laura_seabrook | Entries tagged with queer

I'm semi-retiring Elsie (again) and most of my other alts in SL. Apart from attending support groups and posing for webcomics/graphic novels they won't be in-world much at all. I'm not abandoning Second Life (tried that before, doesn't work) but every thing's in a state of flux right now and I need to sort that out. Also, SL is a lot emptier with certain friends who used to be there not being lately. If I'm not exploring or making a webcomic or building something, I'm getting bored in there.

When I injured my leg earlier this week I went online in the hopes of finding a little support, but it wasn't there. If I'm thinking in such terms, it's time to get off for a bit, otherwise I'll end up like I did with Facebook. I'm actually enjoying that now in a much reduced role. Maybe this'll be the same.

As I write this I wonder if this is the case with a lot of things in my life. I mean, I used to support the notion of both a trans and queer community, but I'm thinking that that is more an illusion than reality. Beginning to think that the "Queer/LGBT* community" is really the LG community extended, with hangers-on from other interest groups who mix because it's the most viable game in town. Another reason I'm not going to the annual queer student conference this year (other reasons being health, and the fact I said I wouldn't go if I couldn't get there under my own financing).

But this is not a matter of burning any bridges, it's more about being realistic about what I get back socially and emotionally, compared to any hopes I have. In that respect I suspect a law of diminished returns is starting to apply. When it comes to such things. Most events assume that you have your own transport, have no disabilities, money, and a sex drive. Guess what I don't have.

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1416439.html

Found this on Urban Dictionary:

1.
	An acronym to be used instead of LGBTQQ2IA* Q - Queer and Questioning U - Unidentified I - Intersex L - Lesbian T - Transgender, Transexual B - Bisexual A - Asexual G - Gay, Genderqueer "Hey, are you one of the QUILTBAG folk, too?" "The lesbian community is just one of the many different pockets in the QUILTBAG!"

Yeah, sure, that'll catch on! ;)

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1395580.html

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1254060.html

You may have seen links to an online petition against an Anti-Homosexuality Bill that the Ugandan government is currently considering. If passed, it would enforce jail terms and maybe the death penalty on those determined to be homosexual. That's pretty alarming on face value.I've not saying that people shouldn't do this, but that it may not have much effect on the Ugandan government. A simple search of Google with 'ugandan government +petition' shows that it's not just gays that are being threatened currently in Uganda.

Christian activists are also petitioning the government to ban Islamic law; there is a land grab for Traditional and Customary land; there is also a petition to reopen local radio stations that were closed by the government; and Human rights network for journalists Uganda has petitioned the United Nations seeking its intervention to end the continuous cases of violation of the rights of media practitioners while on duty. There is also a a petition to support a campaign of sex-workers from Uganda to repeal the ban on the conference on sex-workers health rights and economic empowerment. There is a movement to reverse the ban on Reflexology (whatever that is) by the government as well. There is a petition to stop Child Sacrifice in Uganda (the page says that it "...is an intensely disturbing phenomenon that is driven by superstition, exploitation, witchcraft, and extreme poverty").

In short, is only adding a signature to yet another petition by non-Ugandans going to have much weight with the obviously biased and repressive government?

By all means sign that petition, but also send a direct message to the Ugandan Parliament about your concerns. You can do this by using the contact page at the Parliament of Uganda Website. As listed on that page, you can write via:

    P.O BOX 7178
    Parliamentary Avenue
    Kampala
    Uganda

That may or may not be too late for the votes on the bill, but 1,163,150 individual emails or letters is a far more impressive thing than a single petition with 1,163,150 signatures (the current figure when writing).

Current Mood: annoyed
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1181149.html

I made a conscious decision not to go to the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras again this year. Yes, it can be a great event, but I just didn't think it would be anything but the reverse of that for me. There are several reasons for this: I didn't have the money ($12-30 until Wednesday); I actually didn't feel healthy enough to march (my fee would have hurt a lot); and I just couldn't get into it at all this year. Friends at Spectrum, Still Fierce and other groups did march, and I'm pleased for them, but I just couldn't be bothered.

I guess I have other things going on in my life at the moment, and the idea of standing around for hours on end and/or marching for 45 minutes; and later walking back from Cardiff Station to Barnsley (12km) in the early hours of the morning just didn't appeal to me. Funny that.

Current Mood: content
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1130639.html

Someone may be interested in making and selling my Queer Pagan Flag!

Current Mood: excited
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1128367.html

Details on the video:

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1126730.html

Current Mood: aggravated
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1049920.html

The previous person running this event and archive has retired, and I've taken this on. I've finished formatting and coding this site.

All the existing contributions have been added, and I have written a number of information pages explaining what it's all about and how to contribute. Are you an artist and want to contribute to this year's event (on and around 20th November)?

For this years theme, see this page.

Current Mood: satisfied
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1016730.html

Despite earlier problems with language, I seem to have done something today. As you know, I attended the ~~Marriage Equality~~ Same-Sex Marriage Rally (ask me why I'm not going to the next one) in Sydney last Saturday. Here's two videos and some pics from that event.

...and...

You'll also find some pics at my Flicker Set and many more at my Facebook Album.

Current Mood: cranky
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/998559.html

I'm probably going to go to the Aug 14th Sydney Mass protest for Equal Marriage Rights tomorrow in Sydney.Here's my travel connections:

	Take the 266 bus (Hunter Valley Buses (Edgeworth)) Dep: 8:30am Barnsley Shops (227826) Arr: 8:56am Cardiff Station (228522)
	Walk to Cardiff Station - 96 metres
	Take the Central Coast And Newcastle Line train (CityRail) Dep: 9:42am Cardiff Station Platform 1 Arr: 11:34am Berowra Station Platform 1
	Take the Western Line train (CityRail) Dep: 11:46am Berowra Station Platform 2 Arr: 12:46pm Town Hall Station Platform 2

Of course I haven't been feeling that good in the last few days. I may attend the rally but not any other events, and may just come home afterwards (though the cost of the hostel is probably the same as a taxi fare home). We'll see tomorrow.

Current Mood: tired
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/995453.html

Did an all nighter to create this for a Zine for O-Week at Uni.

Current Mood: artistic
Current Music: Thomas Dolby

Here is part two of my You Are Here Now speech:

Current Mood: pleased

I gave this talk at the opening of You are Here Now on the 10th. Just uploaded part 1 of this to Youtube:

Part 2 has yet to be uploaded.

Current Mood: pleased

It took me a week to get organised to upload this. Here's one below, the rest are a Set at Flickr:

Current Mood: pleased

Amy and Rocky 2008: photograph by Sharon Aldrick

Celebrating GLBTIQ Lives at the University of Newcastle

Historical Exhibition and Photography Competition

The University of Newcastle is hosting an historical exhibition with accompanying photographic competition, celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer staff and students (past and present). The opening of this exhibition will also be the launch of the Rainbow Festival 2009.

Current Mood: confused

As you can see by the photos, I got down to the National Day of Action. I'm glad I went, though I was exhausted afterwards. I got to Sydney on time after a breakfast in Cardiff and the whole thing started about 12:40pm.

I kept meeting people - people from QC, people from Newcastle, and people from the pagan community. I guess there's an overlap in my subcultures. Ultimately when everything started, I lost track of folk a lot, as I was racing around taking photos of everything. I also have a few video but I'm not sure what to do with those yet.

This action would have to be the most concrete thing I've added my presence to in a while, even if the government says it won't change its position on the matter, that's not the point. The real point was in showing just how much it mattered to non-straight folk, and in that sense we succeeded entirely.

I took numerous photos of Bill and Andrew, who in their blue suits stood out from the crowd. I can see that they've appeared elsewhere quite a bit as well. They were not the only couple I met from Newcastle, either.

After the official event ended (around 2:45pm) I sort of lost track of everyone. I'd met Rowen, who used to run Magic Happens, and in the process everyone else I knew seemed to wander off. The plan (for some) was to meet back at The Oxford however I'd never been there before and got lost on the way (after exchanging a broken pair of braces at a shop, which I'd bought that morning) . By the time I did find the venue (after bumping into some people on their way there) it was sometime around 4pm. I hadn't eaten much since 8am and a noisy pub is nowhere for me to be on an empty stomach.

I went off to eat at a North Indian place on Oxford St. After I did I felt better but very very tired. I'd missed the last train back to Newcastle that connected to a bus home (which left at 2p on a Saturday!) so I stayed at Jayne's for the night. We had fun training a universal remote I'd bought her and watching episodes of Kingdom Hospital.

But it was still an early night. I had (and still have) a bad head cold and slept sitting up. Didn't get home until after 3pm on the Sunday and felt totally exhausted with this cold. I'll be staying home and resting for the next two days. No travel, anywhere.

It was a good event, and I'm glad I went, but I wish I could recover before the next event I go to.

Current Mood: sick

I encountered a new (for me) term at QC - Genderqueer - when I went to the Trans / Genderqueer caucus. A caucus is meeting in which issues common to the minority at QC (but which might be overlooked by the majority) are raised and later presented to the conference floor.

Initially I felt very confronted at the caucus. This was partly, that without a "reader" (a booklet that gives a brief overview of different terms and issues used and referred to at the conference) I had no idea what Genderqueer was, so how would I know if it was appropriate for me, as a trans woman, to be at the caucus? I never really heard a definition of the term at the conference and the only evidence I could see (or hear) was the use of different pronouns when referring to people (which I was corrected on later back at the hostel, but to be honest I was lucky to remember anyone's name let alone pronoun).

Mind you, there were other issues for me there as well. Being in a room in a circle of 40+ people I don't really know plays right into my anxiety problems (as did several other workshops and conference floors at the conference). so it was difficult for me to not make a bolt for the door or have a panic attack. In fact I left a later workshop on Polyamoury because I'd sat near the door, and the constant stream of people coming in (behind me) really disturbed me.

Looking at the Genderqueer page at wikipedia, I can now say that I don't feel this way, but I do understand why Trans was included with it. Almost as big a bit of information as understanding the word cisgender.

Current Mood: cold

Am at QC in Canberra but access to computers is hard to come by. However, I am thouroughly enjoying myself and meeting people.

The hostel is a bit of a zoo but I seem to be able to sleep through it anyway. It's location is the best thing about it, at Dickson shops, right in between resturants and shops. I shared a Japanese meal the other night and had spicey eggplant and Sapporo beer. There've been epic drinking sessions in the kitchen area but that may or may not tone down after complaints.

was in the post office at ANU here (buying a postcard to send to mum) and saw a PhD for <i>Jean-Luc Picard</i> on the wall! ;)

Current Mood: cheerful, but tired
Current Location: ANU, Canberra
Current Music: The sweet noise of queer students chatting

From the Herald Sun:

SAME-SEX couples will be allowed to marry if a Bill introduced in the Federal Parliament is passed.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced her private member's Bill, proposing to grant gay couples equal marriage rights, into the Upper House on Wednesday.
The Bill seeks to remove all discrimination based on sexuality and gender from the Marriage Act.
It will also allow same-sex marriages legalised abroad to be recognised in Australia.
Senator Hanson-Young tabled a petition of more than 30,000 signatures supporting gay marriage rights, saying: "The Rudd Government can no longer hide behind the lame excuse of the community not being ready for same-sex marriages in Australia."
Debate on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 was adjourned.

I don't know how much chance this has of succeeding, but at least they're giving it a go.

Current Mood: hopeful

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Laura Seabrook's Ramblings

Stuff about Laura and her friends

Entries tagged with queer

Minimising stuff

What the - giggle!

Norrie on 6:30 report

Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

An anti-Artist's Date?

Pagan Flag

Stille Firece Rally in Canberra this May

Yes it IS a problem (sometimes)

The Transgender Day of Remembrance Webcomics Project Archive

Marriage Equality Rally

Demonstration tomorrow

Queer on Campus Comics

You are Here Now speech (part 2)

You are Here Now speech (part 2)

Photos from YOU ARE HERE NOW Exhibition

HERE NOW Competition

Weekend Travels

Genderqueer?

QC

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduces gay marriage bill