Dragging

...not of the gender performance variety, unfortunately.

I've officially completed just one full week of Spring classes since the start of the semester last week, and I'm already feeling exhausted.

It's been too long since I last let myself just write/blog--mostly because I've been getting my syllabi finalized, preparing new lesson plans, and adjusting once again to commuting.

Classes seem to be going well so far (which is a good sign since it is, after all, only the second week of classes). I've got lots of excited students in both my classes, with only a few (seemingly) misguided ones.

I even ran into a former student this afternoon. Turns out this student has a class in the same room right after I teach. She heard me teaching while she was waiting in the hallway, and as I dismissed my class and she and her classmates entered, she passed my students with praise for me and stories about how she enjoyed my class last year. It was very flattering, and just the kind of experience I need to remind myself of when I'm this tired.

Excitingly, though, I was able to pick up two books that I requested from interlibrary loan:

Technicolor: Race, Technology, and Everyday Life. Eds. Alondra Nelson and Thuy Linh N. Tu with Alicia Headlam Hines. (New York: New York University Press, 2001)

Queer Migrations: Sexuality, U.S. Citizenship, and Border Crossings. Eds. Eithne Luibheid and Lionel Cantu, Jr.* (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005)

*I had the privilege to briefly cross paths with Lionel during my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine. His unexpected death in May 2002 is certainly a great loss, not only for the lives he touched personally, but also for those he touched through his scholarship. His research interests included international migration, queer theory, feminist studies, Latina/o studies, and the sociology of HIV/AIDS.

I get to teach this stuff!

In addition to Jason Cromwell's book, Transmen and FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999, this is what I'm teaching to my Intro to LGBT Studies class this Spring 2006 semester. How fun is that!



Abelove et al. “Introduction.” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. New York: Routledge, 1993. xv-xvii.

Pharr, Suzanne. “Homophobia and Sexism.” Women: Images and Realities. 2nd ed. Ed. Kesselman et al. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1999. 338-342.

Weeks, Jeffrey. “The Challenge of Lesbian and Gay Studies.” Lesbian and Gay Studies: An Introductory, Interdisciplinary Approach. Ed. Theo Sandfort, Judith Schuyf, Jan Willem Duyvendak, & Jeffrey Weeks. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2000. 1-13.

Schuyf, Judith and Theo Sandfort. “Conclusion: Gay and Lesbian Studies at the Crossroads.” Lesbian and Gay Studies. 215-227.

Weston, Kath. “The Bubble, the Burn, and the Simmer.” Long Slow Burn: Sexuality and Social Science. New York: Routledge, 1998. 1-27.

Blasingame, Brenda Marie. “The Roots of Biphobia: Racism and Internalized Heterosexism.” Closer to Home: Bisexuality and Feminism. Ed. Elizabeth Reba Weise. Seattle: Seal Press, 1992. 47-53.

Blumstein, Philip W. and Pepper Schwartz. “Bisexuality: Some Social Psychological Issues.” Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian and Gay Male Experiences. Ed. Linda D. Garnets and Douglas C. Kimmel. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. 168-183.

Dahir, Mubarak. “Whose Movement Is It?” The Advocate. 25 May 1999: 50+

Feinberg, Leslie. “We Are All Works in Progress.” Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue. Boston: Beacon Press, 1998. 1-13.

Dreger, Alice. “Why Do We Need ISNA?” ISNA News. May 2001. 13 Feb 2002


Fausto-Sterling, Anne. “‘That Sexe Which Prevaileth.’” Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. New York: Basic Books, 2000. 30-44.

Wilchins, Riki. “Queerer Bodies.” GenderQueer: Voices From Beyond the
Sexual Binary. Ed. Joan Nestle, Clare Howell, and Riki Wilchins. Los Angeles: Alyson Books, 2002. 33-46.

Wilchins, Riki. “Changing the Subject.” GenderQueer. 47-54.

Wilchins, Riki. “Deconstructing Trans.” GenderQueer. 55-63.

Gross, Larry & James D. Woods. “Causes and Cures: The Etiology Debate.” Columbia Reader on Lesbians & Gay Men in Media, Society, & Politics. Ed. Larry Gross & James D. Woods. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 185-189.

Whisman, Vera. “Dear Abby, ‘The Gay Agenda,’ and the New York Times.” Queer by Choice: Lesbians, Gay Men, and the Politics of Identity. New York: Routledge, 1996. 1-10.

Irvine, Janice. “Boys Will Be Girls: Sexology and Homosexuality.” Columbia Reader on Lesbians & Gay Men in Media, Society, & Politics. 191-200.

Udis-Kessler, Amanda. “Appendix: Notes on the Kinsey Scale and Other Measures of Sexuality.” Closer to Home. 311-318.

Rust, Paula C. “Sexual Identity and Bisexual Identities: The Struggle for Self-Description in a Changing Sexual Landscape.” Queer Studies. 64-86.

Somerville, Siobhan. “Scientific Racism and the Invention of the Homosexual Body.” Queer Studies. 241-261.

Gross & Woods. “Inventing Sin: Religion and the Church.” Columbia Reader on
Lesbians & Gay Men in Media, Society, & Politics. 119-123.

Gomes, Peter J. “Homophobic? Re-Read Your Bible.” Columbia Reader on Lesbians & Gay Men in Media, Society, & Politics. 138-139.

Tilley, Reade. “Holy Reckoning” Pride 03: The Official Magazine of San Francisco LGBT Pride. 2003: 277-280.

Savage, Todd. “Costly Trans-Action.” The Advocate. 25 May 1999: 64+.

Munson, Michael. “Partners Interfacing with Healthcare Professionals.” SOFFAs Interfacing with Health Care Professionals. November 2001. FORGE. 13 Feb 2002


Cook-Daniels, Loree. “Families of Trans People and Health Care Professionals.” SOFFAs Interfacing with Health Care Professionals. November 2001. FORGE. 13 Feb 2002

Dreger, Alice. “Notes on the Treatment of Intersex.”

Feinberg, Leslie. “I Can’t Afford to Get Sick.” Trans Liberation. 79-87.

Vaid, Urvashi. “Divided We Stand.” Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay and Lesbian Liberation. New York: Doubleday, 1995. 274-306.

Vaid, Urvashi. “Politics and Power.” Virtual Equaity. 210-237.

Smith, Nadine. “Three Marches, Many Lessons.” Creating Change: Sexuality, Public Policy, and Civil Rights. Ed. John D’Emilio, William B. Turner, and Urvashi Vaid. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. 438-450.

Frye, Phyllis Randolph, Esq. “Facing Discrimination, Organizing for Freedom: The Transgender Community.” Creating Change. 451-468.

McBride, Dwight A. “The New Black Studies, or Beyond the Old ‘Race Man.’” Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch: Essays on Race and Sexuality. New York: New York University Press, 2005. 17-31.

Solot, Dorian & Marshall Miller. “Unmarried Bisexuals: Distinct Voices on Marriage and Family.” Journal of Bisexuality, vol. 1, no. 4, 2001: 81-90.

Price, Margaret. “Artificial Assimilation: Representational Politics of the Gayby Boom.” Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture. No. 22, 2003: 59-67.

Association for Asian American Studies

Exciting news...just heard from the Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) that my paper proposal has been accepted for this year's conference in Atlanta, GA. While I've presented at Women's Studies, Sociological, Gender Advocacy, and Queer conferences before, this is my first ever presentation at an Asian American Studies conference.

I will appear on a panel entitled "Queering Asian America."


What I proposed:

"Latins Are Lovers, but What About (Filipino) Me?:
On Still Looking For My Penis, Constructions of Racialized Queer Masculinities"
In the attempt to contribute to the growing body of scholarship aimed at understanding the complexities of racial differences as they intersect with sexual identities, this paper investigates constructions of Asian (American) masculinities within drag king culture. Influenced by Richard Fung’s essay, “Looking for My Penis,” my project considers the role of pleasure within king performances in influencing constructions of racialized masculinities. While Fung noted that in dominant representations Asian men “have been consigned to one of two categories: the egghead/wimp, or…the kung fu master,” I have observed representations of Asian men largely consigned to roles of kung fu fighters or Latin lovers.

I am especially interested in the significance of the role of Latino lover for Filipino kings. Although we could easily look at the role of Latino lover as an opportunity to pass, in the attempt to be more sexy and desirable to audiences looking to be (sexually) satisfied, another way of understanding the role of Latino lover for Filipino kings is as a means towards shifting the focus of kinging analyses from the centrality of gender to an intersectional focus that highlights performances of race. In addition, although problematic for the way in which it appears to reinforce the popular stereotype of Asian men as anus, asexual, and/or invisible, the role of Latino lover for Filipino kings effectively disrupts the popular imagination of kings of color as exclusively black kings, and fruitfully opens wider the boundaries of racialized king performances.

Happy New You

I know that January's already practically over, and that this post is a little late, but better late than never!

"Happy New You"...that's what the New Year's Day sermon was in my hometown church. The father stressed that what would make a difference in this upcoming year would be the extent to which we changed ourselves, and went about doing things differently.

On a related note, elsewhere, it's been said that true insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting different results.

Now, I'm pretty set in my ways (just one of the downfall aspects of my anal tendancies), and I've always been afraid of change...but I can't disagree--the only way things are ever going to change is if I change myself and do things differently.

As motivation for 2006, I wanted to reflect upon some of the new things I did in 2005 (in chronological order, of course):

1. Began a path towards serenity
2. Taught "Theories of Feminisms"
3. Purchased my very own (used) automobile
4. Broke up with an ex
5. Drove across the country (Alexandria, VA to San Francisco, CA)
6. Attended the SF Tranny Rally and SF Dyke Rally
7. Began investing in company (Starbucks) stock
8. Moved into shared housing with a straight man
9. Saw Keith Haring's Altarpiece at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
10. Spent four days watching several films and shorts featured in the Reel Affirmations Film Festival
11. Went to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for the first ever Canadian International Drag King Extravaganza
12. Attended my first ever National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce annual Creating Change conference
13. Successfully defended my dissertation proposal & advanced to candidacy
14. Went to Georgetown to see the PostSecret exhibition

Feminist Pedagogy & Calling Out The Advocate

In my Introduction to Women's Studies course, one of the writing assignments I assign students is to write a formal business letter. The motivation behind this assignment is in keeping with the spirit of making our voices be heard, whether in praise, in critique, or simply in struggle.

Students compose and mail a business letter, to a currently existing business, public figure, elected official, or newspaper/magazine publication of their choice. Over the years, the range of addressees students have choose has been wide: teachers who they praise for their anti-sexist and anti-racist pedagogy; elected officials who they urge to vote for pro-choice legislation; music artists whose inspirational lyrics they adore and ask for more; businesses who they encourage to explore eco-friendly practices; magazine editors that they criticize for including sexist advertisements that objectify women and promote heterosexism, etc.

(A note to fellow instructors: not only have students consistently enjoyed this writing assignment, but because they are mailing them, students also take extra care in crafting and editing their letters. In addition, many students receive replies to their letters which allows for the assignment and their learning to have a life beyond our classroom.)

In any case, this past fall I was moved to write my own letter--a letter to The Advocate in response to what I perceived to be a small, but not minor nor insignificant overlooking of various members of our community, specifically, but not limited to bisexuals and others who don't live their lives circumscribed by a monosexual paradigm that says they are attracted to and sexually desire only one sex or the other.

After reading the latest issue of The Advocate (January 31, 2006 featuring Jennifer Beals on the cover) I was again moved to write another letter in response to the article entitled "Murder and Hypocrisy" by Patrick Moore.



“Here’s to ‘Direct Action and Media Savvy’”

It’s really too unfortunate that Patrick Moore’s message of hypocrisy wasn’t taken to heart by the folks in charge of the photo layouts accompanying his article. Moore begins “Murder and Hypocrisy” (January 31, 2006) by discussing filmmaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s newest project focusing on Islam’s attitude toward homosexuality. Given Moore’s focus on her, Hirsi Ali is fittingly pictured in Moore’s article.

Aside from Hirsi Ali, however, the message Moore emphasizes is that while there are indeed atrocities occurring abroad, the U.S. cannot tout its moral authority so long as injustices are perpetrated against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people in the U.S. To fight the hypocrisy he makes clear that not only do we need to further the progress we’ve made in the U.S., but also that we need to work for justice globally. At the end of his article, Moore then goes on to advocate that “gay Americans must force their way into the U.S. foreign policy agenda using the same tools we utilized during the AIDS crisis: direct action and media savvy” (37).

In light of Moore’s messages decrying hypocrisy and championing media savvy, I was very disappointed to see that The Advocate had chosen to include the rather large and graphic photo of Iranian teens Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, who were hung for homosexual acts in July 2005. (Even more unfortunate is The Advocate’s choice to use this same image in the on-line version of Moore’s article).

Granted, initially I was dismayed to see the photo because it recalled the horrors of African American lynchings in the U.S., but not in a way that pointed to the cruelty and inhumanity of the (white) lynchers and lynch mob. Instead, these teens’ bodies, like so many lynched African Americans’ bodies were made spectacles, robbed of their humanity.

However, even in the specific context of Moore’s essay, there is still much to suggest the poor judgment of using this photo. In comparison, the photo of Asgari and Marhoni is at least three times the size of that of Hirsi Ali’s. In addition, Moore mentions the hanging in his article twice—never mentioning the teens by name, whereas Hirsi Ali is a central figure in the article. In using this photo The Advocate hasn’t shown media savvy, it’s merely shown itself well-versed and complicit in sensationalism and exploitation. Let’s hope Moore’s message of direct action isn’t similarly disregarded.


UPDATE Feb 11, 2006:

Well, they didn't print my letter in the following edition, but they did post it on-line.

Backwards Bush

I've just returned from Vertigo Books, an independent bookstore near my college (7346 Baltimore Avenue College Park, MD 301-779-9300) where I was picking up a copy of Pinay Power, Peminist Critical Theory: Theorizing the Filipina/American Experience Ed. Melinda L. de Jesus. New York: Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0-415-94983-1

One of the impulse items they had stocked by the cash registers were Backwards Bush keychains (which you can also purchase on-line through the Backwards Bush website. They made me laugh out loud, so thought I'd share with you all here:

Deterioration of Privacy and Effects on Transpeople (reporting back from Creating Change, pt. 2)

One of the panels that I attended at NGLTF's annual Creating Change conference was entitled, "Deterioration of Privacy and Effects on Transpeople." On the panel were Mara Keisling (Executive Director, Nation Center for Transgender Equality, Washington DC), Dean Spade (Sylvia Rivera Law Project, New York, NY), and a third presenter whose name I've forgotten (I think it was someone from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, CA, but no guarantees).

The focus of the panel was the recently passed Real ID Act.

The Real ID Act was passed by Congress and signed into law last May by George W. Bush. In the wake of 9/11, the push for a new national identity card had gained some momentum, along with anti-immigration sentiment in Congress. Real ID addressed several issues. It contained provisions that would make it easier to build a wall between Mexico and the United States, and it would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to gain amnesty by claiming persecution abroad. But the major provision was the requirement that all state driver's licenses meet new federal standards, at least for anyone needing identification for federal benefits, airplane rides, or access to federal offices. From Seattle Weekly

To look at its specific language, check out the approved House version and the Congressional version

While many argue against Real ID based on the logistical difficulties and exorbitant costs of its implementation, this panel was focused on how in addition to these shortcomings, Real ID is particularly bad policy for transpeople based on privacy rights.

To be sure, this so-called "anti-terrorist" measure is very much about surveillance and making it more difficult for the average person (and even more so for those of us who aren't average) to obtain identity documents, as well as make more stringent the process of applying for asylum in the U.S. In this regard, the panel did a great job of pointing out how for transpeople, such legislation becomes particularly burdensome since there is no one place/way to change one's legal gender with the government [each kind of identity document (e.g., social security card, birth certificate, etc.) has its own standards].

While the panel did a good job of pointing out how poor people's privacy rights are similar tread upon, I do wish that they had more specifically discussed parallels experienced by immigrants, too. Spade alluded to these connections when he said that "no one is illegal," a popular retort to the use of the phrase "illegal alien/immigrant" instead of "undocumented immigrant." Even better, however, would have been some discussion, or at least acknowledgement of the situation faced by immigrant transpeople when it comes to struggles of documentation on various levels.

In any case, I bring this all up now not only because I should have written about this long ago, but because of a recent (related) incident. One of the examples Keisling cited during the panel presentation in order to illustrate the increasing surveillance and concomitant lack of privacy in the U.S. is the popularity of the "bonus/club card" phenomenon (whereby you sign-up to receive a "discount" card whenever you present it at checkout).

I don't take issue with the fact that these "bonus cards" do indeed allow for corporations (the government, and whomever else accesses this information) to track what we purchase and how often. (I do wonder, though, why the strategy of filling out fake information isn't discussed since these cards, unlike credit cards, do not require approval and are made available instantly to the applicant.)

In any case, in the mail the other day, I received a flyer welcoming me to the neighborhood (I've recently moved and filed a change of address form with the United States Post Office, which I'm assuming then led to this offer) and offering a free $10 gift card to a nearby shopping mall. It was a good gimmick--I had never been to this mall, but for $10, I was certainly willing to check it out, and that's exactly what I did.

Long story short, the mall wasn't all that, but I did have $10 burning a hole in my pocket, so I took a look around. Originally, I was going to use the money to get a free lunch. Feeling guilty about playing into the system that Keisling so adamantly felt imposed on transpeople's privacy, I couldn't bring myself to use it to eat. In fact, I felt so guilty that I wandered around much longer than I had expected to. In the end, I used it at the mall's bookstore. I still feel guilty (what'd you expect, I'm Catholic, remember?). But, if I hadn't gone, I wouldn't have found Toni Lester's (ed.) Gender Nonconformity, Race, and Sexuality: Charting the Connections Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2003. ISBN 0-299-18144-8

Home Bound by Yen Le Espiritu

Espiritu, Yen Le. Home Bound: Filipino American Lives Across Cultures, Communities, and Countries. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.

Yen Le Espiritu, in her book, Home Bound: Filipino American Lives Across Cultures, Communities, and Countries, “contends that Filipino American racial formation is determined not only by the social, economic, and political forces in the United States but also by U.S. (neo)colonialism in the Philippines and capital investment in Asia” (1). Moreover, not content with the narrow, one-sided focus that Filipinos are transformed through the experience of colonialism and migration, Espiritu highlights how Filipinos “in turn transform and remake the social world around them” (2). Home Bound is most specifically an ethnographic study of Filipino Americans in and around San Diego, CA, that is grounded nicely by Espiritu through U.S. immigration laws, U.S. imperialism and colonialism, and intersectional analyses. Espiritu presents the experiences of Filipino Americans in order to educate us about this often overlooked population through their own voices.

Scholars in Women’s Studies and Gender Studies may be especially drawn to chapter 7, where Espiritu focuses on the way gender is used by racialized immigrants to assert their superiority over the dominant (white). In this chapter Espiritu turns to second generation daughters and the way in which it is through them, specifically the enforcement of their “female morality—defined as women’s dedication to their families and sexual restraint” (160), that racialized immigrants construct themselves as superior. In other words, in light of the racist oppressions they face, one method of responding that immigrants have deployed is to assert their (daughters’) moral superiority over whites. Through the lens of generations (first, second, etc.) of immigration, Espiritu challenges us to think of the multiple, intersectional systems, at play, while making clear that this manner of response is not without its own complications and contradictions (namely, the perpetuation of sexist oppression and patriarchal power over daughters).

In addition, I found particularly compelling the end of Espiritu’s book, chapters 8 and 9, where she delves more in depth to the ways in which Filipino Americans transform and remake the world around them. These two chapters excitingly point to the new and creative relations constructed by Filipino Americans in regards to cross-racial social relations and immigration as a technology of racialization and gendering.

MC Kiwi--Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising

In looking for music that I would feel fit with my drag king ego, Phil I. Pinas, and his committment to a kind of kinging steeped in progressive politics aimed at undoing systems of oppression, I came across MC Kiwi.

If you've never heard of him (especially those of you in the SF Bay Area who can catch him at various events/venues) you should definitely check out his webpage at www.groundworkmusic.com/ and read up on his blog at www.livejournal.com/users/kiwizzo/

Regrettably, I haven't kinged to MC Kiwi, and it doesn't seem that I will anytime soon (read: as long as I'm in DC). As long as gatekeepers feel that kings should perform to songs that are "popular" (i.e., that the audience will be familiar with)and "entertaining" (i.e., that will make the audience want to drink and otherwise spend more money) I doubt that Kiwi's music, focused on fighting oppression and giving a voice to those long silenced will fit that bill anytime soon.



Okay, maybe I'm just a bit jaded...but after six years in DC (with already too many under the current administration) it's a battle not to be! On one hand, some folks are very up-to-date on formal political happenings--they known bills by their numbers; know what's coming up to vote in the House and the Senate; can name Representatives and Senators and where they're from, beyond their own, etc. While all this certainly makes them knowledgeable, I've also met so many who are down-right pompous, as if anyone who doesn't know these things is beyond stupid, and isn't worth knowing! (Because, of course, nothing is more important than our formal government happenings.)

On the other hand, being within the beltway (the freeway circumscribing the DC area) also seems to lead to lots of folks who's work is in policits (non-profit, governmental, and otherwise) to eschew politics in their entertainment/night-life. I understand that balance is key, and that if you're regularly working 50+ hours at a job that's all about politics, some time "away" might feel very needed. What I don't understand, though, is how people who seem to be all about "politics" can then go on to enjoy messed-up, sexist, racist, classist, homophobic "entertainment." Then again, maybe it's because formal government politics doesn't equal anti-oppression politics.

But I'm forgetting my focus...MC Kiwi...



In any case, I wanted to help get the word out about MC Kiwi. In that vein, I wanted to post the lyrics to just a couple of his songs, from his album, Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising.

Disclaimer: I couldn't find a link to his lyrics on-line, so I've transcribed them myself. I can't promise they're 100% accurate, but they're close. (If you know of his lyrics on-line, holler.)

MC Kiwi
“The March”
Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising

Hey, hey, hey
We got to fight this
Fists up now
We got to bring this
Fists up now
We got to fight this
Fists up now
We got to bring this
Fists up now
Hey, hey, hey

Fuck another dream being deferred
This time the people get the last word
The government’s interpretation of freedom and justice is absurd
The revolution turns at 33 1/3
I observe the hatred
And wonder why people can’t make it
Sitting in the belly buck naked
Getting fed bullets and crap
Once the trigger’s pulled back
Thinking that the only escape is rap or
Selling dime sacks
This economic system got all of our minds trapped
Having the people ask you,
“Why is like that?”
How come we ain’t equal
Why is it that we’d rather put profit over people
That legal injection being put in Mumia’s arm
Should be reason enough for us to quit being calm
And rig the alarm
Reexamine right from wrong
Take it back to where we started from
Song by song

We about to make history
Bring the people all together for the victory
Got to take our freedom back for the proletariat
Where all our people at
What…marching, marching

March to the rhythm of our destiny
Bring the people all together for the victory
Got to take our freedom back from these punk bureaucrats
Where all our people at, come on

What do you do when the school is the prison
I’m sick of struggling
Tired of being a victim
I’ve had it with the exploitation of racism
The everyday oppression of men, women, and children
The people’s frustration over capitalism
That’s why we’re motivating with this rap and rhythm
Pro-people, community based activism
Promoting unity to fight this bitch ass system
We ain’t hating,
We organizing
To get this whole nation uprising
We see liberation at the horizon
The sun shining, the pop-blocking, rap-writing
The flares scratching off the top rhyme and free-styling
We sick of being silent
We speak to be heard
Give a fuck if what you call peace is disturbed
First verse talked about dreams being deferred
All the people ever wanted was what we deserved

We about to make history
Bring the people all together for the victory
Got to take our freedom back for the proletariat
Where all our people at
What…marching, marching

March to the rhythm of our destiny
Bring the people all together for the victory
Got to take our freedom back from these punk bureaucrats
Where all our people at, come on

Ain’t nothing going on but the rent
In this American pie only a few truly own a percent
Cause most people live most of their life in debt
Cause we paying way too much for what we actually get
Is this one bedroom really worth half of one check?
We don’t even get a chance to live life content
While the pigs treat us like the usual suspect
And you still ask why my community’s upset
Because it’s the haves versus the have nots
A half ounce of hope versus one crack rock
A white president and one crooked black cop
The prison industry is the new cash crop
We fighting for our freedom
We ain’t got no choice
Fighting for all of my people who got no voice
This war on the streets
Turned us all into soldiers
So we keep marching
Till we die, till it’s all over



MC Kiwi
“Yours Truly”
Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising

What’s up? You Ready?
One, two
Let me get a little more on my headphones
That’s cool right there man

I spit for all creatures
Alien and human being
Whether you’re deaf, dumb, blind or all-seeing
Whether you’re Filipino, Korean, Black or Mexican
Whether you’re straight, gay, lesbian, queer, or questioning

Each drop of spit damages every last enemy
To have the hardest rappers challenging their masculinity
And break down every phobia and every last -ism
Clean out the whole house and take out the crash rhythm

No such thing as a debate when you inject hate
And you wonder why men and women can’t communicate
And you wonder why we still suffer to this day
Oh you ask, could it be that perhaps Kiwi’s gay
Ask my fiancé and she’ll say, “all of the above”
It doesn’t matter who I come across
It’s all love
Regardless what color, age, size or gender
Go ahead, hold your head up, proud
Just remember that

This is for you and yours
Coming from yours truly
This life is one big battle
This is my tour of duty
The pure beauty that lives in all people
Until we’re all equal
We fight, so off we go
Because my folks are still suffering
Look at how the system do me
This life is one big battle
This is my tour of duty
The pure beauty exists in all people
Until we’re all equal
We fight, so off we go

Yeah my shit stinks
Shame on me to forget, go figure
An emcee trying to keep his ego in check
I’m trying to show all of my people respect
To represent, give a voice to everyone of Filipino descent
I’m trying to be about something that’s bigger than Kiwi
Bigger than pop culture, Mc Donalds, and MTV
Bigger than …
Bigger than gold fronts
And bigger than whatever Shaq eats for lunch

We ain’t have a choice in this paradise you gotta struggle
It’s easy for me to hate, but I can’t knock the hustle
We made the most out of living in this concrete jungle
Young knuckleheads always getting in a lot of trouble
I keep it honest, humble,
And just accept fear
Remind myself that I paid hella dues to get here
So now worries, I’m loving this mad journey
But I got a ways to go
Still getting my hands dirty, because

This is for you and yours
Coming from yours truly
This life is one big battle
This is my tour of duty
The pure beauty that lives in all people
Until we’re all equal
We fight, so off we go

My folks are still suffering
Look at how the system do me
This life is one big battle
This is my tour of duty
The pure beauty exists in my people
Until we’re all equal
We fight, so off we go

This is for you and yours.

Phallus Palace by Dean Kotula

Another book I read over my winter break...

Kotula, Dean. Consulting Editor William E. Parker. Phallus Palace: Female to Male Transsexuals. Los Angeles: Alyson Publications, 2002.

Dean Kotula, in his book, Phallus Palace, argues that “what is common to all transsexuals and what distinguishes them from other sexual minorities is an aversion toward or awkwardness with one’s genitals and a desire for sex-assignment surgery” (xx). More specifically, a differentiating aspect of Phallus Palace is its foregrounding of transition (surgical reassignment surgery from one sex to the other) as the central characteristic of transsexuals. Kotula supports his argument in part by: 1) speaking from his own experiences as a female to male transsexual; 2) gathering support from contributing authors, including Katherine Rachlin, Ph.D. and interviewed subject, Milton Diamond, Ph.D.; and 3) presenting the stories of several other FTMs. Kotula’s purpose is to make clear the difference between transsexuals and transgender people in order to reaffirm that while they have been born in female bodies, transsexual men are indeed male, and to reaffirm their desires and need for surgery. In addition, Kotula’s text is also concerned with educating and encouraging transsexual men, but also their allies to advocate for more, better scientific research, as well as improved surgical outcomes.

Katherine Rachlin’s essay, “FTM 101: Dispelling Myths About the Invisible and the Impossible” nicely presents the misinformation in scientific literature that has skewed the knowledge base on FTMs. Specifically, Rachlin points to the way in which particular framings of research and particular research questions lead to findings that are shaped in specific, biased/limited ways (reminiscent of Kath Weston’s introductory chapter in her 1998 book Long Slow Burn: Sexuality and Social Sciences).

Particularly interesting is Rachlin’s assertion that “most [FTMs] do not become actively interested in changing their body and living in their chosen role until they learn that it is possible. Most report that the wish was always there, but without the belief that it was possible, they did not attempt to actualize their potential” (10). Phallus Palace is certainly a book that could not only introduce the possibility of (surgical) transition to FTMs, but also fortify the conviction of those considering undergoing surgery. In fact, Kotula’s “Conversation with Milton Diamond” and its demystification of surgery and of some of the issues surrounding and processes leading up to surgery further acts as a resource and reaffirmation for those seeking surgery; as does “Part Four: The Surgeries” which provides interviews with doctors who perform sex-assignment surgeries, as well as detailed photos of such surgeries.

Personally, I’m skeptical of any assertion touting homogeneity of a group of people, as Kotula seems to do in regards to FTMs and their relationship to sex-assignment surgery. Also, I wish that other dimensions of difference (e.g., race, class, nationality) took an integral part within Phallus Palace’s discussion of sex-assignment surgery. (I do have to give props, though, to Diane Ellaborn’s essay, “Seeking Manhood: An Introductory Guide to Assessment of the Female-to-Male Adolescent” for its attention to age and the issue of transsexual youth.) Still, whether for trans scholars who may or may not agree with Kotula’s narrow definition of FTMs, FTMs exploring their surgical options, or those with a general interest in LGBT Studies, Phallus Palace is a text worth glancing. (Besides, it isn’t overly dense, and for some could be a relatively quick read.)

Missing True Discussion (Alito Hearings)

Watching CNN's coverage of the Alito hearings has me shaking my head. It seems that the whole process is turning into a fierce battle, not of constitutional principles and the protections of our individual rights, privacy, and equal protection, but rather of democrats versus republicans.

I wish that it was a time when true discussion happened, but I'm more and more convinced that that happens less and less...not only in politics, but in all areas of our lives.

Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby

Hornby's Polysyllabic Spree is yet another book I read over my winter break. Definitely not as moving as Translating New Brown, but the concept of the book ("a hilarious and true account of one man's struggle with the monthly tide of the books he's bought and the books he's been meaning to read") was intriguing enough to catch this reader's attention.

What I think is notable enough to quote:

"Most decent people can't sleep easily at night, and that, apparently, is precisely why the world is in such a mess" (35). (Something for all the insomniacs in my life.)

"all the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal" (125). (Just the thing I need to justify my mass of books!)

"To lie to someone is to insult them, and the liar is diminished in the eyes of the person he lies to" (138). (Truth is, after all, one of the pillars of peace.)

Translating New Brown by Lolan Buhain Sevilla

By far, the best thing I read over my winter break was Lolan Buhain Sevilla's book, Translating New Brown. I stumbled over it at Blacklava when I was shopping for tunes by MC Kiwi.

It's a slim volume, totaling just 70 pages, but as a butch pinay publication, its weight lies beyond its page total. Sevilla tackles themes of love (hopeful, unrequited, fulfilled), butch identity, sexual and physical abuse, all steeped in the consciousness of a "2nd generation butch pinay with philippine roots, san diego origins and san francisco beginnings" (70). Definitely worth checking out.

If I'm lucky, maybe next time I'm back in SF I'll actually get to see Kreatibo, a queer pinay artist collective Sevilla is a founding member of...in the mean time, I hope those who are in the area take full advantage.

West Coast, East Bay Queers Rule

Just had to give a quick shout out to the East Bay Queers who opened their home last Sunday to host a viewing of the L-Word season 3 opener. The house an amazing space, with a cozy living room and a open kitchen area. But, really it was the people who made it a happening time.

There was yummy pizza delivered (from this place called Spuds), collage craft materials were provided, and best of all, bunches of people gathered in community. Some of us were L-Word fans, some hadn't ever seen an episode, others were only ocassional viewers, but we were still all able to come (not cum) together (granted, there were no avowed Jenny fans).

It's been a long time since I've gotten to have that kind of community--since my days in San Diego, in fact. I still have hope for DC being able to yield that kind of community gathering, but I'm not holding my breath until it happens. There is something about this place that just doesn't seems as conducive to hanging with friends (which my Starbucks co-workers are convinced is a purely "Californian" thing).

Here's my craft project:

Baby Blues giving me the blues

Sadly, yet another example of sexism alive and well in our world today. With messages like these, it's no wonder that activist and author Suzanne Pharr believes that Homophobia [is] a Weapon of Sexism (ISBN 1890759015).

World Day of Peace, 2006

After having a very fun new year's eve (despite the lack of electricity thanks to storm-related outages), I attended mass at my "home" church, St. Augustine's. It felt really, good to be back in that church, where everywhere I turned I saw people Brown like me. Catholicism is infused with my sense of being Filipino, and I can't imagine giving it up. Some catholics may give me up, being queer and all, but they can't make me quit it.

Let me start by saying that for the first time I took a friend to church with me. She was a great sport, accompanying me despite her own lack of identification with Catholicism. (I can't imagine what folks do when they have "real" religious differences. I was already worried that asking my friend to accompany me was too much...worried about what she thought about the various rituals and prayers that made up the mass.)

In any case, I have to say that I really enjoyed the father's sermon--so much so that I feel the need to write a little about it here.

As it turns out, January 1, 2006 was the World Day of Peace. I don't really know much about the World Day of Peace, and I'm less interested in the current pope's message for this year's celebration (but you can certainly do your own research and find out more about both if you're interested). I was very capivated, though, by my father's sermon in celebration of the World Day of Peace. Specifically, he talked about truth, justice, freedom, and love. I couldn't replicate his sermon here, despite my desire to, but here's some cool sites/resources I found that I feel are in keeping with his message.



from
http://www.johndear.org/sermons_homilies/worldpeace.html

Pope John Paul has declared January 1st "World Peace Day." As you know, each week over the past two months, he has issued strong statements against the U.S. plans to massacre children in Iraq, to lead us to World War III, and to risk nuclear war with North Korea. The other day he said, "There is no alternative to peace." Each year, he gives a long statement on January 1st. This year, he calls the worldwide church to reflect on the 40th anniversary of Pope John 23rd's encyclical "Pacem in Terris." Here is an excerpt from the statement he issued today:

"Blessed Pope John XXIII was a man unafraid of the future. He was sustained in his optimism by his deep trust in God and in humanity, both of which grew out of the faith in which he had grown up. Moved by his trust in Providence, even in what seemed like a permanent situation of war, he did not hesitate to summon the leaders of his time to a new vision of peace for the world. This is the legacy that he left us.

"On this World Day of Peace, January 1st, 2003, let us all resolve to have his same outlook: to trust in the merciful and compassionate God who calls us to brotherhood and sisterhood, and to have confidence in the men and women of our time because, like those of every other time, they bear the image of God in their souls. It is on this basis that we can hope to build a world of peace on earth.

"At the beginning of a new year in our human history, this is the hope that rises spontaneously from the depths of my heart: that in the spirit of every individual there may be a renewed dedication to the noble mission which Pacem in Terris proposed forty years ago to all men and women of good will, the task of establishing new relationships in human society, under the sway and guidance of the four pillars of peace: "truth, justice, love, and freedom."

He concluded with a prayer: May the God who calls us from oppression and war to freedom and cooperation for the good of all, help people everywhere to build a world of peace on the four pillars of peace taught by Blessed Pope John 23: truth, justice, love, freedom



Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, M.Afr. " Peace in the World: The Contribution of Interreligious Relations" February 28, 2005. Georgetown University. http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/articles/fitzgerald_28Feb05.htm



Some related notable quotations, from Catholic Social Teaching, Office for Social Justice, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis http://www.osjspm.org/cst/

Every citizen also has the responsibility to work to secure justice and human rights through an organized social response. In the words of Pius XI, "Charity will never be true charity unless it takes justice into account ... Let no one attempt with small gifts of charity to exempt himself from the great duties imposed by justice" [71]. The guaranteeing of basic justice for all is not an optional expression of largesse but an inescapable duty for the whole of society. (Economic Justice for All #120)

Christian love of neighbor and justice cannot be separated. For love implies an absolute demand for justice, namely a recognition of the dignity and rights of one's neighbor. Justice attains its inner fullness only in love. Because every person is truly a visible image of the invisible God and a sibling of Christ, the Christian finds in every person God himself and God's absolute demand for justice and love. (Justice in the World #34)