RACISM AT 
THE 
TRANSMISSION 
FESTIVAL


An Introduction

I have compiled the following email correspondence in an effort to fully illuminate the 
organizational process behind the anti-racism for white folks workshop at the 
TransMission festival. What follows is a transcription of all emails shared between the 
organizers of the TransMission festival and my community of friends/activists. To be 
absolutely clear, I was not aware that this workshop had been pushed out of the festival 
until one week prior to the workshop. This compilation is not intended to point fingers in 
a non-productive way.  It is my hope that it will be useful as an organizational tool-- in 
order to prevent all-white, racist organizing at future events. Thanks are due to qwo-li, 
billie, basil, jenn, louis, samonte, and joshua for their energy, the use of their letters of 
resistance, support throughout the process, helping with zine layout and copies, and 
giving me a place to warm my little toes. Thanks y'all. 

Colin Kennedy Donovan































Tuesday February 10, 2004

Greetings all please forward and get the word out!

queerly
captain

Call for Submissions and Volunteers

Have you ever been part of a trans community event? Ever wanted to do comics, make 
film, write, produce art or lead a discussion, workshop or activity? The first annual Trans 
Mission Festival is looking for trans-directed talent, creativity and enthusiasm! The 
Festival will take place in May 2004 in Victoria, BC and will include art, workshops, a 
sex party, sports/fun activities, and a BBQ, among other things! For more info, or to get 
involved, please contact TransMissionFestival@hotmail.com.

From: Qwo-Li Driskill 
To: TransMissionFestival@hotmail.com 
Subject: Interested in facilitating and performing 
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 20:11:07 -0500 

'siyo/hi y'all, 
I'm interested in performing my work and also in facilitating a workshop for the Trans 
Mission Festival and would love to be in touch with folks about what I need to do that. 
Wa'do/Thanks! 
Dodadagohv'i, 

Qwo-Li Driskill

Quoting TransMission Festival: 

Qwo-Li, 

Welcome and thank you for your interest in TransMission! Basically, right now we're 
looking for people to send us their ideas and suggestions about what they'd like to do. At 
this point, we're building the schedule, so we're very open to a variety of formats. Your 
website looks great - it looks like a lot of what you do would fit in really well. What were 
you thinking of? Can you send more info about what kind of performance you would like 
to do, what kind of space you would need/want to do it in/at, how long it would take, and 
what kind of workshop you would like to facilitate? 
Thanks again, 
Nick 
TransMission


From: Qwo-Li Driskill 
To: TransMission Festival 
Subject: RE: Interested in facilitating and performing 
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 19:07:27 -0500 

siyo Nick, 

I'd love to have a workshop that was specifically for Trans/Two-Spirit/Genderqueer
identified First Nations/Native/Metis/Inuit folks, and would love to have a slot that's 
about 3 hours long for that. 
As far as a performance, I'd like to read my poetry. Perhaps if there is an evening of 
performers, I could have about 15 minutes to read, and have space to sell my 
zines/chapbooks afterwards. 
Take Care! 
Donadaghohv'i, 
Qwo-Li

Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 07:11:38
From: TransMission Festival 
Subject: RE: Interested in facilitating and performing 
To: qwo-li 

Hi Qwo-Li 

Your ideas sound great. I think the workshops would probably slotted in shorter time 
chunks than 3 hours, but I'll let the group know about your ideas and I'll get back to you 
about the next steps. I imagine we'll want a more detailed description of the workshop, 
and just off the top of my head I'm wondering if we would have enough First Nations 
people attending for your workshop to take off - how many people would you like to see 
to make it a success in your mind? 
Thanks again for your interest. Our next meeting is on the 21st, so I should get back to 
you shortly after that. 
Cheers, 
Nick
TransMissionFestival

Tues, February 17, 2004

'siyo Nick, 

I'd love to check in with you more about this.  I have some reservations and concerns 
with attending/performing/facilitating an event which --even in its planning stages--
organizers are saying that there may not be enough First Nations folks to have a 
workshop.  Are First Nations folks a part of the organizing committee?  If not, why?  If 
there are, are they an integral aspect of the organizing, or being used as tokens?  Are 
there other folks of color/non-white folks on the organizing committee?  What are the 
answers to the questions above in regards to other folks of color?  Do people involved, 
white or not, have a sincere commitment to anti-racist organizing, and if so, why not 
refocus this event to have true anti-racist values so that the thought of there not being 
enough First Nations folks or other folks of color to conduct a workshop is out of the 
question?  I'm reminded of the words of Menominee Two-Spirit poet Chrystos, "Maybe 
we shouldn't meet if there are no third world women here."  

These are important, serious questions, and complex questions.  I really would love to 
perform and facilitate at this event, but feel like too often events like this do not have at 
their core anti-racist values, putting folks of color/non-white folks into painful, 
dangerous, and toxic situations.    I think that any work that we do in trans and 
genderqueer communities, just like the work we do in our other communities, must have 
an integrated approach to social justice.  As a First Nations, multiracial, trans/two-
spirit/queer, physically and psychologically (dis)abled, poor person, I too often see within 
our struggles for social justice a replication of the very systems we are trying to 
dismantle.  

What does it mean that an event for Trans folks is expecting there to be a small turn out 
of First Nations folks or other folks of color?  What does it mean to be creating a 
movement of non-Native / non-folk of color Trans movement?  This is terribly intense 
and painful to me. First Nations people are the first "trans" and "genderqueer" folks in the 
Americas.   I'm reminded of the words of another poet, Lora Dee Cervantes 
(Mexican/Chumash):  "Every day I am deluged with reminders / that this is not / my 
land// and this is my land." 
 
Nick, we are relations.  In the spirit of being relatives and siblings in a struggle against 
powers that hunger for our rapid and complete demise, I'm hoping that these issues are 
addressed right away for the Trans Mission festival.  I would love to discuss these issues 
with you more either on the phone (my number is ---------) or via email.  

I'm cc'ing this email to friends of mine who are also concerned with these issues, some of 
whom I've recommended contacting you about this festival to perform and/or facilitate. 
 I'm including them in order to make sure it's clear that this letter and the Trans Mission 
Festival is woven into the struggles and oppressions of entire communities, to call for 
accountability from all organizers of the Trans Mission Festival to ensure organizing an 
anti-racist (and otherwise anti-oppressive) event, and also to celebrate that I have the 
good fortune of being a part of a beautiful network of radical genderqueer/ trans/ queer 
folks of color and First Nations, anti-racist community.  

In struggle, joy, and in the spirit of collaborative resistance, 

Qwo-Li Driskill  

From: Qwo-Li Driskill 
To: colin, billie, basil, arlo, tsigeyu, louis, jenn 
Subject: Fwd: RE: Concerns with Trans Mission
Festival Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 14:10:07 -0500 

'siyo folks, Thought y'all might be interested in the response here, which remarkably 
doesn't address anything I said and doesn't answer the questions I had, but just reiterates 
that they aren't really wanting to organize in a way that will mean that there will be a 
turn-out of Native folks and other folks of color. That's what I feel is going on, anyway. 
What do y'all think? 
Dodadagohv'i, 
Qwo-Li

_ ----- Forwarded message from TransMission Festival ----- 

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 03:30:25 +0000 
From: TransMission Festival 
Reply-To: TransMission Festival 
Subject: RE: Concerns with Trans Mission Festival 
To: qwo-li 

Hi Qwo-Li, I appreciate the time you took to communicate your thoughts and concerns. I 
will definately bring your email forward to the organizing group and we will discuss the 
issues you raise at our next meeting. As I said in the previous email, my concern was 
about numbers - the concerns you raise are much more broad and of course very 
important - the why's and how's of the numbers playing out. It would be
fantastic if we could attract and be accessible to enough two-spirited people to make a 
workshop feasible. That's why I asked how many people you would consider necessary 
for a successful workshop. Out of respect for your time and efforts, I wanted to make sure 
that we could ensure that we didn't have you facilitating to an almost empty room. That 
would obviously be a disaster.I just needed to know what your expectations were as a 
facilitator so that I could work towards fulfilling them. I also think we were pretty clear 
as a group that because this isn't a conference and because our resources are limited, it is 
not our intention to offer workshops on every topic and have a specific slot for every type 
of diversity that exists in our community. That would be completely impossible. 
So my impression of that was that workshops would generally by open to all who
attended - but your original idea was that yours would only be for two-spirited people (if 
I understood you correctly). On that note, perhaps it would be better to do an anti-racist 
workshop or something in that vein. I'm just trying to work with you to understand how 
you can best be appreciated as a gracious facilitator/volunteer/member of the community. 
I want to assure you that I am personally committed to anti-racist politics, and that at the 
same time I am trying to organize a lot of logistics in the best possible way- with 
attention to the fact that this does not just mean pleasing the majority/privileged folks. 
Thanks again for your email. I hope that I've alleviated some of your concerns. I'm happy 
to continue this discussion and will let you know about the results of the group 
discussion. Please do be aware that I'm only speaking from my own perspective at this 
point. 
Thanks, 
Nick
TransMissionFestival 

PS Thanks for spreading the word about the festival - the more people that come the 
better!

Forwarded message from TransMission Festival <transmissionfestival@hotmail.com> 
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 16:22:27 +0000
 Subject: update after the last meeting
To: qwo-li

Hi Qwo-Li

I wanted to email you back and let you know the update from our last meeting, as I said I 
would.  I also just sent you the minutes from the meeting so you could get a sense of 
where we're at in the organizing stage.  I brought up your concerns, and we started to 
have a really big discussion about the many important issues being raised and how we 
would deal with them- and we quickly realized that we're really at the begining stages of 
a small, local event (thus far) and didn't have any easy answers.  But we wanted to 
address all these things you brought up, so we decided that they needed to be dealt with at 
a committee level.  That may sounds like we deferred it to later, which we did, in a way, 
but I wanted you to know that we've got it in the fore-front of our minds, and that we're 
working on it.  The big question was generally whether we had the resources to attract 
people to specific workshops (we're really only 4 core organizers).  But everyone had a 
unique take on the details of how it would work.

Needless to say, we want to encourage you to come & to be involved, and to make 
suggestions/help where possible and where you have ideas.  Can you remind me again 
where (geographically) you'd be coming from?  One of the things that we might be 
shifting towards slightly is focusing the workshops on "hands on" or "do-it-yourself" kind 
of things, and especially around art and creativity, as that was one of the key things about 
the festival.  Most people were pretty clear that we want a "festival" atmosphere rather 
than a "workshop" one.

Hope that helps alleviate some of your concerns.  I'll look forward to hearing back from 
you,

Nick
TransMissionFestival

Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 01:29:07 +0000
From: TransMission Festival <transmissionfestival@hotmail.com> 
 Subject: Online Registration has begun for Trans Mission Festival!

Hey!  Are you planning to come to Victoria's First ever Trans Mission Festival?  We 
hope you're as excited about it as we are.  The Festival is shaping into a phenomenal 
event, and things are coming together in leaps and bounds.  We have some amazing 
workshops, performances, events and art lined up for you... but we need to know who's 
coming!

Space is limited, so be sure to register now.  You can do it online at 
www.transmissionfestival.com.  Just click "registration" from the main menu, and go to 
the online form.  Some venues are smaller than others, and we may have to turn people 
away from certain events, so don't delay - save your spot today!

Even if you're a local, don't be disapointed by putting it off.  The sooner we know you're 
coming, the better we can plan for your arrival - we hope you're looking forward to it as 
much as we are!  For more info on the festival, check out our website 
(www.transmissionfestival.com) or contact the organizers by replying to this message. 
Please forward this message widely - we don't want anyone to miss out.  See you soon!

Nick Matte
Trans Mission Festival
General Organizing Committee Member


Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 04:52:49 +0000
From: Louis 
 Subject: RE: Online Registration has begun for Trans Mission Festival!
 
hi nick,

i wrote to you awhile ago asking you for more information about the festival as i was 
thinking that i might want to do a workshop. i am writing this time to let you know that i 
am not interested in being involved with the festival anymore. i want to give you some 
feedback and my hope is that you can take it in with care and share this with the rest of 
the committee.

i am aware that my good friend qwo-li driskill has been writing back and forth with you 
about doing a two-spirit workshop at the festival. si has shared some of this 
correspondance with me and we have discussed it in person. qwo-li is a dear friend of 
mine. i am also a two-spirit person. there are many of us folks, both native and non-
native, who feel that your festival won't be open to us and that is the true reason why 
there may be gross underrepresentation of native folks at your event. no offense, but your 
committee sounds very white, at the most, and not challenging the long-term effects of 
colonizing through your organizing, at the least. after reading through the emails that i 
received that were sent back and forth between you and qwo-li, i realized that many of 
the important points that qwo-li brought up were not addressed by you. i would suggest 
that you read through hir's letters again, mainly because they are brilliantly written letters. 
you say that the committee is committed to anti-racist organizing, but you failed to 
actually take in the many pertinent issues that qwo-li so bravely brought to your attention. 
is this what being an anti-racism ally means to you? i'm being serious here.

the main point that qwo-li addressed and i want to ask you about again (because i think it 
is a crucial one): why are there no first nation's people sitting at your organizing table?

i guess that is all i got to say about this right now. i'm not really interested in having a big 
old discussion over email about this, i just wanted to step up and back the brilliant 
resistance that qwo-li embodies in all of hir interactions. maybe you could let me know if 
this email was shared with your committee. and it is important for me to stress that i 
won't be able to support this event you're putting on because of the lack of support you 
have shown for us two-spirit folks (whether it is a conference with political/artistic 
workshops or simply a festival without a so-called political bend), and i won't be asking 
my non-native friends to support you either.

in resistance,
louis

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 07:36:17 +0000
From: TransMission Festival <transmissionfestival@hotmail.com> 
Subject: RE: Online Registration has begun for Trans Mission Festival!
To: louis

Hi Louis

Thanks for taking the time to write to the Festival and express your concerns.  It's very 
unfortunate that you won't be coming to the festival or be part of the exciting process 
leading up to it.  I believe you're friends with Captain, one of the main organizers - I 
know he was excited to see that you had been inquiring about it.  Please remember that 
should you change your mind, you're more than welcome to attend, and we'd really love 
to have you participate.

It's very unfortunate that my efforts to work with Qwo-Li were interpretted as they were. 
 I'm really at a loss as to how to respond, simply in that I found the tone of your letter to 
be very  accusatory, rather than constructive or consilliatory, so I'm not sure what kind of 
a response you're looking for.  I want you to know that our committee is very committed 
to a racism-free space as well as recognition of the damage of colonialisms, both past and 
present, and we are in complete solidarity with all anti-oppression work.  We recognize 
that this has many layers, some of which can be very difficult for all those involved, but 
we hope to work through these challenges to the benefit of all.

The main reason why I had raised concerns with Qwo-Li about hir workshop proposal 
was because the idea itself was excellent, but it didn't fit within the format of the festival 
(which is "hands on", skills-based, and celebratory.)  However, because hir potential 
contribution seemed so valuable, I was trying to sort out a way to encorporate it.  Perhaps 
that was unclear.  I know that the question I raised about whether there would be enough 
first nations/two-spirited people to make hir workshop worthwhile became the focus of 
the correspondence, and I apologize for asking a question that could have been read in the 
way that it finally was.  That was insensitive on my part.  My main concern in asking it 
really was that our festival is small, our space is very limited, and we hadn't considered 
having "closed" workshops - so I wanted to discuss that possibility with hir further.  I was 
open to the possibility that perhaps such a "closed" workshop was necessary and 
important, despite the fact that it would limit the workshop options of festival participants 
who wouldn't be able to attend that workshop.

In any case, you say that you don't want to enter into an email dialogue, which to me 
sounds like you just wanted to have your feedback heard, and I respect that.  I will bring 
your email to our next large group meeting and ensure that your perspective is heard, and 
do know that I have personally listened intently too, as the last thing in the world that I 
want is to exclude anyone from the festival or contribute to an atmosphere that isn't 
welcoming and celebratory.  Also, just for your information, our group has been 
discussing these issues on an ongoing basis, and we are devoting a great deal of time and 
energy to trying to get as many people involved as possible in the organizing, from 
various "social sectors,"  with special attention to those who may experience more 
marginalization within our community.  There is much to do in organizing such a festival, 
and our resources are very limited, but we are doing out best.  It would be very gracious 
of you to recognize these efforts; I hope that you feel that we have likewise listened to 
your comments/criticisms/perspective and responded with the respect they/you deserve.

Thanks again for your help in making the festival better.  It is only by working together 
that we can learn from each other (and by this I don't mean that it's your job to educate us 
- rather that we can actually learn from each other).  The festival is meant to celebrate our 
community, and you are part of it, so I hope we will see you there after all.  Please feel 
free to continue an email dialogue if you change your mind and decide that that's what 
you want to do.

Nick
General Organizing Committee Member

March 31, 2004

Dear Nick, 

My bones ache for a radical multiracial Trans/Genderqueer movement that practices the 
values it espouses.  They groan under the enormous weight of work that must be done in 
the world before this movement is a reality.  First Nations people and other people of 
color/non-white folks have done a massive amount of anti-racist organizing, educating, 
and resisting in the Americas for over 500 years.  Seeing how far we still have to go, even 
within communities that believe they are doing radical work, breaks my heart just a bit 
more.   

I'm frustrated with the response I have received thus far regarding my concerns around 
racism within the Trans Mission Festival.  In my original letter, I asked some very 
specific, direct, non-rhetorical questions that have yet to be answered.  I'm going to ask 
them here again in hopes for a response:  Are First Nations folks a part of the organizing 
committee? If not, why? If there are, are they an integral aspect of the organizing, or 
being used as tokens? Are there other folks of color/non-white folks on the organizing 
committee? What are the answers to the questions above in regards to other folks of 
color? 

The responses I have received from you have felt thin at best, defensive and patronizing 
at worst.  

You wrote, "I want to assure you that I am personally committed to anti-racist politics, 
and that at the same time I am trying to organize a lot of logistics in the best possible way 
with attention to the fact that this does not just mean pleasing the majority/privileged 
folks."   A commitment to anti-racist politics and organizing does not mean those politics 
fly out the widow in the process of negotiating logistics.  I'm not even sure why this 
statement was mentioned in your response, except in defensiveness to my questions 
regarding whether or not the Trans Mission Festival is committed to anti-racism.  If there 
was truly an anti-racist process integral to your organizing process there would be no 
need to state any dichotomy between anti-racist organizing and organizing logistics.
 
You say, "I also think we were pretty clear as a group that because this isn't a conference 
and because our resources are limited, it is not our intention to offer workshops on every 
topic and have a specific slot for every type of diversity that exists in our community. 
That would be completely impossible."  This, again, feels very defensive.  You may call 
your event a festival with workshops and performances, or a conference, or whatever you 
wish.  That does not change the fact that as organizers you distributed a call for 
performers and workshops.  Of course you can't accommodate workshops on "every 
topic and have a specific slot for every type of diversity that exists in our community." 
 Has this actually become an issue?  Have there been workshop proposals on  "every type 
of  diversity that exists in our community?"  Or, are you simply saying that you cannot 
accommodate requests from people of color to work in separate spaces? If this is the case, 
perhaps you should simply make it clear that you are organizing for white people, and 
people of color/non-white folks are welcome to attend the event as long as they are 
willing to participate in events designed for white people.  Further, I'm not sure how 
having limited resources means you cannot engage in anti-racist organizing.  And, if the 
problem is that you only have four core organizers, perhaps you should invite several 
First Nations folks and other folks of color/non-white folks to be a part of the core 
organizing. 

You continue, "On that note, perhaps it would be better to do an anti-racist workshop or 
something in that vein."   Why would I as a First Nations person want to facilitate a 
workshop on anti-racism for white people rather than create spaces for other First Nations 
folks to engage with a process of healing from the invasion of our lands, abuse of our 
children, and attempted eradication of our peoples?   It seems like a very basic pillar of 
anti-racist (or otherwise anti-oppressive) organizing not to expect people you have power 
over to teach you how to be anti-oppressive.  My people, both First Nations and African, 
have been forced to work for white people for far too long.  While my skills as a 
domestic servant are honed from the good tutelage of my sisters, mother, and 
grandmother based on the wonderful educational systems and peculiar institutions of 
European North America, I have no desire to clean up white folks' mess, be that 
scrubbing their toilets or helping them unlearn racism. And, before I challenged you on 
racism within the creation of this event you wrote, "Your website looks great - it looks 
like a lot of what you do would fit in really well."  And yet, this is suddenly no longer the 
case.  

Your response to me after your meeting with the group feels like you are back-peddling 
in order to avoid dealing with issues of racism within your group.  You write, "Most  
people were pretty clear that we want a 'festival' atmosphere rather than a  'workshop' 
one."  I see no reason why these are mutually exclusive, and considering that your call for 
participants included workshops, and your website mentions workshops, it seems strange 
that you are including the disclaimers to me about workshops.  You point out that there 
are only four core organizers, and that you don't have "the resources to attract people to 
specific workshops" which seems like whitespeak for "we won't be able to get people of 
color here because we aren't really engaging in anti-racist organizing."  I want to make 
clear, despite the tone of your letters to me, that my concerns are not isolated or personal. 
 This is not an issue of getting individual people to a workshop, this is about the fact that 
the Trans Mission Festival is engaging in typically white supremacist organizing.   I was 
told that there would probably not be enough First Nations people at the event to have a 
workshop focused on our issues.  You informed me of this early in the organizing.  If 
your intent for workshops was a skills-share, as is now reflected on your website, it 
should have been made clear in your initial call.  (And, on that note, I would argue that 
there are few skills more important to First Nations people and other people of color than 
to find ways to survive the continuing destruction of our peoples and the continuing 
occupations of our homelands.)  If you would like this to be a white only space, which is 
the atmosphere being created, you should simply say that.  If this is not your intention, 
there needs to be a radical restructuring of racial dynamics and a true commitment to 
anti-racist organizing which, quite simply, is not happening.  Your event is still focused 
on white concerns, white aesthetics, and white people.  I will not be attending this event, 
and regardless, my questions and concerns all boil down to this:  you are building a white 
supremacist Trans movement.  Why?  If this is not your intention, then there needs to be 
immediate and radical shifts in your organization, organizing, and event.   

This letter is only the very surface of my concerns about the Trans Mission Festival.  As 
someone with chronic illnesses, I'm not able to put the time and energy into addressing 
them all.  Your most recent letter in response to Louis Cruz is one I could spend another 
several pages addressing.  It was a sadly typical response white folks dole out to people 
of color who challenge them on their racism.  Further, not only am I concerned with the 
racism of this event, but the bike ride, hike, and pool party show no consideration for 
anti-ableist politics, and stating on your website that there will be a sex party without also 
including information on physical and emotional safety not only isolates survivors of 
sexual abuse, but potentially continues conditions in which abuse can be perpetrated.  I 
wish I could address these other concerns thoroughly, but am unable to at this point.

In short, Nick, our actions--not only our theories--create the world.  The actions the Trans 
Mission Festival are currently taking create a world in which First Nations people and 
other people of color are further wounded by a white supremacist world.  I am grateful to 
be a part of communities that can help me suture the wounds that experiences like this 
leave on my body.   

In Struggle,
Qwo-Li Driskill

Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 12:27:11 -0700
From: thecaptain  
 Subject: transmission festival
To: qwo-li

Qwo-li,

I want to respond to you directly as my name has been mentioned in emails and the last 
one was sent to me( but the address was misspelled). I want to thank you for taking the 
time and energy to challenge the group on our racism and racist organizing. As a person 
who deals with chronic mental health and physical issues I have some knowledge of the 
energy this can take.

We as a group and as individuals made some big mistakes in organizing and 
communicating I am sorry for the hurt and frustration this has caused you. It should not 
have happened. I also want to acknowledge my silence up until this point.

I have included in this email my letter to the organizers about no longer participating in 
the festival. I will continue to look at my actions as an organizer and how they perpetuate 
white privilege, racism and hurt.

in love, learning and struggle,
captain

Greetings all,

this is a hard email to write. I have been up all nite feeling sick on many levels. I have 
come to the conclusion that I need to pull out of the festival organizing my reasons are 
two fold.

Firstly, I am not willing to further perpetuate the white organizing that we have been 
engaged in. It became clear to me yesterday that all though we all have good intentions, 
we in writing our response letter we are continually coming from a defensive, justifying 
place no matter what angle we take. I want to own my role in this and not continue it. I do 
not agree with the intital decisions that where made (while I was away) with regards to 
the participation of Qwo-Li. It is my strong recommendation to the group that we STOP 
organizing put the festival off or cancel it this year and instead use the time to examine 
where we fucked up, learning more about anti-racist organizing and ask for help from 
those in our communities who are more skilled.

Secondly, health I have yet again stretched myself too thin. My agoraphobia, panic 
attacks and stomach issues are reaching an scary point. I need to make healing my first 
priority.

It am planning to write my own response to Qwo-li, to take responsibility for my role in 
the hurt and oppression. Let me know how you would like the hand over of info (stuff 
that I have been working on)  to happen. Please feel free to call me to chat about any of 
the above.

In love, learning and struggle,
captain

April 4th, 2004

damn, sugar.

i'm sorry you're going through all this with the trans mission folks. i'm curious to know 
what happened with louis. it's incredibly disappointing that they're doing the same shit 
that's been done for years. i'd be happy to support you in any way i can, and i speak for 
planting seeds as an organization too. i also will not be attending the trans mission 
"festival" and if anyone asks why i will be happy to let them know. this is not an isolated, 
personal incident!

in love, trust and solidarity, billie rain xoxoxo
www.pscap.org

April 6, 2004

We, the organizing committee of the Trans Mission Festival would like to acknowledge 
important concerns that have been brought to our attention in the past couple of weeks. 
 We have been operating without a clear anti-racist lens or policies.  While this was not 
our intention, as an organizing committee of all white people, we failed to take 
responsibility in recognizing our privilege in a racist culture and we have not adequately 
acted upon our responsibility to actively stop the systemic effects of racism in which one 
priviledged group has the power to inadvertently define the whole of the community.  We 
failed to actively recognize our privilege as white people and the restrictions that that 
privilege would place on those who would want to be part of the festival.  As an 
organization, we want to build and celebrate community and we need to be sure that we 
are creating a festival that represents and reflects and inclusive and anti-oppressive 
community.  In this process we have developed a evolving outreach and accessibility plan 
(which can be viewed on our web site - www.transmissionfestival.com) to make 
ourselves accountable to creating such a festival.  We encourage input from the 
community to help us in the ongoing development of this plan.  This has been intense, 
important learning for us.   We'd like to extend our thanks to all who have participated in 
this process and all those who continue to do so.

Trans Mission Festival Organizing Committee

Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 20:59:51 -0400
From: "Colin K. Donovan" <colinkennedy@resystseattle.org> 
Subject: Re: Open Letter to the community regarding racism
To: TransMission Festival <transmissionfestival@hotmail.com>

To the organizers:

I have been following the exchanges between your group and my friends Qwo-Li and 
Louis. I'm writing now because I'm failing to see how this response actually *does* 
anything, other than save face. It's important that you acknowledged your shortcomings 
as an organizing committee to the community, but there is no way for you to actually be 
held accountable to change--I do not even know what your names are, since you signed 
the open letter with "Trans Mission Festival Organizing Committee." As an anti-racist 
white (dis)abled trans person, the terms "outreach" and "accessibility" make me cringe, 
because they imply that the power structure will remain the same--all white, and 
assumedly able-bodied, core organizers---who will try to "get" people of color and 
(dis)abled people to participate and give "input."  Also, I note no real changes in the 
Sunday schedule, which is a (dis)abled person's nightmare. On your website you pledge 
to make "all indoor events wheelchair accessible." Almost all of Sunday seems to take 
place outdoors and involve physical activities that would be difficult or impossible for 
folks in wheelchairs, not to mention folks with other (dis)abilities. Are (dis)abled folks 
leaving on Saturday night? It is my hope that you radically re-structure the organizing of 
this event. The core organizers should be a majority of folks of color, and other 
marginalized folks, as should the performers. Perhaps this means that the event should be 
delayed, until such change actually takes place. If the event goes forward, I would like to 
come and do an Anti-Racism for White Folks workshop at the festival. I would need a 
three hour time slot, preferably starting in the afternoon. Please take a look at my website 
and vita, and let me know if that would be possible.

http://www.cripqueer.resystseattle.org
http://www.cripqueer.resystseattle.org/vitae.htm

In struggle,
Colin Kennedy Donovan

April 16, 2004

Hi Colin,

My name is dean diamond.  i am one of the organizing committee members for the 
TransMission Festival in Victoria at the end of May.  Your email in response to the open 
letter regarding racism was forwarded to me by Captain.  First of all, I really appreciate 
the time you put into the response, and your willingness to offer tangible actions.  I have 
really appreciated the amount of feedback we have been receiving from community 
members, both locally and afar.  I tend to be an information collector, and so it was really 
important to me personally to gather feedback and suggestions from folk before moving 
forward.  This process has helped me realize how important it is for the Festival to 
continue as an opportunity for trans celebration, AND for the major mistakes in 
organizing that we have made to be brought up in a community forum, as racism, 
ableism, sexism, and homophobia in particular are rampant in many facets of the trans 
community.  i am most intrigued by how these issues 

can and have impacted on our concepts of gender (ie. is trans identity itself racialized? 
 how do we base our definitions of feminity and masculinity on the socialization we 
receive and in turn participate in?...)  anyway... rather than ramble on in that vein... before 
getting your email I had started calling around the Victoria area to find out about the 
possibility of holding an anti-racism for white folks workshop that would at the very least 
be available to the festival organizing committee.  I had two reservations about this... first 
- would i be able to find a workshop facilitator who was trans-savvy and friendly? and 
second - this wouldn't bring the discussion into the wider trans community, and it is a 
reality that shouldn't be 'kept behind closed doors.'  and if that were resolved by providing 
space at the festival it would effectively only be providing space for folks who need to 
*and are willing to* do some work on unlearning their racism... pretty much it reinforces
 the 'this is a white space festival' perspective.  And then, lo and behold, your email was 
forwarded to me.  along with a summary of all the feedback we received and list of 
actions suggested I brought your offer to the most recent organizing committee meeting. 
 we discussed the fact that we needed to move from words to action and from that we 
determined that at the very least we need to look at providing some space on the first 
night of the festival for possibly three workshops and/or spaces for:

- Trans folk of colour
- Trans/Two-Spirit/Genderqueer identified First Nations/Native/Metis/Inuit folks
- anti-racism for white folks in a trans context, or even anti-oppression activism/skills 
needed in the trans community (i was hoping that it might be possible to have these as 
two seperate workshops, but due to space constrictions (see below) and the difficult 
decision of having to decide which one to attend it seemed too much, but i am not set on 
that should it be necessary to change it.

We are working on other actions as well.  At this point, I have taken over the (hopeful) 
implementation of the above.  A venue committee member is looking into confirming 
that we have the full venue for that night (this would allow us the use of an auditorium, a 
classroom, 2 meeting rooms and an atrium).  Previously we only had use of the 
auditorium and atrium for this timeframe...  The auditorium and atrium are already 
booked for our art-shoppe, registration and 'eat and greet.'  

Anyway, i am telling you all of this (and I warn you, i tend to ramble on - assuming 
everyone wants as much information as i do, perhaps?) ... i am telling you all of this 
because i am hoping to discuss the possibility of you leading the workshop you suggested 
(or something close to it). i haven't had a chance to check out your website yet (i only 
have email access at work, and i've been out of the office most of this week, and today 
my computer crashed - aaarrgggghhh!)  so, i actually can't find your website address... 
can you send it to me again?  I intend to contact Qwo-Li with this suggestion as well, to 
see if Qwo-Li is maybe still interested in offering the workshop originally suggested.  I 
am trying to figure out the best way to publicize the fact that we have space that could be 
allocated as a Trans folk of colour space as well.  I'm looking for your thoughts if you are 
willing.  

Okay, I should probably get back to my (other) work.  FYI, I am cc this email to my work 
address in the hopes that my computer will be functional sometime on monday.  please 
respond to at least this email address though, to ensure that i will actually get it in a 
timely manner.

thanks for listening Colin.

take care,
dean.

April 19, 2004:

hi dean,
my website is http://www.cripqueer.resystseattle.org
and my vitae can be found at
http://www.cripqueer.resystseattle.org/vitae.htm
To let you know, the anti-racism for white folks workshops I do involve interactive 
theater techniques, (Theater of the Oppressor) and so require a large space, clear of tables 
and chairs, and preferrably at least a three hour time slot. (I notice on the current 
schedule, it looks like you have two hour slots.) Also, because of the fact that I'm going 
to be traveling, I have to have the workshop be on Saturday, not on Friday (I work.)
As far as my thoughts on publicizing the availability of POC space, I personally think it's 
too little too late in this case, at least for the folks I know who might have been 
previously interested in doing that. It seems like a belated and half-hearted concession, as 
well as really tokenizing--as I said earlier, I think the most effective thing would be to 
delay the festival until the power structure behind the organizing is no longer all white, 
but rather a majority of folks of color. For example one of the issues that may arise is that 
there will be several folks who'd like to facilitate workshops for POC, but a limited 
number of slots available. It would then be up to an all white group to decide which
workshops were going to be accepted. Yuck.
Also, you mention your concerns that offering an anti-racism for white folks workshop
reinforces the "this is a white space festival," perspective, as well as saying that it only 
provides space for folks who are willing to work on unlearning their racism. I'd like to 
respond to that by saying that if folks are unwilling to work on unlearning their racism, 
they aren't going to get much out of a workshop anyway. And I would say that 
considering the dialogues that have been ensuing in the community around the 
Transmission festival's racism, it would be even more irresponsible not to offer an 
antiracism workshop. The reason I do it "for white folks" is because all too often we 
white folks expect folks of color to educate us, and/or we tokenize folks of color. In my 
experience, doing antiracism in an all-white space (of course, if POC want to attend, they 
are welcome) really brings privileged folks to a deeper and more meaningful level of 
engagement, especially with the use of the theater techniques. Too often in mixed raced 
groups white folks aren't really honest about their racism, because we don't want to 
offend anyone or say the wrong thing.
Anyway, sorry to end this so abruptly, but I have to go off to work now.
Looking forward to working with you!
Colin

April 22nd, 2004

Hi Colin,

thanks so much for re-sending your website... wow... you have a whole lot of skills and 
experience under your belt.  i feel like such a baby organizer .we victoria-ites have much 
to learn from others like yourself and Qwo-Li (I was able to look at hir site too 'cuz of the 
link from your site).  I am admittedly somewhat annoyed with some of my fellow 
organizers and the problems we have encountered... but y'know what, they also have a 
right to be annoyed with me for other reasons too.  not to go into too much detail i think it 
is important to explain that we as a group went through a lot of processing around 
whether or not we had the ability to continue on with the organizing of this festival for 
this year based on the serious mistakes that we had made so far.  Part of this process 
involved alot of fighting and challenging each other (sometimes productive, sometimes 
not).  another part involved requesting feedback from our trans communities, potential 
festival participants and others who have been involved (ie. funders) as to whether or not 
they felt we had the ability to continue to organize this festival in the time frame we had 
based on these major errors and oversights.  The majority of feedback we received 
included three key pieces:

1) we needed to take immediate action to address the concerns brought to our attention 
and not just talk about how we could have done it differently

2) the local trans community really needs an opportunity to come together in celebration 
of our identities in a space that is  by and for trans folk [intercept with my comments - in 
other words, not be linked into GLB space as an 'other' or be tagged onto Sex and Gender 
conferences.  Both of these happen alot here... actually, it is pretty much the only trans 
space that exists... it really sucks.  i am sick of people gendering my sexuality and 
sexualizing my gender, thank you very much!]

3) the local trans community needs to be challenged on our racism and this festival seems 
like an ideal time to do it - if the festival is postponed it is effectively postponing the 
adddressing of this EXTREMELY important issue [again intercept with my comments - i 
find that many of the local trans folk, myself included, are way to comfortable in 
believing that just because we act and advocate against oppression in certain areas (for 
example sexism, homophobia, transphobia etc) that we are not oppressors... we get lazy 
in our anti-oppression work and only take on the issues we are used to fighting]

the result of the above is that several of us agreed that the festival needed to continue on 
with significant changes being made wherever possible - and use this as an opportunity 
for growth and change at the community level, personally, and organizationally (for 
example, if the festival is to happen again next year then this would be a great example of
what not to do).  some of us dropped out of the organizing, and others re-allocated their 
energy to tasks that they felt were particularly necessary (for example, i couldn't have 
continued my involvement without actively working to make a space for an anti-racism 
for white folks workshop; a fellow organizer felt that she couldn't continue without 
ensuring that there is general public knowledge of everything that we have been 
challenged on - she's working on that).

so, with 5 weeks left (eeek!) we're trying to make many changes without toppling the 
whole structure, while working to ensure that these changes are not just surface or token.

that all being said... i will need to find out what is happening with space availability on 
saturday... i have not been involved in venue issues at all up to this point... from what i 
understand saturday schedule is already fully booked, and i don't think it would be 
appropriate to have these really relevant workshops happen at a different location (that 
just seems icky...).So, that means that i will need to look into whether or not we have the 
resources locally to lead a anti-racism for white folks and/or anti-oppression workshop. 
 Please don't take that as me having given up on trying to work with you on this, I just 
need to look at all the options.

Thanks for being so willing to discuss this with me.  Talk to you soon.
dean.

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:21:25 -0700
From: dean diamond <dean@idhhc.ca>
Subject: anti-racism work at TMF
To: qwo-li

Hi Qwo-Li

My name is dean diamond.  i am one of the organizing committee members for the 
TransMission Festival in Victoria at the end of May.  I have been in contact with Colin to 
discuss the possibility of facilitating an anti-racism workshop at TMF as well as bouncing 
some ideas off of Colin about what actions we are trying to take in response to the 
significant feedback we have been receiving from trans community members both near 
and far.  I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of our actions in the 
hopes that you might be willing to share your opinions.  I recoknize that you may have no 
interest in this what so ever.  In that vein, I will attach below (after the ********* line) 
some information about these actions in progress, so feel free to ignore that part if you 
are not interested in getting involved.  I appreciate your time Qwo-Li and would be open 
to hearing anything else you have to offer.

Take care,
dean.

************************************************************************

we as an organizing committee went through a lot of processing around whether or not 
we had the ability to continue on with the organizing of this festival for this year based on 
the serious mistakes that we had made so far.  Part of this process involved alot of 
fighting and challenging each other (sometimes productive, sometimes not).  another part 
involved requesting feedback from our trans communities, potential festival participants 
and others who have been involved (ie. funders) as to whether or not they felt we had the 
ability to continue to organize this festival in the time frame we had based on these major 
errors and oversights.  The majority of feedback we received included three key pieces:

1) we needed to take immediate action to address the concerns brought to our attention 
and not just talk about how we could have done it differently
2) the local trans community really needs an opportunity to come together in celebration 
of our identities in a space that is  by and for trans folk [intercept with my comments - in 
other words, not be linked into GLB space as an 'other' or be tagged onto Sex and Gender 
conferences.  Both of these happen alot here... actually, it is pretty much the only trans 
space that exists... it really sucks.  i am sick of people gendering my sexuality and 
sexualizing my gender, thank you very much!]
3) the local trans community needs to be challenged on our racism and this festival seems 
like an ideal time to do it - if the festival is postponed it is effectively postponing the 
adddressing of this EXTREMELY important issue [again intercept with my comments - i 
find that many of the local trans folk, myself included, are way to comfortable in 
believing that just because we act and advocate against oppression in certain areas (for 
example sexism, homophobia, transphobia etc) that we are not oppressors... we get lazy 
in our anti-oppression work and only take on the issues we are used to fighting]

the result of the above is that several of us agreed that the festival needed to continue on 
with significant changes being made wherever possible - and use this as an opportunity 
for growth and change at the community level, personally, and organizationally (for 
example, if the festival is to happen again next year then this would be a great example of 
what not to do).  some of us dropped out of the organizing, and others re-allocated their 
energy to tasks that they felt were particularly necessary (for example, a fellow organizer 
felt that she couldn't continue without ensuring that there is general public knowledge of 
everything that we have been challenged on - she's working on that).

This process has helped me realize how important it is for the Festival to continue as an 
opportunity for trans celebration, AND for the major mistakes in organizing that we have 
made to be brought up in a community forum, as racism, ableism, sexism,  and 
homophobia in particular are rampant in many facets of the trans community.  i am most 
intrigued by how these issues can and have impacted on our concepts of gender (ie. is 
trans identity itself racialized?  how do we base our definitions of feminity and 
masculinity on the socialization we receive and in turn participate in?...)  anyway..rather 
than ramble on in that vein... before getting Colin's email offering a workshop I had 
started calling around the Victoria area to find out about the possibility of holding an 
anti-racism for white folks workshop that would at the very least be available to the 
festival organizing committee. I had two reservations about this... first - would i be able 
to find a workshop facilitator who was trans-savvy and friendly? and second - this 
wouldn't bring the discussion into the wider trans community, and it is a reality that 
shouldn't be 'kept behind closed doors.'

Along with a summary of all the feedback we received and list of actions suggested I 
brought Colin's offer to an organizing committee meeting.  we discussed the fact that we 
needed to move from words to action and from that we determined that at the very least 
we need to look at providing some space on the first night of the festival for possibly 
three workshops and/or spaces for:

 - Trans folk of colour
 - Trans/Two-Spirit/Genderqueer identified First Nations/Native/Metis/Inuit
folks
 - anti-racism for white folks in a trans context, or even anti-oppression activism/skills 
needed in the trans community (i was hoping that it might be possible to have these as 
two seperate workshops, but due to space constrictions and the difficult decision of 
having to decide which one to attend it seemed too much, but i am not set on that should 
it be necessary to change it.

Sadly, Colin isn't available on the friday night and i am not sure if there is any space 
availability on saturday (ideally i would like to launch the festival with this kind of 
discussion to set a tone).  i have not been involved in venue issues at all up to this point... 
from what i understand saturday schedule is already fully booked, and i don't think it 
would be appropriate to have these really relevant workshops happen at a different 
location (that just seems icky...).  So, that means that i will need to look into whether or 
not we have the resources locally to lead a anti-racism for white folks and/or anti-
oppression workshop.

so, with 5 weeks left (eeek!) we're trying to make many changes without toppling the 
whole structure, while working to ensure that these changes are not just surface or token. 
 with that in mind, i am wondering if you would give any consideration to offering the 
workshop that you originally proposed?  If so, could we chat about scheduling 
possibilities?

Thanks for listening, Qwo-Li, and I hope we get the opportunity to talk more soon.
dean.

Date: Thu, 22  Apr 2004
To: dean diamond
From: qwo-ii
Re: anti-racism work at TMF

Have Colin Kennedy Donovan facilitate an Anti-Racism for White Folks Workshop.

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004

Quoting dean diamond:

Hi Colin,

I forgot to respond to something you brought up in your last email.  You suggested that 
the festival be post-poned and the organizing committee be re-organized so that a 
majority of people of colour are on said committee in order that white folks aren't making 
decisions aobut whether or not to accept proposals (workshops, performances, etc) from 
people of colour.  I agree whole-heartedly with the necessity of not giving oppressors 
decision making power over the actions and involvement of those oppressed by them. 
This is one of the core reasons we have a predominantly trans-identified organizing 
committee. The people who don't self-identify as trans have proven their committment to 
trans issues as allies within our local community.  we had some intense discussion around 
who should be involved in the organizing and determined it was necessary to restrict it in 
this manner (either be trans identified or a proven ally - in other words, be part of the 
trans community).  we started this festival on a rather small scale, envisioning it to be an 
opportunity for local trans folk to gather, celebrate, share and connect.  Our Victoria trans 
community is rather small - folks tend to move to the 'big' cities of Vancouver or Toronto 
although this may change now that neither one has a 'Gender Clinic' serving trans health 
needs, but that's a whole other discussion, although, incidentally responding to this lack 
of adequate health care in the province of Bristish Columbia is how we started down this
organizing road.  Where was i going with this?  I think my topic got derailed somewhere. 
 I'm not sure where i was going with this, but maybe it is helpful information anyway.

Anyway,  i gotta get back to work.  i hope you have a fabulous weekend.

dean.

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 17:00:27 -0400
From: "Colin K. Donovan" <colinkennedy@resystseattle.org> 
Subject: Anti-Racism at TMF

Hi dean,
This is a combo response to your last two emails....I have several concerns. First I'd like 
to address your most recent correspondence below. Originally you stated that the email 
was to address my suggestion that the festival be postponed until a majority of folks of 
color/non-white folks are in core decision making positions on the organizing committee. 
But your email actually does not address that at all. Instead you're telling me about 
people being trans identified. That's not really the issue. Your response seems deflective 
and defensive to me, and continues in the vein I've experienced so far from folks on the 
committee--a failure to directly address concerns raised. For example, I've asked about 
the ableism in the Sunday schedule of events, and have yet to receive any 
acknowledgement of that, and as far as I've seen one of the most important direct 
questions Qwo-Li raised, WHY there are no folks of color on the organizing committee, 
has never been answered either. You state "I agree whole-heartedly with the necessity of 
not giving oppressors decision making power over the actions and involvement of those 
oppressed by them."  This is frustrating to me, as it seems like more lip service that is not 
being acted on. If this really was the case, it seems like this festival would be postponed 
until white folks were not making all the decisions.

Also of concern is your earlier email outlining the outcomes of the feedback, etc. You 
state that "if the festival is postponed it is effectively postponing the addressing of this 
EXTREMELY important issue," (i.e. racism). This makes absolutely no sense to me. The 
reason the festival should be postponed is to have the all-white committee give up 
organizational power, and make sure that folks of color are not being tokenized and shut 
out. That would be the exact opposite of "postponing the addressing of this extremely 
important issue." Additionally, you note the importance of continuing as scheduled to 
"use this as an opportunity for growth and change at the community level, personally, and 
organizationally (for example, if the festival is to happen again next year then this would 
be a great example of what not to do)," Again this is frustrating to me, because it seems 
strange to organize from the perspective of learning what NOT to do. That seems self-
defeating, because communities that are being shut out THIS year because it's "too late" 
and because changes are only being made wherever "possible" are not going to trust the 
Transmission festival next year. The same situation of white organizational dominance is 
already being set up for next year by not being accountable this year. Perhaps an idea is 
to organize specific anti-racism for white folks trainings for the "local trans community" 
before the transmission festival continues.

As far as my doing a workshop at the festival (or someone else) I'd like to stress my 
opinion that a specific anti-racism for white folks workshop should be offered, and not to 
have it lumped into a general "anti-oppression workshop." Also, you say that you wanted 
to have the workshop on Friday to "set a tone." From the current website schedule, that 
looks like it would be competing with registration, food/intros, and art. It concerns me, 
because anti-racism is not fun and casual like the other events, and that may greatly affect 
turnout, especially when folks are just getting into town. Often with privilege, we can 
easily find other things to do with our time rather than deal. It's my opinion that it would 
be better suited to the saturday all-day workshop schedule. Is there a way one of the other 
workshops can be moved earlier or later to prioritize the inclusion of an anti-racist space? 
You mentioned earlier that you were concerned with being unable to find a local anti-
racist "trans-savvy" organizer, and if I may say so, although I've never met him, Joshua 
Goldberg seems pretty darn rad, as well as being part of the local community. Perhaps he 
would be willing to help out.

thanks for listening, dean.
colin kennedy donovan

April 25, 2004

Quoting Joshua Mira Goldberg:

Hi Colin,

Thanks for your ongoing efforts to move things in a good way with the people organizing 
TMF.  Thanks also for your leap of faith in suggesting me as a possible facilitator for an 
anti-racism workshop. I don't think I'm the best person to do this (I don't believe I'm 
skilled enough to do it - my experience with anti-racism organizing is primarily in 
coalition and solidarity work, nothing in the last 6 years around education for other white 
people), but judging by your website and the high recommendation you get from folks 
who I really respect, you have a lot of skill and experience with doing exactly this, and 
it's certainly needed. If there are financial barriers making it difficult for you to come up 
here, I could pay for you to come up. There may well be other reasons it's unappealing or 
impossible, and I don't mean to pressure you, but I would like to see something really 
highly interactive, and I just don't have the experience to do that.

Am happy to bounce ideas around if you want, or if you have any advice for me around 
how to do interactive anti-racism workshops, it would be great to learn from your 
experience.

Best wishes,
Joshua

April 26th, 2004

Hi Colin,

Sorry about the confusion... I actually didn't mean my most recent email to be meant as 
addressing your recomendation, and associated reason, for postponing the festival.  I 
meant it as an addition of information of some of the process we had gone through... a 
process I was reminded of when you talked about about how you saw the organizing 
committee needing to be restructured.  I realize now how this could be percieved as 
coming from a defensive place.  I recoknize that it was unecesary information that I was 
providing it only for my own comfort.  Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

In regards to your questions about the Sunday schedule, I know that there have been 
some things added and changed.  I admit that I am not fully aware of these changes 
although I do believe the schedule on the website has been updated.  I believe we have a 
meeting tonight so I will be sure to ask for clarification about changes to sunday's 
schedule.  (Am i missing something, or would this address your question?)

I do not know why there are no folks of colour currently on the organizing committee... I 
can speculate and rationalize, but neither of these are helpful.  It is clear to me that I do 
not have a full understanding of the barriers that we have created that are preventing 
inolvement by people of colour.  I would like to learn more about this inorder to better 
challenge my own assumptions and actions that lead to inaccessibility.  I am realizing 
that although I may consider myself a strong advocate for folks affected by hearing loss, 
it is clearly not a skill I have been able to effectively transfer to addressing other barriers 
to participation and involvement. This is one of the reasons I have wanted to work on 
bringing an anti-racism for white folks workshop to the local trans community.  I am 
saddened that you perceive my statement of belief in not giving oppressors sole decision 
making power is only lip service. I may not yet be a skilled anti-racist activist, but I hope 
that doesn't negate the other anti-oppression work I do.

Thank you for your suggestion of Joshua Goldberg as a possible facilitator. I will contact 
him.  As for your suggestion about holding an anti-racism workshop before the festival 
continues, I thought about this too and decided that it would mean that only the 
organizers (and a few participants in the immediate area) would have access to this.  I 
gather I need to relook at this.

Thanks for you feedback about post-poning the festival: "The reason the festival should 
be postponed is to have the all-white committee give up organizational power, and make 
sure that folks of color are not being tokenized and shut out."  The post-ponement of the 
festival was definately one of the things we have asked for feedback on.  A few weeks 
ago we really needed to make a decision about whether or not we were carrying on, and 
at that time the feedback we received was very much encouraging us to continue with 
significant changes to our actions.  That is what many of us are trying to do (and 
hopefully we will succeed).  I did not mean to suggest that we should continue as we 
were going and use that as a lesson of what not to do next year... that does seem 
extremely defeatist.  I meant to say that the mistakes we made, the process for 
community feedback and the changes we then implimented could be used an an example 
for next year inorder to avoid similar mistakes occuring again.  This does of course 
assume that such a festival will occur again, and that can only be determined based on 
attendence, participant feedback and availability of local organizers.  For example, we 
continue to develop a list of things that really should have been done long ago, things we 
did in the wrong order and things we shouldn't have done at all.  This is invaluable 
learning to me and I hope that it will be available to assist others.  And maybe we are 
getting in over our heads to be learning as we are doing, but I am not sure if I would ever 
get anywhere if I waited until I dealt with all my shit before I got involved in anything. 
 I'm not trying to shirk responsibility with that statement, actually, I am trying to do the 
exact opposite, to admit that I am trying and that I am open to learning and being 
challenged.

Your concerns about the scheduling of an anti-racism workshop are similar to mine.  You 
stated that: "From the current website schedule, that looks like it would be competing 
with registration, food/intros, and art. It concerns me, because anti-racism is not fun and 
casual like the other events, and that may greatly affect turnout..."  These were my same 
concerns about scheduling the workshop on saturday when the rest of the workshops are 
all casual, arts based workshops.  I will be checking out our venue availability on the 
saturday and seeing what can be done.  It is clear to me that there isn't an easy solution 
here.

Colin, I think that addresses all of your points in your recent email. Please let me know if 
I have missed anything.  I will  be in touch soon with some more information about the 
things I wasn't able to answer at this point.

Take care,
dean.

Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 2:49 PM
From: Colin K. Donovan 
Subject: Re: Anti-Racism at TMF

hi joshua,

sorry to just sort of throw you into things like that...seeing as how we've never even met 
or anything! You come highly recommended as an ally from folks I really respect as well, 
and I really really appreciated your letter to the gaylord folks about ableism. Thank you 
so much for your generous offer! I actually do have the funds for travel, it's just that I 
work nights during the week down here, so I wouldn't be able to make it up there until 
Saturday to do a workshop, and dean has said that the saturday schedule is full, and that 
he now wants to look for a local option to do something on friday. I'm trying to get them 
to move one of the other workshops to friday from saturday (or some other juggling) 
because I would need a saturday afternoon time slot. (Also, as mentioned in my response, 
I think it's really important to do the anti-racism for white folks workshop while other 
workshops are going on, and not in competition with the initial registration/social events. 
I think it would work best, if they wanted to do it on friday to "set a tone," as dean said, if 
there was absolutely nothing else happening then, except for their token workshop spaces 
for folks of color. Oh, sorry. I'm getting a little frustrated with them. Anyway. The 
interactive theater work I do is hard to explain in writing, you kind of have to do it, but 
it's really easy to learn. It's based on adapted Theater of the Oppressed techniques 
developed by Augusto Boal, a Brazilian radical activist. It's called Theater of the 
Oppressor. I love it. Any help you could offer to get them to let me have the time slot I 
need (Saturday from 1-4pm) would be great, or if you know anyone who would be a 
good local facilitator that you could recommend to them would be great as well. I hope 
we actually get to meet sometime soon!
Take Care,
colin

Monday 26 April 2004
From: Joshua Mira Goldberg <jgoldber@shaw.ca>
To: dean diamond <dean@idhhc.ca>
Cc: Colin K. Donovan <colinkennedy@resystseattle.org> 

Hi Dean,

I appreciate the invite, but I really think Colin would be a better facilitator than me, as I 
don't have the same kind of experience facilitating interactive anti-racism workshops as 
Colin does, nor the recent experience around how best to educate white people about 
racism, as that's not the kind of anti-racism work I do (but am very glad there are folks 
such as Colin who *are* doing it).

It's my understanding that Colin is willing to come up to do this but to accommodate 
work it must be Saturday from 1-4 -- and that from your perspective that is not possible. 
However, Jules, who was scheduled to do the 'zine workshop with Captain in that 
timeslot on Saturday afternoon, has mentioned that Captain is no longer doing the 
workshop, and that he (Jules) would be very happy for Colin's workshop to be put in that 
slot instead. I'm cc'ing this to Jules in case you need to confirm this with him.

I hope this will resolve any remaining difficulties in bringing Colin up to make the 
workshop happen. If there's anything else that needs to be done, I'm happy to work with 
you to problem-solve. From what I've seen of Colin's website and writing on racism and 
disability, and the high recommendations about the workshops from people who I really 
respect, I think the offer to facilitate a workshop is an amazing opportunity to benefit our 
communities, and I thank Colin for being so generous with the travel time, energy, and 
money it will take to come up here to offer the workshop.

Cheers,
Joshua

Monday Apr 26, 2004
From: Joshua Mira Goldberg

Hi Colin,

No apology needed! I just think it makes sense to have the best person possible do the 
workshop. I don't understand why the TMF folks are being so rigid about the schedule 
(other than white resistance to dealing with racism) but hopefully the email I just sent to 
Dean & you will get rid of any supposed "obstacles" to you having the time you need to 
be able to do it. I've been totally uninterested in anything else happening at the festival 
but if you are able to come up would love to come to your workshop, and at least get a 
chance to say hi.

Cheers,
Joshua

April 29th, 2004
From: dean diamond

Hi Colin,

wow! life at work has been hectic... it's been three days that I have been planning to email 
you.  The TMF organizing committee had a meeting on monday night.  We talked about 
the current workshop schedule and how it could be re-arranged.  I think we have a 
workable option... please let me know what you think of this new schedule.

On Saturday the workshops had been slotted for 2 hours each from 10am to 12pm, lunch 
from 12 to 1pm , then workshops again from 1 to 3pm and 3 to 5pm.  Assuming the 
already confirmed workshop facilitators could develop 1.5 hour workshops rather than 2 
hour ones (and the workshop co-ordinator said he has already been getting feedback from 
facilitators that 2hours is too long), the schedule could be re-arranged to make room for a 
3 hour anti-racism for white folks workshop in the afternoon.  it would look like
this:

10am - 11:30am workshops in workshop room 1, 2 and 3
11:30am - 1pm workshops in workshop room 1, 2 and 3
1pm to 2pm - lunch
2pm - 5pm - workshops in workshop room 1 and 2 (room 3 would be used to start setting 
up for the performance night as it is attached to the auditorium)

What do you think of this option?  Would you be interested in facilitating your workshop 
from 2pm to 5pm on saturday?

If this schedule works, it means we have one more workshop room available from 2pm to 
5pm.  One of the other TMF organizers suggested seeking out an anti-ableism workshop 
facilitator.  What are your thoughts on this?  I would also like to put out a call to the local 
two-spirit group to see if there is interest in using this space and/or facilitating a 
workshop.  If you are interested I could keep you informed of this process.

I also got more information for you about the Sunday schedule.  It is as follows:

9:30am to 10:30am - film "Two Brides and a Scalpel" - an autobiographical film by a 
local trans woman. [added]
9:30am to 2pm - visual art show [extended time]
9:30am to ? - bike ride [mid point - and meeting point for hike - is in Mount Douglas 
picnic area - accessible by car and bus]
10:30am to 12 - hike at Mount Douglas Park
11am to 3 pm - BBQ at Beacon Hill Park [multi-pathed park, accessible by pedestrian, 
bus and car]
4pm to 6pm - pool party at YM/YWCA [building is wheelchair accessible, the pool does 
not have a lift]

I think that is all for now.

Take care,
dean.

May 3, 2004

hi dean,
thanks for getting back to me with all the info. The Saturday afternoon timeslot
will work well. As far as having another workshop at the same time that's three
hours, I definitely feel like it should be a space that is specifically for folks of color/non-
white folks. I don't feel comfortable with having an anti-racism for white folks workshop 
without making sure a specifically separate space for folks of color is also available 
during that time. I don't feel like I really have the energy to give any info on an anti-
ableism workshop. I appreciate the opportunity to come to TMF.
Thanks!


May 4, 2004

Hi Colin,

oh fantastic!  I am sooo looking forward to this workshop.  I am really glad this new 
schedule works for you.  I have inserted a copy of an email that the workshop co-
ordinator sent out inorder to make sure that all the necessary information is gathered in 
time for printing the programs.  Please send back this info as soon as possible (i think the 
programs are going to print on thursday of this week - oi! that's not much time).  You can 
send it back to me and i will forward it on, or you can send it directly to 
transmissionfestival@hotmail.com

I really appreciate your stating not being interested in discussing an anti-ableism 
workshop - thanks for the clear boundary.  I agree with you that the space would ideally 
be specifically for folks of colour/non-white folks.  I'm working on this possibility.

Let me know if there's anything else you need... are you looking for a place to billet?  i 
hear that are others coming from your area... are you wanting to connect with others to 
share transporation arrangements? 

Take care Colin.  I'll talk to you soon.
dean.

-----------------------------------------

This is an email to touch base about your anti-racism for white folks workshop at Trans 
Mission Festival.  We're just in the process of solidifying the program and schedule, so if 
you could send us the following info as soon as possible, that would be great:

* Title of workshop
* Brief description of the workshop for the program
* An in-depth description/outline of what will happen in order to create large-print 
programs for people with vision or hearing loss 
* Equipment you may need: flip charts, whiteboard/chalkboard, markers, etc. (more 
extensive art supplies negotiable)
* Short biographical description for the program

We're looking forward to having you at Trans Mission Festival - thanks again for 
facilitating the workshop.  It will be a great part of the Festival program.

--------------------------------------------

May 12, 2004

Quoting dean diamond :

Colin,
I am sad to say that there has been another series of disconcerting concerns and responses 
voiced in regards to the inclusivity of the TransMission Festival (a questioning of what 
actions we have taken so far, and whether or not they are an adequate response to the 
voiced criticisms and concerns). As an organizer of TMF I am recommending that the 
festival be cancelled.  It is clear to me now that there is much learning to be done in the 
local trans community around racism and oppression before it will be possible for us to 
really celebrate.  I am sad that it has taken me this long to fully grasp the extent of it.  I 
want to dismantle a clearly unhealthy festival before we do any more damage in the 
hopes that we can do some work on a local level around unlearning our racism and 
building an anti-oprresive community. Ideally, this work will put us in a much better 
place from which to organize a truly celebratory event in the future.  I have major 
concerns with the view put forth by some of my fellow TMF organizers that an honest 
look at the racism within the trans community and an effort to provide space to address 
this and share skills inorder to further develop a community in which we can all (safely) 
celebrate could be perceived as anti-celebratory or a waste of energy.  I do not, however, 
see this as an end.  I see it as a piece in the process of learning to effectively organize in 
an anti-oppression framework.  My intention is to work on some anti-racist and anti-
oppression workshops/forums in the local community (not immediately as I think there 
needs to be some time for seperation from this, and time to organize inclusively).  I am 
disappointed that this was not able to happen within the Festival venue at this time.  I 
apologize to whomever my actions and inaction have harmed.  I regret that the cancelling 
of this festival may be a disappointment to some.  I have come to the conclusion that 
taking any other action other than dismantling the festival (including sending out a public 
explanation and apology) would compromise my respect for myself and be disrespectful 
of the people we have already hurt.  This is not an opinion agreed upon by every one who 
has been involved in an organizational capacity.  I am sending you this from me 
personally.  It may still be that a small group of people will continue with the festival 
plans.  I feel it is my responsibility to let you know why I am no longer involved.  Over 
the weekend I will be working on a more public statement that i will send out to anyone I 
have had contact with in regards to the festival.

I hope that this email finds you well.  And i appreciate your willingness to work with me 
on this up til now.  Take care,

dean.

Friday May 14, 2004 
From: "Colin K. Donovan" <colinkennedy@resystseattle.org>
To: dean diamond 

Hi dean,
thanks for letting me know a bit of what's been going on. I'm unclear at this point as to 
whether you personally are dropping out of the festival as an organizer and 
recommending others cancel it (like captain did awhile ago) or if this is the official 
"TransMission is not happening" letter. I just finished making travel arrangements a few 
days ago, so I basically need to know if when I get there, I'll have a workshop space 
waiting for me. I want to let you know that I am extremely personally invested in making 
this workshop happen--I'll show up and do it in the hall, or outside, or wherever I can find 
space, if necessary. If the festival is still going on, I need to have the names/emails of the 
organizers who are continuing, so I can get in touch with them. I'm glad to hear that 
you're intending to do anti-oppression workshops/anti-racism workshops in the local 
community, although I disagree with your decision to wait for "separation" from the 
Transmission festival before you go ahead with that. Because actually there is no 
"separation" from the racism and oppression that happening at the festival, because it will 
go on existing in the community the whole time you wait to organize. Rather, I would 
encourage you to use the energy and anger that has been generated through the festival 
organizing to do the anti-racist and anti-oppression work in the community. It would be 
better to organize around these things while people are emotional and talking about these 
issues than to wait until everything is "calmed down" to the status quo again. I feel like 
your email sounds like the festival is being cancelled because people do not want an anti-
racism for white folks workshop there, and in general do not want to deal at all with 
racism, but that it's too late to tell me I can't do the workshop, so the festival is being 
cancelled instead. But then you said that "a small group of people will continue with 
festival plans," which sounds like it's not being cancelled, especially because I've heard 
since the beginning of this whole ordeal, it's only been a "small group of (white) people" 
organizing the whole time. So, which is it? And, if the festival does fall through, I'd like 
to ask if you can organize an alternative space for me to do the workshop that weekend, 
because I will be traveling there.

Date: Mon May 17 2004 10:53:15-0700
From "dean diamond" 
To:  "Colin K. Donovan <colinkennedy@resystseattle.org>
Subject: next steps

Hi Colin,

thanks for your thoughts.  i love and appreciate that you are so committed to this 
happening.  i too had hoped (do hope?) that at the very least this workshop could happen 
(to be honest, i see it as one of the only redeeming aspects of the festival... i see this work 
as required before we can do any other kind of celebrating).  The reason i mentioned 
seperation from this is mainly because i have been getting so much resistance thrown at 
me about this workshop that i was wondering if it would be at all constructive to have it 
happen at a time when folks were refusing to attend.  oh, i admit, i don't know anymore.  i 
feel way in over my head.  i understand what you say about using the energy and anger 
that has been generated by this organizing to really delve into this learning.  to be clear, 
my email was not meant as an official "TransMission is not happening" letter, it was an 
update about my recommendation to have it be cancelled.  At the very least, if you are 
coming into victoria for the weekend, i would be really pleased to have the opportunity to 
meet you in person.  Okay, now i feel responsible (and not in a bad way) to ensure there 
is space for you to do this workshop... that actually seems like the least amount of work... 
the largest amount of work seems to the getting of people there - oh, maybe captain will 
help me with this.  And now that you have made travel arrangements i would want to do 
what i can to make this a worthwhile weekend for you.  ok, i think i might be getting 
energized about this again.  what do you think about the group of participants in this 
workshop not being only trans folk?  what is your preference?  sorry you have had to 
witness my process in this email.  please let me know if i have missed answering any of 
your questions.  Actually, what is the chance i could call you about this?  would you 
mind giving me your phone number?  if you prefer email, i  understand.

hope to talk to you soon.
dean.

May 17, 2004
hi dean,
thanks for getting back to me....organizing over email is difficult and sometimes 
confusing. I don't have a phone, but my friend Qwo-Li's phone is my message phone. It's 
possible that I could arrange with hir to use hir phone at a specific time so we could talk 
about this. I generally work weeknights from 5pm to 10pm, but will be available 
Thursday afternoon and this weekend. Is there a time that works for you? Can you call 
from work? If so, Thursday might work, or otherwise early evening on the weekend 
would be best for me. I've been communicating with Joshua Goldberg about this whole 
situation as well, and I'm absolutely sure he'd be willing to help get the word out about 
the workshop happening. As far as who attends, I absolutely do not care how people 
identify. I've done theater workshops specifically for trans folks, for queer folks, and for 
mixed crowds. I will say that the absolute minimum I need to do the theater work is 6 
folks, with many more preferable--20 or 30 is optimal. (But, even if only one person 
shows up, I'm still excited to talk with them and learn from them.) Keep in mind, though, 
that this theater stuff takes open space and room to move around. I'm not
sure how big the space is and how many people it can accomodate. Since both you
and I now seem to agree that this workshop the only redeeming thing about the festival, 
maybe you could help put the word out just specifically for this workshop--who are the 
people that you would be letting know about the workshops you were thinking of doing 
down the road? It may be that there are folks who would be really excited about the 
workshop who otherwise were not planning on going to the festival--I haven't seen my 
workshop on the website, so probably most people outside the organizers don't even 
know about it. Also, I would say that there are probably a lot of folks who are coming in 
from out of town who may want to go to the workshop as participants, who have been 
thusfar blissfully unaware of the doom that has permeated the organizing.

Here's the little email blurb I've been using to put the word out down here
in Seattle:
*****

Anti-Racism for White Folks: An Interactive Workshop

Trans Mission Festival
(http://www.http://members.shaw.ca/Nick.Matte/TransMission/Index.htm)
Victoria, BC, Canada
Saturday, May 29, 2004
2:00-5:00 PM

This workshop uses interactive theater techniques (Theater of the Oppressor)
to explore issues of white supremacy, power, privilege, allyship and accountability in the 
trans movement.

Facilitated by Colin Kennedy Donovan:
http://www.cripqueer.resystseattle.org


This workshop is sponsored by RESYST Seattle with the support of A Territory
Resource (ATR).

******

If need be, you could just delete the "in the trans movement," or add "trans
and queer movements" "social justice movement," or whatever.
dean, even though this has been, and continues to be, a difficult, frustrating, and painful 
process, I'm looking forward to being able to have the space to do this work. It's so 
important. I appreciate the energy you've spent and your process in coming to the 
realization that the festival should have been cancelled, and since it's continuing, I 
appreciate your willingness to stay involved in order create an anti-racist space and a 
viable workshop.

colin

May 20, 2004

Hi Colin,

I guess the 1.800 number didn't work... let me know when on saturday you expect to be 
able to call.  I asked my co-worker to create a poster for the workshop with the info you 
gave me and some info from your website.  I have attached an initial draft of that poster. 
 i have to admit that i find it really upsetting, but his reasoning is that it will have a big 
impact (ie. people will react to it) and it will draw people in.  i would like to know your 
thoughts.  also, would your sponsors need a mention in the poster?  Do you want a 
statement like 'everyone welcome' - or something to that effect?
let me know.

talk to you soon.
dean.

May 20th 2004

hi dean,
unfortunately, the 800 number didn't work this afternoon. I just left a message at your 
house--would 8pm on Saturday work to call you at home?  I DO NOT want to use this 
poster. I am very concerned about re-creating racist imagery on the flyers for an anti 
racism workshop--the two don't go together. I'm aiming this workshop toward folks who 
already want to work on anti-racism. I don't think it's necessary to use racist images to get 
people's attention. The sponsors would need to be added--RESYST Seattle and A 
Territory Resource. I'll talk to you more on Saturday about this, as I need to run right 
now,
but please DO NOT use this poster. I do not want my name on that. Let me know if
8pm on Saturday works to call you.
colin

May 25, 2004

Hello All,

With only four days to go, we have confirmed a location for an Anti-Racism for white 
folks workshop.  Attached is a poster with more details.  Please distribute/poster as 
widely as possible (call me if you would like me to poster a specific location).  I have 
included below a little excerpt.
What: Anti-Racism for white folks: an interactive workshop
Where: Fernwood Community Centre - 1240 Gladstone Avenue
Date: Saturday May 29, 2004
Time: 2-5pm
Facilitated by: Colin Kennedy Donovan
For more information contact: dean at 380.1694
This Workshop uses interactive theatre techniques (Theatre of the Oppressor)
to explore issues of white supremacy, power, privilage, allyship and accountability in the 
trans and queer movements.

 Thanks for spreading the word,

dean.

May 25th, 2004
From: joshua mira goldberg
To: dean diamond

Hi,

It looks like this is happening separately from TMF. I'd like to know more
about the decision to do it this way -- presumably there are reasons behind
it. But my first thought was that by putting it at the same time as the
festival but not having it be part of the festival, attendance will be very
low; it also positions racism as being outside TMF, which takes away some of
the good opportunity there was to educate people coming to TMF. So in that
sense it's disappointing this is how it's worked out. Thanks for helping me
understand what is happening.

Joshua

May 26th, 2004

From: dean diamond
To: joshua mira goldberg
HI Joshua,

thanks for bringing up some very valid points.  i am really hoping these concerns can be 
discussed at the workshop itself, and then at further community discussions here in 
victoria.  I will give you my perspective of what happened.... about two weeks ago the 
organizers of TMF (those who were left still involved, including myself at that time) got 
a letter from two concerned community members from the UVIC Women's Centre asking 
for clarification about what actions TMF was taking to respond to the charges of
racism within the organizing.  At the point a few of us realized thatalthough we had been 
working on implementing a few of the suggestions we hadn't been public enough about 
them.  While in discussion about how best to make these actions public, a couple of 
previous organizers (people who wereno longer actively involved, but hadn't officially 
removed themselves fromthe organizing committee) spoke up and started challenging the 
work that was being done (ie. the anti-racism for white folks workshop, an open space for
people who identify as multiply marginalized within the trans community, a public letter 
about the charges and concerns and our response).  The result was a very heated 
discussion wherein a couple of us (myself included) came to the conclusion that this 
organizing really was unhealthy and hurtful to the point of needing to be dismantled (a 
message we had been hearing for a while, but apparently it took me a long time to have it 
sink in).  I believe that the atmosphere in which we were organizing was so oppressive 
and exclusionary that we couldn't effectively work on resolving it and have a
successful  (read safe and inclusive) festival in the time we had left.  I also realized that 
there were a couple of people i could not work with on the basis of their complete 
resistance to an anti-racism  framework.  Myself and one other person suggested that the 
festival be canceled and that we would commit to 'un-organizing' the festival including 
writing and distributing a public statement, returning donations, etc...).  At this time
I informed Colin of my recommendation that the festival be canceled.  He said he was 
coming to do the workshop anyway and asked if i would i still work on finding him a 
space.  I agreed.  When i informed the others still involved (who were trying to decide if 
it was possible for the festival to continue) it was explicitly stated that now that the 'anti-
racism stuff' was not connected with the festival they would be happy to continue 
organizing (otherwise they wanted nothing to do with the festival).  I am saddened by this 
response.  I have no intention of sabotaging the festival, however i do not support it's 
continuance at this time.  Many people i have talked to who did or continue to plan to 
attend the festival have said that they will be leaving the festival to attend this workshop. 
 I hope that this workshop might even be postered at the festival space.  For these 
reasons, and the response i have already gotten from my email-out yesterday i am under 
the impression that there will be quite a good turn-out!

Again, thanks for engaging.  please let me know if i have missed addressing
something you brought up.  see you soon,
dean.

May 26th, 2004

Thanks very much, this helps fill in the gaps for me to understand more about what is 
going on. My concerns were not so much about sabotaging the festival as about 
sabotaging the workshop, so it's good to know that you anticipate good participation. I'd 
like to talk further with you about this after I get back to Victoria to put our collective 
heads together about what can be done as follow up. I'm moving back on the 28th so it's 
unlikely I can come to the workshop (depends on my physical stamina but I'm betting I 
won'tbe mobile enough to come). Am really sorry to miss it but am very glad it is
going ahead given what you describe, and will look forward to ongoing discussion.

Cheers,
Joshua

Facilitator: Colin Kennedy Donovan, RESYST Seattle-resyst@resystseattle.org

Basic Definitions:

Prejudice + Power = Oppression (i.e. Racism, Ableism, Classism, Sexism)
Note: Prejudice can be intentional or unintentional, conscious or subconscious.

Anti-Racist (as applied to white folks): A person who makes a conscious choice to ACT to challenge some aspect of the white supremacy system: including hir own white privilege, as well as some form of oppression against people of color. 
(by sharon martinas of the challenging white supremacy workshop)

Ally: A member of a dominant group in our society who works to dismantle any form of oppression from which s/he receives benefit.
(from interrupting the cycle of oppression: the role of allies as agents of change by andrea ayvazian). An ally supports self-determination from oppressed groups, and has a commitment to working with others from the dominant group to undo oppression.


Selected Anti-Racist Readings

Memoir of A Race Traitor  Mab Segrest

Yours in Struggle: Three Feminist Perspectives on Anti-Semitism and Racism 
Elly Bulkin, Minnie Bruce Pratt and Barbara Smith

Killing Rage: Ending Racism  bell hooks

Privilege, Power and Difference  Allan G. Johnson

From A Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii  Haunani-Kay Trask

Red Earth, White Lies  Vine Deloria, Jr.

Uprooting Racism  Paul Kivel

Women, Race and Class  Angela Y. Davis

How Jews Became White Folks, And What That Says About Race in America 
Karen Brodkin

Films

The Color of Fear Lee Mun Wah

Ethic Notions and Color Adjustment Marlon T. Riggs

Fires in the Mirror  Anna Deveare Smith

Broken Rainbow   Victoria Mudd