The International Queer Solidarity Network calls for a European mobilization, with support from the United States, that will stand in solidarity with Queer Bulgaria. On June 28th 2008, neo-Nazi groups aggressively attacked the first LGBTQ Pride march in Sofia, Bulgaria. A week before the march, the Bulgarian National Alliance, the most visible nationalist organization in the country, called for a “week of intolerance.” The BNA strongly encouraged nationalistic groups to organize themselves against the right of the queer community in Bulgaria to peacefully march, which resulted in loosely organized violence during the festivities.

BNA members and other neo-Nazis threw molotov cocktails and small explosives at the participants of the Pride march. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, more than eighty skinheads, including Boyan Rasate (head of the BNA) were arrested for their attempted harm and direct violence toward pride participants. This year neo-Nazi groups are once again organizing themselves against the march and Bulgarian queers’ ability to defend their human rights. The Bulgarian government not only tolerates but also encourages such attitudes. Two of the parties in the Parliament of Bulgaria are nationalistic and one of them, Ataka, called for “the men to beat up the gays.”

In addition, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria and head of the “socialist” party, Sergei Stanishev, subtly, through hidden sparks of hatred, said that he did not like the “manifestation and demonstration of such orientations.” Even though the rights of LGBTQ people in Bulgaria are protected by the constitution, this is yet more empty rhetoric in the hands of the powerful. The queer community refuses to give up its rights to a free assembly. There will be another Pride march on the 27th of June 2009. Let’s unite and stand together against the homophobic and transphobic state of Bulgaria and growing neo-Nazism in Europe.

The International Queer Solidarity Network calls for a European mobilization, with support from the United States, that will stand in solidarity with Queer Bulgaria. For more information on how you can help you can contact: iqsn@riseup.net or sofiagaypride2009@gmail.com If you cannot attend the Pride, visit www.iqsn.org for more information on how you can help.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6oz3yeW5yo

e-mail: iqsn@riseup.net

A Talk by Jeff Mackler

The bankers would have us believe that there is only one way out of this economic crisis: use working peoples’ tax dollars to bail out the speculators. Socialists think that there is a more rational and just solution. And that working people have the power to make it happen.

Wednesday May 13, 7 p.m.
La Paloma Sabanera Coffeehouse
405 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106
For more information: Sean at 860 357 8724

Jeff Mackler biography:
Mackler has written and lectured widely from a socialist perspective. His numerous books, pamphlets and articles cover a range of subjects including revolutionary developments in Latin America, the Cuban Revolution, Marxist analyses of the unfolding world economic meltdown, global warming/climate crisis, health care, trade union struggles and the fight to build the U.S. antiwar movement. Mackler is the National Secretary of Socialist Action and was his party’s 2006 candidate for the U.S. Senate in California.

 Listening to a report by the Center for Social Inclusion on DemocracyNow! brought the following quote to mind:

and i am not referring to marriage equality.  this saying arose out of maya wiley’s words during the interview.

Following are from the Groundswell Community Mural Project

[Read more →]

Dear Friends
Below is an excellent Radical Women column about women’s rights in Nicaragua that ran in the Freedom Socialist newspaper. We owe many thanks to the Freedom Socialist for their continuous coverage of liberation struggles in the U.S. and around the world. You can read other articles and subscribe to the newspaper online.

In solidarity,
Anne Slater
Radical Women

Freedom Socialist • Vol. 30, No. 1 • February-March 2009

RADICAL WOMEN

The government war on women’s rights in Nicaragua
Feminists stand up against anti-abortion crusade and Daniel Ortega’s rightward turn

By Laura Mannen

On Nov. 25, 2008, police blocked 400 women’s rights activists from marching in Managua’s annual commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This shocking action came at the behest of Daniel Ortega, former revolutionary leader and current Nicaraguan president, in a bid to silence opponents of his harsh anti-abortion policies. [Read more →]

Please Sign the Letter

First, let us begin by saying thank you. Thank you for demonstrating to and for African people and the world the courage and conviction that must be had to be self-determining in the face of insurmountable odds. Odds that would have crushed others with any less will to be free.

The road you chose for national liberation, which was carved through your first and second Chimurengas (armed liberation wars), cut an enduring path for us all to follow.

At this moment in time, when all the enemies of Africa have attempted to circle their wagons around you and crush your right to land and sovereignty, your leadership and the veterans of your struggle have rallied you to unite.

[Continued at Two Good Hands or at Open Letter]

This was fwd’d to me on the listserv What Queer. Good Read- Thanks Graham!!

http://www.anarchistnews.org/?q=node/6297

“Queer(y)ing Anarchism”

Of course an Anarchist Conference is said to be what the people attending make it; yes this is fundamental to Anarchism. And while no conference, convention, meeting, discussion, book, or bachelor and spinsters ball that the Anarchist movement produces can cover everything, it must in principle be open and respectful of all the differing complex aspects of the people dedicated and caring enough to come (despite the well-founded warnings of their friends too fed up these days to attend.) It must reflect those peoples lives and the struggles for justice, freedom, fun, and fruit loops (organic and homemade though they be!) that they bring with them to inform why it is they seek a vision of freedom that Anarchism might almost provide. BUT people are people and certain people are the same people making the same nauseating noises wherever you go, and so this Anarchist conference has finally turned this writer into an Anasarcasticist of Anarcaustic proportions and thus {having been} asked most earnestly over and over to put pen to paper I instead snuck into someone’s office and stole the following which I now reproduce in the interests of `free thought’:
OFFICE COPY
VISIONS OF FREEDOM CONFERENCE 95
REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDANCE
Appendix: page 307 , Category Z : QUEERS. BEFORE PROCEEDING: [Read more →]

Residents from Hartford and suburbia will participate in this venture lasting until 11: 30am.  Minister Cornell Lewis and Reverend Patrice Smith are coordinating this event.  For two months a small band of diverse people have fed the community. Over 300 bags of groceries were given out. Now sandwiches etc are going to hungry people in these tough economic times.

JOIN WITH US IN HELPING RESPOND TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S CLARION CALL FOR DUTY AND SACRIFICE IN WHATEVER AREA WE ARE AT.

CONTACT>>> cornell lewis 525-5463

March on the Pentagon

Saturday, March 21, 2009

On the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War

From Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine,

Occupation is a Crime

We Need Jobs & Education - Not Wars & Occupation

[Read more →]

From the NYC Bailout the People Movement

Realizing the Fightback - Some Perspective and Plans ~ Download PDF

The following was adopted at the Jan. 17 Fightback Conference in NYC. It is a work in progress.

In many ways, the U.S.-financed genocidal siege of Gaza that many of us have been demonstrating against in recent weeks is a harbinger of the widening war against the workers and oppressed peoples of the planet that is sure to intensify this year. In 2009, more and more lives are going to be devastated by the biggest global economic crisis since the depression of the 1930s.

This crisis is the challenge of a lifetime for those of us who have made a commitment to fighting for the rights of people. What we do or fail to do will prove decisive in the coming battle over whose interests in society shall prevail. [Read more →]

Sit-In Strikers from

Republic Windows & Doors in Chicago

Monday, February 2 

9:00 - 10:30 am
Press Conference and “Meet and Greet”
Legislative Office Building
210 Capital Ave., Hartford (room to be announced)

6:30 - 8:00 pm
Labor/Community Forum
First and Summerfield United Methodist Church
College St. (Corner of College and Elm), New Haven

Click to download Flyer

 In December, 260 workers at Chicago’s Republic Windows & Doors factory occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice. Jobs with Justice coalitions along with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country mobilized in support of these courageous members of UE Local 1110, helping them win a settlement from Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and compensation for unpaid earnings. [Read more →]

From our comrades Radical Women

Happy anniversary of Roe v. Wade! January 22 marks the 36th anniversary of the historic 1973 Supreme Court decision wiping out all U.S. laws criminalizing abortions. Since then, the ultra-right has worked to undermine the verdict and 2008 was no exception. The past year brought a slew of anti-abortion initiatives to voters. In California, Proposition 4 attempted to require parental notification for teens seeking abortions. In South Dakota, Measure 11 sought to outlaw most abortions and in Colorado, Measure 48 tried to legally define a fertilized egg as a human being. Fortunately, all of these efforts were overwhelmingly defeated. Radical Women (RW) celebrates these important victories!

State ballot initiatives are part of a larger reactionary and misogynist movement whose goal is nothing less than a complete ban on abortions, contraceptives and sex education. For example, the U.S. government’s global gag rule is still in effect, which denies U.S. aid to health centers in other countries if they offer or educate about abortion. Pharmacists can refuse to fill birth control prescriptions or sell over-the-counter drugs for “moral” reasons. Each year clinics stop performing abortions because health insurance or public money won’t pay for the procedure or practitioners fear being murdered. [Read more →]

Celebrate this Saturday, January 24^th as the Hartford Independent Media Collective (HIMC, formerly Hartford Independent Media Center) unleashes their new website upon Hartford and the world!

For a sneak peek visit http://hartfordimc.org/. The evening will feature special guest DJs and delicious drinks and hors d’ouvres. $10 suggested donation; nobody turned away for lack of funds.

Saturday, January 24, 2009
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT

March & Vigil to Rep. John Larson’s Hartford Office.
Friday, January 16, 2009

3 PM
Gather at Federal Building
450 Main Street
Bring Signs, Props, Photos of the Israeli Massacre of Gaza.

March and Process to Rep. Larson’s Office
221 Main Street
2nd Floor

• Deliver Open Letter to CT’s Congressional Delegation (currently in process)
• Set up meeting with Rep. Larson

We Refuse to Be Enemies is calling for a mass nonviolent protest march and vigil from the federal building in Hartford to Rep. John Larson’s office on Friday, 1/16 from 3-4PM.

Larson was the house co-sponsor of the “AIPAC Resolution” passed Jan. 9 that blames Hamas and justifies the Israeli govt for the Massacre in Gaza.

When our entire Congressional Delegation co-signs the Massacre, we must refuse to be silent, we must refuse to allow this heinous propaganda to go unanswered.

Sponsored by:
We Refuse to be Enemies

Co-Sponsored by:
Middle East Crisis Committee
Council on American Islamic Relations -CT
Islamic Center of New London
ANSWER CT
Socialist Action
Queers Without Borders
People of Faith CT

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=44646493349

Other co-sponsors in formation.
[Read more →]

FUNERAL PROCESSION AND SOLIDARITY RALLY for Athens, Gaza, and against all state violence.
Wear funeral garb. Bring coffins, flowers, or just your beautiful selves. (Or possibly stuffed animals that you may be willing to part from.)

We will meet FRIDAY, JANUARY 9TH (note, changed from original date posted) at NOON at BURNSIDE PARK. We will march to various different sites of state violence and the military-industrial complex in a show of solidarity and in memory of those whose lives have been lost. From the streets of Athens to the war in Gaza, we stand in solidarity with all victims of state violence— at home and abroad.

Called for by What Queer?! Providence’s radical queer collective.

Solidarity,
~ What Queer?!