To 'celebrate' National Coming Out Day, A Wider Bridge and the Oregon Jewish Museum are bringing trans former Israeli Defense Force soldier Ofer Erez to Portland for a conversation. According to the Oregon Jewish Museum: "At a time when some of our own decision makers are calling trans military service into question, Ofer provides a much-needed voice for our LGBTQ advocacy here at home." Eva Aaronson will join me to discuss what it means when local organizations line up with Israel to promote pinkwashing (the Israeli campaign to use queer and trans people to distract from its anti-Palestinian atrocities), as well as the implicit pro-military rhetoric attached to this event.
In the second half of the hour, we'll be joined by Mads Ambrose and Jackson Hollingsworth, to discuss LGBTQ perspectives on Uhuru Solidarity with the liberation principles of the African People's Socialist Party.
Mads Ambrose is the chair of Uhuru Solidarity Movement Portland chapter and The Reparations Challenge under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party. Jackson Hollingsworth is the membership coordinator of St. Petersburg, Florida's Uhuru Solidarity Movement chapter and the international project director for Days of Reparations to African People. Both Mads and Jackson have presented on why the white queer and trans people owe reparations and should be in solidarity with African liberation.
Uhuru Solidarity Movement hosts the film Concerning Violence on October 23rd, and the Day of Reparations to African People on November 13th.
Here's video from a 2017 talk by Hollingsworth, 'White LGBT Solidarity with Black Power: No Pride in Genocide.'
- KBOO