GLBT Village in Ottawa

So just in this past week Ottawa officially got a GLBT village. No it didn't just happen overnight where all the queers decided to move in, its just naturally happened over decades that the Bank and Somerset area is a GLBT predominant neighbourhood. In the past week however, due to lobbying by the Village committee city council finally approved the designation and put up street signs designating the area.

Now I have some issues with the Village committee including the use of transgender often instead of trans, excluding the word queer, and often using gay as if it's an umbrella term. As well I consider there to be better uses of our time and money as Ottawa queer people and, that essentially it is a project that shows the privilege of those involved. However, I am supportive of having a queer village in Ottawa and beautifying the neighbourhood with murals, rainbow flags and other art projects. So despite my critiques overall I'm in favour of the concept.

I especially get behind it when I hear cis and straight people saying about how they feel "their" neighbourhood is being invaded and so they are going to move, or that now they are going to avoid the neighbourhood. At that point I say good riddence, take your bigotry with you. Another one I keep seeing is that what about having a "straight village" which goes along the lines of the people who I hear saying they should have a "straight Pride". Look almost every place on earth is a straight village so seriously stop being an idiot. Its these type of people I wish I could give a "how to not be a douchbag" workshop.

Cis Queers and Trans Politics

Lately a number of discussions I've had with friends has only furthered me to think about some of the issues of cis queers and trans politics. For those who haven't heard the term cis before it refers to people who generally match the gender identity that society has given then based upon their sex (for instance male and a man, female and a woman). Cis could be defined differently or more elaborately, but that is the basic point. A lot of my thoughts surrounding cis people participating in trans politics came out around the Trans Day of Remembrance in Ottawa last year. Now there were a lot of issues with TDOR even within the trans communities, but many cis queer activists came out to TDOR. Instead of simply supporting the trans community they in many ways made it a protest against the police. Even calling a friend of mine whom is trans who organized the alternate march that didn't start at the police station a hypocrite because, she was friendly towards some of the people who did start there.

In addition to this a banner drop was made off the highway by the police station, by some cis activists. The banner said "remember stonewall". I'm not sure that they realized the irony of remembering an event that was started primarily by black and latina trans women and resulted in a movement coopted by primarily gays and lesbians whom left trans people behind.

Another incident that has prompted this post was yesterday at one of the Captial Pride events a cis queer community organizer whom I usually like, used the word tranny at a podium in front of a crowd of mostly straight cis people. Now I from time to time refer to myself as a tranny and, at times am okay with very close friends of mine using it. However, it is along the same lines as the 'n' word for the black community. Why did that not provoke condemation while if someone said 'faggot' or the 'n' word it most likely would have?

The cis queer community very much needs to learn proper solidarity with the trans community. This is not to say that their aren't cis queers who are amazing supports, but the community as a whole really needs to get it's act together.

Sex Work is Real Work and Feminist

This week while I've been in away in Toronto the Women's Worlds 2011 conference has been going on in Ottawa. This is a major feminist conference where many women come together and discuss the needs and experiences of women. One of the major events that came out of this conference included a solidarity rally for the hundreds of missing Native women to support the Sisters in Spirit campaign. Given these important actions I cannot believe at how appaled I am to hear that sex workers were derided and verbally harassed at the conference.

Sex workers include people of all genders but have disproportionate numbers of cis and trans women. It is uncomprehensible to me women whom call themselves feminist who will then attack and insult the choices (some willing, some out of necessity) of women sex workers. Not all parts of the sex trade are pretty or consentual, but the vast majority is based on a women's choice. Isn't women having the right of choice what feminism is all about or have I somehow missed the true point which includes policing other women?

I am of the opinion that sex work is an important part of our society and should be honoured as a sacred act or at least as a legitimate profession. If you don't like sex work then fine, but the way you reduce it does not include harming other women it includes alleviating conditions of poverty, racism and transphobia that lead some women into sex work out of necessity. To any other feminists out there whom still disagree how would you feel if I took away your choice?

To all the others in Ottawa whom agree I suggest you find a way to support POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa-Gatineau Work Educate & Resist).

EDIT: I would like to add that I was informed that the missing Native women's protest was boycotted by Families of Sisters in Spirit (which was the orignal group I was thinking of). This was due to the fact that only one family member was invited and overall Families of Sisters in Spirit were denied the right to speak. Amnesty and KAIROS joined the boycott as well. So this only proves further marginalization of women's voices at this conference.