Ode to Joy
Connection to community brings unity and joy. It fuels us to keep fighting for trans rights, for Palestinian liberation, for freedom from patriarchy, for ecosystem survival, for safety.
It seems wrong to seek beauty while we bear witness to genocide. Paralysed by overwhelming feelings of helplessness, we try to find ways to help. We stand by our Muslim friends. We take to the streets, share instagram stories, gather to protest, sell cakes to raise money to send to kitchens in Gaza, send sim cards. We watch in horror as Zionist powers exert their control across the globe.
To protect our sense of hope, we tell our children to focus on the helpers. To protect their sense of wonder, we conceal harsh truths from them. We shield their eyes from the images of devastation shared daily in real time. But we adults, we have a responsibility to look and take stock and find ways to process the indigestable.
When queers gather we form pockets of resistance. Communities founded in deep personal acceptance form sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are lighthouses that illuminate the many ways zionism, colonization, capitalism, patriarchy, religion, transphobia, and rising right-wing forces are all connected. We gain the perspective of the outsider.
Leave your troubles outside!
So - life is disappointing? Forget it!
We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful...
The girls are beautiful...
Even the orchestra is beautiful!
It is time to gather and share personal stories of reverence and love. Time to gather and talk and dance and make music and walk and make sure we stay connected to our soft bellies and strident strong thighs. Time to put down our screens and face each other in the flesh. Time to listen and heal and learn.
Start by admitting
From cradle to tomb
It isn't that long a stay.
Connection to community brings unity and joy. It fuels us to keep fighting for trans rights, for Palestinian liberation, for freedom from patriarchy, for the natural world , for safety.
In the era of HIV AIDS, when pages of obituaries filled the local gay papers and we attended funerals every weekend, Sydney’s gay community flocked to massive parties to dance out our communal grief. We played our violins on the deck of the titanic as it sank in a commitment to artistic expression that was very queer. There was a dedication in our dance steps. We refuted the mainstream blame and shame by making love, wild passionate love.
Outside it is winter. But in here it's so hot.
Every night we have to battle with the girls to keep
them from taking off all their clothings. So don't go
away. Who knows? Tonight we may lose the battle!
During the Nazi occupation of Paris, gay flaneurs were known to walk the streets dressed in their campest fiery - crevats and satin trousers, coiffed hair and perfume. To protect themselves from falling dust and bits of brick from bombed out buildings they carried silk umbrellas. Despite condemnation as sissies by bullies, the dandy is determined simply to exist in spite of all the catastrophe that surrounds us. We need to embrace our inner dandies and stroll the streets in defiance, for we get to live.
We need to seek beauty and create art and nourish our communities. Looking back I now understand that the very actions that felt and looked hedonistic helped us create the space to develop core ideals and nourish our strengths. Blessed by drag queens, kissed by dykes and sashayed by leather men, I gained the strength to survive incredible losses. Revelling in queer beauty was what saved me.
Today I look for the helpers and find many in queer communities. In gentle, beautiful protest, my friend Mayhem treks their weary body to display their activist crochet banner that reads STOP THE CRUELTY - NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE at the Palestinian Rally in the city each Sunday.
Creative activism, with its foundations in feminist nuclear disarmament protests at Pine Gap in the 1980s, and ACTUP in the 1990s has matured in the new millenia. Updated with contemporary principles of radical care, organised strategic community groups such as the Rainbow Community Angels have formed to protect marginalised LGBTQI+ individuals.
The Rainbow Community Angels also take part in peaceful actions to support community safety at inclusive events like Drag Storytime at local libraries. They work to create accessible, affirming and safer spaces for people of all ages and abilities to attend training and participate in actions.
People can participate in a range of ways:
Some wear magnificent rainbow angel wings, shielding attendees entering the event from seeing any hostile protesters who are present.
Some act as marshals, assisting with communication and safety for Rainbow Community Angels, event staff and participants.
Some liaise as needed with media, event organisers, performers, security, police and others.
Sometimes community call outs are promoted via Facebook, especially when events are under threat and they need more people to build a beautiful rainbow gathering.
The group in Naarm are currently running training sessions in response to right wing threats to queer kids who want to attend the Minus 18 Queer Formal. You can volunteer to be an Angel: register your interest to attend a training session or ask to host one where you live or work.
Follow and share their posts on facebook and instagram
Share your skills and expertise: talk to media, police liaison, sewing and crafting, accessibility planning, training delivery and donate to help them print t-shirts, maintain the wings, share resources with Angels.
I still love to churn up a gay dance floor. I consciously seek beauty and am committed to optimism. Nowadays I have also turned my attention to storytelling. I share tales of joy and pride about my young queer activism and now create spaces that give fellow queers a microphone and encouragement to share their stories. We are hungry to hear stories that serve to give us a sense of our collective queer feminist history. Let’s gather to create pockets of freedom through authentic expression. Come hear the music play. Share your story. Dance. Listen. Connect.
Lyrics from Cabaret
Songwriters: John Kander / Fred Ebb
Cabaret lyrics © Trio Music Company, Alley Music Corp., Times Square Music Publications Company, Trio Music Company Inc., Trio Music Co., Inc.
Rainbow Community Angels
https://www.rainbowcommunityangels.org.au
Another great read with celebratory passion. Thanks Lisa, you’ve lifted my weary spirits as I’m a serial post er person, reposting, creating & ensuring content doesn’t fade…… May many Palestinians know we love & care about them. ⬜️🖤✅♥️⬜️🖤✅♥️
Wonderful Lisa. Unity and Joy! Unity and Joy!
"Let’s gather to create pockets of freedom through authentic expression. Come hear the music play. Share your story. Dance. Listen. Connect."
Love this!