The UK government denies 90% of building permits on land that Travellers and Romani own, and still has signs that say “No Gypsies or Travellers”
*sigh*
I don’t understand people who say there’s no racism in Britain…
too much fierce to handleIntroducing Jean Paul Paula a stylist, androgynous, model extraordinaire who seems to have a Grace Jones fetish.. (and who doesn’t) Forever in heels and rocking those Martin Margiela sunglasses.. style icon for being so bold with his fashion.. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Miss Jones
Love Love
Style icon, absolutely.
Wow. Flawless!
June 20th is the day designated by the UN as World Refugee Day. We wish to acknowledge the work of one person this year who has been recognized for her service to Roma refugees in Canada: this is Gina Csanyi-Robah, Executive Director of the Roma Community Centre in Toronto. Look out for a more in depth article on Gina soon.
Gina Csanyi-Robah has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her service to Canada’s Roma community. Csanyi-Robah is the executive director of the Toronto-based Roma Community Centre and is a passionate advocate on behalf of Canada’s Roma population. When she learned of her award Csanyi-Robah said, “While I am very grateful to be recognized for the work I have done, I would be happier if … the Harper government recognized that countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic are not ‘safe countries’ for the persecuted Roma minority, and to stop inadvertently condoning these human rights abuses that are taking place in parts of Central and Eastern Europe.”
She wants to use the award as a means of drawing attention to revisions to the process of refugee determination in Canada. “There are reforms that need to be made to our refugee system, but this Bill represents a major setback to the Canadian human/ refugee rights struggle,” says Csanyi-Robah.
Photo courtesy of Gina Csanyi-Robah
The Roma Community Centre is a not-for-profit organization created in September 1997 following the arrival in Canada of over 3,000 Czech-Roma refugees. Its goals are to help newly arrived and Canadian Roma; and “to raise awareness through public education about the ongoing abuse of human rights of the Roma people and the rapidly growing nationalist and neo-Nazi movements that promote anti-Roma racism and hate” in countries where Roma continue to face persecution and systemic discrimination.
The Centre relies on volunteer support which Csanyi-Robah deeply appreciates. “It has been wonderful seeing so much of a positive outpouring from Canadians. We thank everyone that has supported our cause, and the many volunteers that have dedicated their time to helping the Roma Community Centre.”
Gina Csanyi-Robah received her award at a June 13 ceremony in Toronto.
For more on the Roma Community Centre, click HERE.
The “Rainbow Parade” or “Pride Parade” which will take place on 18 August at the end of this year’s Prague Pride festival will start on Wenceslas Square and end on Shooter’s Island (Střelecký ostrov). Organizers decided to change the route after last year’s success. It is expected that more people will join the parade this year than last, when 8 000 people came to town for it. Czeslaw Walek, director of the festival, informed journalists of the plans today.
The second annual Prague Pride festival will take place from 13 - 19 August in the Czech capital. It will feature 80 separate events - concerts, discussions, exhibitions, and parties.
“After last year’s experience we wanted to change the parade route to make it more interesting. The change will also make it possible to use more cars (with sound systems) from the very start of the parade,” Walek said. Organizers believe that more participants will attend this year. Last year was proof that the parade is not a political action or demonstration, but an event open to all.
Marchers will start assembling at noon at the statue of Saint Václav on Wenceslas Square. At 13:00 the parade will set off for Můstek and will then proceed down 28. října street along Národní to Střelecký ostrov (Shooter’s Island), where a free concert will take place featuring Dara Rolins, Toxique, The Tap Tap, Bitumen Beat and the Israeli band The Young Professionals.
Organizers of this year’s Prague Pride have chosen the slogan “Let’s put colors together” (“Dáme barvy dohromady”). They primarily intend to present groups that remain hidden, such as the lives of gay, lesbian and transsexual people living with disabilities, as well as the lives of LGBT members of the Romani community.
One evening of the festival will be devoted to a fashion show featuring clothing by a Romani designer, Romani music, comics, and a debate. A lesbian couple living with disabilities will talk about their situation. The debate on transsexuality will feature Polish MP Anna Grodzká, who has undergone a sex change operation. An exhibition of paintings and photographs at the DOX center will also explore the topic. The festival program will also touch on gay and lesbian parenting.
The fashion show and parade are intended to support diversity and contribute to respect for difference. “Our long-term aim is to create one of the best, most interesting Pride festivals in Central and Eastern Europe,” Walek said.
Walek said the first year of the festival featuring the first-ever pride march in Prague was “highly successful”. A total of 25 000 people visited 70 events. Thousands more came to the parade and the closing event on Shooter’s Island (Střelecký ostrov).
Last year the festival and the first-ever “Rainbow Parade” in Prague prompted resistance in conservative circles. Presidential staffer Petr Hájek labeled LGBT people as “deviant fellow-citizens”. Czech President Václav Klaus then said the term “deviation” was “value-neutral”. He also said the Prague parade was not an expression of “homosexuality”, but of “homosexualism”.
Many leading personalities responded by supporting the organizers and the entire LGBT community. Mayor of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda (Civic Democrats - ODS) has provided his auspices to the event, as he did last year. Organizers want to reach out to political parties to participate in the march as well.
teehee, open our moths.
It is not our place to tell LGBT and GSM people how to better their movement. Our input is not only unnecessary, but largely unwanted. We do no good when we try to talk over the voices of the people we’re trying to support, and all it does is show that we, straight…
Something like this happened to me at the only club I liked (the only goth club) in the last city I lived. A member of staff, who was a cis het friend of mine, saw it happen, and didn’t do anything about it. Despite it being the only club where I could have fun, I never went back. Every time I think back I wish I’d broken her wrist or something. But her boyfriend was right there, so I thought I’d come off worse if I resisted, so I just left in shock.
This just came to mind during a conversation on Facebook, and I realised I need to tell people about it.
A couple of weeks ago, during the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, I was in a lesbian bar (Sisters, of course) with a couple of girlfriends, and we got involved in a…
Never seen a domme dressed up so fancy before. I likes.
Slap some gear shapes on his butt and call it Steampunk?
…I’m going to hell for that, aren’t I. Joking aside, though… hell yes domme in poofy mid-Victorian dress. ♥_♥
I would like to … talk more about this as a clueless white person, but not in this space and only with those who consider themselves educators and could deal with my cluelessness. In other words, not intruding into your space. If any queer poc would be willing to do so please hit me up.
by Mia McKenzie
I have been thinking and talking a lot lately about the politics of desirability. In particular, the way that some white queer allies move through QPOC spaces, dating every brown queer they can get their hands on, almost always going unchecked, and never really understanding or…
