue to bank roll the televising of the bigoted parade on nbc television. new york city will continue to pay for insurance, sanitation, and securtiy for a discriminatory parade. and the clerics will continue to slither along in their pathology.
irish queers will resist patricks day in new york.
slan. jf
why queer?
don't you get irony?
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