All proceeds will be split amongst the following organizations that
empower Caribbean and Black people who self-identify as Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans, or Queer (LGBTQ):
40% J-FLAG (Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals
and Gays)
30% The Pride Centre of
Edmonton
15% iHuman Youth Society
15%
Brown Black & Fierce Collective
We are Black.
We are queer, trans and gender
non-conforming.
We are Edmontonians.
Our race, sexuality, gender, and where we come from are
inseparable parts of our identity. Each aspect of our identity affects
our experience of life.
We enjoy the celebration of blackness and queerness in
Edmonton. We have a stake in any issue concerning blackness or
queerness in Edmonton. Yet we experience a lack of visibility in each
of these communities resulting in isolation from the greater community
and from each other.
The reality of our invisibilty to the greater community, which
is a denial of our existence, was made clear recently.
There has been controversy around the potential for homophobia
at the Edmonton Reggae Festival. Public conversations and decisions on
how to address the issue completely excluded the people most
immediately affected: Caribbean and Black LGBTQ Edmontonians.
We were not afforded time to gather, find out what was
happening and what could happen, strategize for our safety, and speak
with our counterparts, LGBTQ Jamaicans, on how to act in solidarity
with each other.
Black LGBTQ Edmontonians were not approached for our
perspectives in the article by the Gauntlet about
homophobic headliners. We were not consulted in the filing of a
complaint to Edmonton Police's Hate Crimes Unit or the CTV report about that complaint.
We were not directly addressed in Edmonton Reggae Festival's initial response to public concern
around homophobia (please see the positive progress we've made in
our Joint Press Release). We watched
major sponsors and the general public pull their support for the
Edmonton Reggae Festival with no mention of how to safeguard LGBTQ
humans near and far from backlash.
These conversations happened about us, without us.
All of these actions were taken in haste before seeking, asking
and listening to the voices of Black LGBTQ Edmontonians about how to
honour BOTH our blackness and queerness. The public attention and
resulting outrage on all sides has made no mention of what was needed
in the first place: visual, measurable, and lasting support for
Caribbean and Black LGBTQ everywhere.
Those of us in Edmonton who felt most safe to shout began shouting that WE EXIST. We
should be speaking at the center of any conversation that affects us most.
We are finding each other. We are organizing. We have different
backgrounds and opinions but we agree that we need safer spaces to
celebrate our blackness and our queerness.
If you agree with us please support this crowd fund.
If you are a Caribbean and/or Black person who
self-identifies as LGBTQ you know best what supports you need for your
empowerment. Please contact us.
One Love,
Black Queers of Edmonton
blackqueeredmonton@gmail.com
