Unity Through Diversity: Living at the Intersections | National LGBT POC Health Summit | October 13 - 16, 2011

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Roberta Never Sang about any Flack

Posted Wed Aug 3 2011 6:36 PM

Just the other day I followed a real-time Twitter feed from a panel facilitated by QWOC-Boston. It was what I would describe as a 'killing me softly' moment. The East Coast LGBT POC discussion made for some sweet company during a late afternoon at the office, in the Pacific-to-the-very-mainstream-Northwest. The live stories from my virtual Tweeps strummed all sorts of feelings in me - the pain, the validation, the resilience and the unity. Here's how some of that cyberfam love traveled through the Twitterspere (@ocadsv is me, well, my work account).

@qwocboston moderator: "We're tweeting live from our QWOC Week Opening Panel"

@ocadsv: "Ooh, you're at a live QPOC panel? Please share this link with folks, a National LGBT POC Health Summit www.unitythroughdiversity.com"

@qwocboston panelist: "There isn't always a place for me within the mainstream gay movement"

@qwocboston moderator to @ o cadsv : "Thank you for this! We will share this information. Keep following QWOC Week!"

@ o cadsv: Thank U and keep up the amazing work!

@ qwocboston panelist: "All of your loved ones have to come out with you. Everyone around you goes through their own process"

@ qwocboston panelist: "You transition throughout your life. It's a constant process. It can make you push yourself to keep forging ahead"

@ qwocboston panelist: "Oppressed people often oppress each other"

@ qwocboston panelist: "My dad thought this was something I learned in college from white people"

@ qwocboston panelist: "I was the academically gifted kid. That was my role. It protected me from a lot of things that could have otherwise hurt me"

@ qwocboston panelist: "There is some activism I simply won't participate in for fear of being thrown in a men's prison"

'Talk about living at the intersections! And, yes, relating to most of what was shared was like they 'found my letters and read each one OUT loud.' During my drive home that evening I took a moment to rejoice in how blessed I am to be in the company of many other LGBT people of color, even if we live in different time zones. At the end of that experience I also felt all jazzed up and even more ready for October! With less than three months away from the Unity Through Diversity:Living at the Intersections LGBT POC National Health Summit, what's not to get all excited about?

The Unity Through Diversity:Living at the Intersections planning committee members have been enthusiastically coordinating all of the details so that everyone's experience will be one where they can fully bring themselves to the table and to the gathering itself. Myself, along with many other advocates for healthy LGBT POC communities from across the country await your participation in what will be a living YOU fiercely opportunity. Oh, and I can't wait to see you all at karaoke night. Surely you can guess what song I'll be singing. ;)

For now, connect with us here http://www.unitythroughdiversity.com/ or,
on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unity-Through-Diversity/181812478517813.

Also, keep an eye out for our next blog which will feature a podcast spotlighting our amazing Unity Through Diversity leader, Tandra LaGrone, Executive Director of In Our Own Voices. See you in NY!

Staying Connected,

Gabby Santos
Program Coordinator for Underserved Communities
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Co-Chair for the UTD Workshop Committee, and Executive Committee Member




	BLOG Roberta Never Sang about any Flack Posted Wed Aug 3 2011 6:36 PM Just the other day I followed a real-time Twitter feed from a panel facilitated by QWOC-Boston. It was what I would describe as a 'killing me softly' moment. The East Coast LGBT POC discussion made for some sweet company during a late afternoon at the office, in the Pacific-to-the-very-mainstream-Northwest. The live stories from my virtual Tweeps strummed all sorts of feelings in me - the pain, the validation, the resilience and the unity. Here's how some of that cyberfam love traveled through the Twitterspere (@ocadsv is me, well, my work account). @qwocboston moderator: "We're tweeting live from our QWOC Week Opening Panel" @ocadsv: "Ooh, you're at a live QPOC panel? Please share this link with folks, a National LGBT POC Health Summit www.unitythroughdiversity.com" @qwocboston panelist: "There isn't always a place for me within the mainstream gay movement" @qwocboston moderator to @ o cadsv : "Thank you for this! We will share this information. Keep following QWOC Week!" @ o cadsv: Thank U and keep up the amazing work! @ qwocboston panelist: "All of your loved ones have to come out with you. Everyone around you goes through their own process" @ qwocboston panelist: "You transition throughout your life. It's a constant process. It can make you push yourself to keep forging ahead" @ qwocboston panelist: "Oppressed people often oppress each other" @ qwocboston panelist: "My dad thought this was something I learned in college from white people" @ qwocboston panelist: "I was the academically gifted kid. That was my role. It protected me from a lot of things that could have otherwise hurt me" @ qwocboston panelist: "There is some activism I simply won't participate in for fear of being thrown in a men's prison" 'Talk about living at the intersections! And, yes, relating to most of what was shared was like they 'found my letters and read each one OUT loud.' During my drive home that evening I took a moment to rejoice in how blessed I am to be in the company of many other LGBT people of color, even if we live in different time zones. At the end of that experience I also felt all jazzed up and even more ready for October! With less than three months away from the Unity Through Diversity:Living at the Intersections LGBT POC National Health Summit, what's not to get all excited about? The Unity Through Diversity:Living at the Intersections planning committee members have been enthusiastically coordinating all of the details so that everyone's experience will be one where they can fully bring themselves to the table and to the gathering itself. Myself, along with many other advocates for healthy LGBT POC communities from across the country await your participation in what will be a living YOU fiercely opportunity. Oh, and I can't wait to see you all at karaoke night. Surely you can guess what song I'll be singing. ;) For now, connect with us here http://www.unitythroughdiversity.com/ or, on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unity-Through-Diversity/181812478517813. Also, keep an eye out for our next blog which will feature a podcast spotlighting our amazing Unity Through Diversity leader, Tandra LaGrone, Executive Director of In Our Own Voices. See you in NY! Staying Connected, Gabby Santos Program Coordinator for Underserved Communities Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Co-Chair for the UTD Workshop Committee, and Executive Committee Member
Unity Through Diversity: Living at the Intersections \| National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People Of Color Health Summit