San Francisco lesbian artist, transgender activist, and an expert in homosexuality in early Brisbane – playing, exposing, delving and fashioning the archives…. Teamed with the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives who are passionate about collecting traces of our histories – and we have an evening of issues and inspirations that challenge our conventional ways of ‘doing’ history.
The gathering on the 13th July is hosted by QAHC’s LGBT History Project in conjunction with the State Library of Queensland.
E.G Crichton is artist-in-residence with the San Francisco GLBT Historical Society and Associate Professor of Art at the University of California Santa Cruz. She uses a range of art strategies to explore social issues, history and site specific subject matter. She will talk about her current work “Lineage: matchmaking in the archive” – a collaborative work, and her role within the GLBT Historical Society.
Jenny Scott is responsible for developing the “South Australia Memory Radical Dream” website with their State Library, and implementing their presence on Flickr. Her experiences of coming out as a transgender in 1993 have fuelled her activism, and currently her advocacy for LGBTI visibility in the public archives.
Dr Yorick Smaal, local gay historian, identifies the issues of delving into archives when so little is on the record of our LGBT lives. Working with what is there (it has been largely the legal record), and ‘reading against the grain’ is the challenge. Yorick also contests our assumptions in interpreting the LGBT past, and our very notions of sexuality.
The Australian Lesbian & Gay Archives in Melbourne have for 30 years been the pioneers in collecting our LGBT archives. They are community-run and now – sit alongside the official collecting institutions – such as our State Library of Queensland, who have a commitment to building their LGBT content in their collections. How do we work together on this enterprise?
Hear these speakers and see some of their work – plus the State Library’s current exhibition including some of the Queensland AIDS Archive.
I am so excited to announce that Stepehn Hough now appears on this blog alongside other Gay Catholic mentors and heroes. be sure to drop ion on his blog for a range of reflections.I really must live in a cultural ghetto as I only heard of Stepehen via the Church Resources News Service:Feature – One Catholic’s journey of music and spirituality Not only does he appear in Catholic News Services, he even writes for them
However poor Stepehn did step on more than a few precious liturgical toes when he left the safety of the keyboard for the boxing ring of the Sanctuary. His feature article The moment our eyes are opened in the 11 April 2009, English Tablet was noted by a New Zealand blogger and my old Geelong mate Kevin Bates tells me that the Tablet also published his letter correcting Stepehen’s reading of the Liturgy.
Learn more about this amazing man
Listen to this interview on ABC Brisbane: Stephen Hough
I managed to get along to the final evening of ‘POWER & PANACHE’ to see Stephen Hough with the Sydney Symphony on June 22. What an evening. I came away with a brief chat with the man himself, a signed copy of a CD and a little more knowledge of Classical Piano. So, welcome Stephen!!!
Bond and Griffith Universities researchers are conducting a survey into those gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people who have, OR have not reported, being victims of prejudice related violence/harassment to Queensland Police and community support groups. Researchers aim to use the information from the ‘Stop Gay Hate Now’ survey to increase awareness of the extent of homophobic violence/harassment against L.G.B.T.I. citizens experienced by Queensland residents over the age of 18.
The, completely confidential, data gathered will be used to provide recommendations to Queensland Police [and related community support services] to encourage reporting of offences against LGBTIs; ways to improve recording homophobic violence/harassment, and provide recommendations for legislative and other reforms to address homophobia generally.
After completing this survey, you will be given the chance to enter a prize draw for an Apple iPhone valued at $800 and to be considered for membership of some focus groups. However your personal contact details will not be linked to your answers to this survey.
LGBTI people interested in participating in focus groups in metropolitan and rural and regional Queensland as part of the ‘Stop Gay Hate Now’ survey may also contact researchers direct. Focus group and other Inquiries: Dr. Shirleene Robinson of Bond University (srobinso@bond.edu.au) and/or Dr. Alan Berman of Griffith University/University of Newcastle (Alan.Berman@newcastle.edu.au). Explanatory Statements: Investigating Legal Responses to Homophobic Violence, BUHREC Protocol Number: RO-948 Background: This survey has ethics clearance from both Bond and Griffith University and is part of a Legal Practitioner’s Interest on Trust Account Funds investigation into Legal Responses to Homophobic Violence. The project is being conducted by Dr. Shirleene Robinson from Bond University and Dr Alan Berman, an Adjunct Research Fellow of the Socio-Legal Research Centre of Griffith University and Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Newcastle
In the early 1980s I was living in the parish house of St Joseph’s Collingwood exploring community faith and justice. I can still remember with amazing clarity the day I opened the front door to a Franciscan friar who introduced himself as Ferdy Parer and asked to see Tony Robertson because he had been told about my work with people living in the local housing commission estates. I hold that moment in graced humility now as I had no idea of Ferdy’s work at the time.
Nearly 20 years later I settled in West End and began attending Masses at St Mary’s South Brisbane.When I realised that Ferdy was the celebrant of the week day Masses, I made a point of going as often as I could. Those Masses were the most extraordinary moments of grace and community I have ever experienced at St Mary’s in almost 20 years of participation.
Ferdy’s vision was going but his spirituality was as sharp and insightful as ever.The Mass was full of moments of glorious wonder. Gordon Smith, older than Ferdy I suspect would arrive every morning in his suit to serve. With quiet dignity and grace Gordon also read the gospel as the text in the Lectionary was too small for Ferdy to manage.And then as he handed the cruets of wine and water over for the preparation of the gifts, Gordon would kiss them in a gesture of beauty and grace which has never been seen in the recent contemporary liturgies of Terry Fitzpatrick and Peter Kennedy.
Thank you for recalling to mind this man of God and servant of the Gospel. In these days of “exile’’ and religious spin may he call us back to where we are most truly at home among the “little ones” of our fragile human family.
Brisbane Gay Catholic Challenges Church on Homophobia
Brisbane Gay Catholic advocate, Tony Robertson has made his annual call for the Catholic Bishops of Australia to include May 17 the International Day Against Homophobia in diocesan, parish and school calendars.
Tony first made his appeal to the Bishops in 2005, when the International Day Against Homophobia was launched to commemorate the removal of homosexuality from the General Assembly of the World Health Organization(WHO)list of mental disorders on 17 May 1990
“The inclusion of the International Day Against Homophobia in Church calendars will send a clear message to those in the Church who fail to understand that the dignity of the human person is a core Catholic teaching which challenges homophobia in our community” he said.
Tony will also be inviting the Australian Catholic Bishops to join him in an online photo exhibition This Is Oz. Mr Robertson said “I believe that the Bishops images on the site will help to fight discrimination against Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. Their participation in this project will also demonstrate the Bishops commitment to core Catholic teachings including the statement in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing homosexuality which states: “ Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” Mr Robertson’s self image shows him holding a sign which reads: I am Catholic I am Queer, Homophobia’s Un-Christian. Hear?
Tony said “My experience as a participant in online discussion forums about faith and sexuality has raised my concerns about a culture of homophobia which is evident among some of the contributors to such forums. Strong leadership from the Church will help to change a culture of death to a culture of life for my sisters and brothers who live in sexual minorities.”
This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where people can help fight discrimination against Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. Part art project, part human rights campaign, This Is Oz is all about making Australia a place where everyone belongs.
We’ll be updating our homepage and photo gallery daily with our favourite images and pics of our celeb friends, so come back and visit soon!
Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) has embraced the theme of “Homosexuality Knows No Borders” for this year’s International Day of Action Against Homophobia (IDAHO), to be held on May 17.IDAHO seeks to raise awareness of gay and lesbian issues, celebrate sexual and gender diversity, and bring an end to homophobia.
Recent Catholic convert, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said in an interview that Catholic leaders are out of step with ordinary believers in their attitude toward homosexuals. » more
It’s Holy Week, for Christians the week that commemorates the final week of Jesus’ life leading up to his execution by the Romans and the Jerusalem Temple authorities and then following that his resurrection the first Easter or as most non-Anglophone Christians know the day, Pascha (Paska, Paques, Pasqua etc). Over at the Jesus in Love blog, Kittredge Cherry is running a queer version of Jesus’ Passion in daily instalments from Palm Sunday to Easter/Pascha Sunday. Each instalment includes an excerpt from her novel, Jesus in Love, with a “queer-Christian” painting by different artists. I am very impressed by most of the paintings she’s included so far and I’m glad to be able to read extracts from her novel – I’ve yet to get a copy for myself. It’s definitely worth checking out. Indeed you can check out each instalment individually almost like a queer Stations of the Cross: Read more
Acceptance Sydney’s mission is to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics their families and friends. Acceptance Sydney does not seek to promote homosexuality. It is not affiliated with groups that aim to publicly confront Church leaders nor is it associated with groups that claim to be able to “cure” homosexuals.
It strives for full recognition and acceptance of homosexual, bisexual and transgender Catholics, enabling them to celebrate their God-given sexuality and to receive the Sacraments as full members of the Catholic Church.
The site promotes an active online community with a message board and an events calendar including a Good Friday liturgy at St Joseph’s Church in Newtown.
Congratulations to Cathnews for featuring the Acceptenace Web Site. As a gay Catholic man l celebrate the fullness of my humanity and my sexuality in friendships and intimacy. I am not convinced by the teachings of the Catholic Catechism which would only permit me “disinterested friendships”(CCC 2359)
I am encouraged by the work of Acceptence which promntes a spirituality and community that challenges the culture of homophobia in our Church as evident by the first couple of posts responding to this item.
Let’s hope that “Queer”" theology and hermeneutics will be taught in our houses of formation for clergy and religious. May we come to honour our ‘Queer” saints and martyrs who have been ministers of the Gospel and witnesses to the faith.
Concerned that the state’s new same-sex marriage law would infringe on religious liberties, the Connecticut Catholic Conference today proposed some broad exemptions which it believes are necessary to protect those rights.
The law does not require Catholic priests — or any other clergy member — to preside over same-sex weddings.
However, the church is seeking additional exemptions. For instance, it wants to ensure that a florist opposed to gay marriage on religious grounds not be forced to sell flowers to a same-sex couple.
“Same-sex couples have their liberties protected fully. Religious people are wondering ‘how is this going to effect me?”‘ David Reynolds, lobbyist for the Catholic Church, told members of the legislature’s judiciary committee.
“A situation has been created….where state policy seriously conflicts with the religious beliefs of a large number of the citizens of the state,” Reynolds said. He cited examples in other states where businesspeople opposed to gay marriage have faced legal action because they declined to provide goods or services to gay couples.
In October, the state Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples had the right to marry and a month later, Connecticut became the second state to legally recognize same-sex marriage.
The legislature is now codifying the court’s decision, adjusting existing statutes to make sure they comport with the court’s ruling.
Anne Stanback, executive director of Love Makes a Family, said the bill before the committee simply makes sure the state’s laws are in line with the court ruling. “Marriage equally is the law in Connecticut and this will not make it any more legal,’ she said.
The bill before the judiciary committee also strikes language on the state’s books that gay activists consider offensive.
