Community Records strives to create a space and an organization that is open
and affirming to all. Sometimes we fall short of that goal
and our words or actions do not match that ambition. The only thing to do when
we see that one of us has acted in a way that does not reflect positivity is to take
responsibility for our actions, recognize privilege, and try to create communication
and understanding.
After some of that communication and understanding has been established we
have to take action to move forward and hopefully create healing on pain we have
caused. Along with that healing we must try to spread information on how to help
others to not create similar pain. Growth, understanding, communication, education,
and action are all key for creating the kind of D.I.Y. community we want. It’s also
important that we continuously strive to create these alternative communities while
living in a transphobic world.
Community Records would like to take this opportunity to re-affirm that transphobic
language is never acceptable.
It is important for cisgender people (non transgender people) to recognize their
privilege, strive for greater understanding of transgender issues, challenge ourselves
and others on our assumptions, find ways to support the creation of safer spaces,
and use affirming language that recognizes gender diversity. This is the only way to
create healing and support for transgender people and transgender allies. Creating
this type of support and healing is one of the many aspirations of Community
Records.
Here, if you are a cisgender person, and you feel uninformed on transgender issues
we are encouraging you to take some time and do some research, and we would
like to help 🙂
First, for free, we will mail you a copy of “Trans Talk – how to be a more effective
ally (and other stuff you should know and probably don’t)” zine along with some
subsequent literature on appropriate transgender language. We have made 50
copies of this zine with the additional literature, and we will mail you one simply
by e-mailing us at community records(at)gmail.com and sending us your mailing
address. We will also have copies of this available at our Community Records merch
table. You can also download the zine right HERE.
Second, here are some links with relevant information that you can read, right
now.
Language – Words that are transphobic and why: http://queertyprodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2011/11/transphobic_th1.jpg
(this is a simple graphic that navigates transphobic language)
Transwhat? – A guide towards allyship.
Here you will find some basic information on learning how to be a transgender Ally
http://transwhat.org/
Not Your Mom’s Trans 101 by Asher – Want to dig a bit deeper?
This is a wellwritten perspective that is a bit more radical and in-depth than the two links
above: http://tranarchism.com/2010/11/26/not-your-moms-trans-101/
Third, we are hosting a workshop at Hey ! Cafe (4332 Magazine Street – New
Orleans, LA) on Thursday October 24th that will be an educational event on
transgender issues and ways to create safer spaces and language.
It will be co-produced with our friend Wes.
He works closely with the New Orleans non-profit BreakOUT!.
BreakOUT is an organization centered on ending the criminalization
of LGBTQ youth in New Orleans. This event we are co-hosting will be a benefit for
BreakOUT!, is open to the public and we encourage any one who wishes to
learn more, speak up, or be in a safer space with other like minded people to please attend.
We will be posting an event and more information on this after we have had
some more time to formulate the program,
but please for now, mark your calendars for Thursday October 24th.
We can not pretend that these actions and these words heal every wound that has
been caused by the hurtful language. We also can not pretend that this is the end
of this. We want to talk further on these issues and hear what you have to say.
Please reach out to us via e-mail (community records(at)gmail.com) if you have any
questions, thoughts, or ideas on how to do better or what to do in the future. And
please… if you can, join us on Thursday October 24th at Hey Cafe or talk to us at a
show. We apologize for any pain that we have caused and we can only hope to learn
more and do better. It is progress, not perfection that we seek. Thank you for your
time and your support.
Take care friends and be good to one another. Peace always.
-Greg, D-Ray, and the Community Records Crew
