PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Queering Pride
by marie Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2004 at 10:25 AM

A pink bloc inserts a radical queer presence into Pridefest this year raising issues of peace and social justice.

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Members of the Thomas Merton Center (TMC), RESYST, the Anti-War Committee, Code Pink Women for Peace, Pittsburgh Organizing (POG) group and others marched in a Pink Bloc in the Gay Pridefest parade.

The theme for 2004 PrideFest was Stand Up, Stand Proud, Stand Together! Marchers asserted that “Standing Together” means including all queers and allies, especially those most marginalized, even among progressive movements.

The TMC call stated: All who see the interconnectedness of oppressions and struggles and who wish to ensure that a radical queer perspective is heard in ongoing social movements must join together. We will not allow our movement to be divided based on class, race, nation of origin, language, perceived or chosen gender, sexuality, income, size, perceived "ability", age, etc. There will be radical queerleaders, chanting, drumming and festive displays of love, peace and anarchy!...RESYST is a radical queer group, working to radicalize the queer movement and queerize the radical movement. We see the need for queers to be intimately involved in the anti-war, anti-racist, anti-sexist, and class war movements. While many strands exist, there is one struggle for liberation, that of humanity against all those who seek to exploit, oppress, restrict and restrain for their personal power and gain the freedom of others, and it is as a part of this liberation movement that we fight. It is of the utmost importance that we work on a grassroots level and remain in touch and contact with the everyday lives of people both inside and outside the struggle. We feel that no group should be the scapegoat for the government’s racism, bigotry, or capitalistic greed, and by organizing a Queer Resistance we can speak to so many people by sharing our historic liberation.

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marching
by marie Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2004 at 10:25 AM

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marching
by marie Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2004 at 10:25 AM

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Women of Code Pink say "Pull Out!"
The Anti-war committee also did a street theatre performance calling attention to torture and war, before marching with the bloc.

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grannies
by marie Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2004 at 10:25 AM

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The Raging Grannies performed at the fest. Among the hits: "These are a few of my favorite questions" in which the grannies question gender norms and humorously discuss their sexual preferences.

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speaking
by marie Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2004 at 10:25 AM

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Grace talks about the connections between homelessness, police brutality, and trans issues.

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