The Boriqua Lens

Making Community

2010-07-05T15:01:00.004-04:00

My wife and I often talk about finding ways to make community. When we were younger and childless, it was fairly easy for us to travel about and make friends-single friends, queer friends-none of us had children so it was easy to see these people. Children bring a new dimension to socializing-one must always think "is their home kid-friendly" "will traveling to (fill in the blank) exhaust the kids?" "are these kid-friendly people" to name a few. Throw in the "hey these are two women raising children" and I don't know it all seems impossible.

Moving to the suburbs has been an education-particularly for this writer who is a city chick through and through. I haven't figured out suburban mores enough to know how to insert my family into the fabric of the community. I know we are known here-our family is fairly unique-but I wonder, is it that we are gay? that we are women of color? that our kids are cuter than theirs (I had to put that in :) )

In any event, I think it's time to be more proactive. Family Pride week in P-town is approaching and I am determined to make community for my family, one queer family at a time.

Lesbian Dad

2010-06-04T20:18:00.001-04:00

About
I didn't realize I didn't post my thoughts on this awesome blog. I've been reading Lesbian Dad since I did a search for queer parent blogs a year ago, desperate to read/connect with other Lesbian and Gay parents out there and lucky me, there was LD. I love reading the insightful posts, and the photos are a welcome and appreciated addition. If you get a chance, read this blog. Good reading to you all!

Blogging for LGBT Families Day

2010-05-31T10:54:00.005-04:00

Hello All:
I hope to get a new round of readers soon during the upcoming LGBT families Bloggers event. This is why I am sitting here this beautiful Memorial Day listening to the Indigo Girls and getting back in touch with writing on my blog about being a Queer woman of color raising two kids with my wife of almost 12 years. I began writing this blog in hopes of exploring, no maybe more dissecting through writing how we live our lives given that no blueprint has been set out for us.

Parenting is no easy task, and I never thought it would be. Some of the things I think are unique to same-sex parents that need to be talked about, dealt with, resolved, and supported, are 1-we constantly are thinking about how people will view our family. 2-we have to remind our children that not all families have a mom and a dad. 3-we have to remind people in the community that not all families have a mom and a dad. 4-people question how we came to be parents. 5-people don't monitor themselves when saying things like "wow your kid looks nothing like you." 6-Canada is much more queer family friendly than the States. 7-we are often the only kind of our family in most places we go (unless it's a queer family event and even then we are often the only POC present). 8-people still expect that one parent is the mom and the other is the dad.

These are certainly just a few things of course. As a woman of color, I often have the feeling that when people see our family they are assuming we are single moms, unfortunately a reality in our communities. I find it hardest for me to be out in the POC community, but I think that's because I just don't know other queer parents of color-at all. Here lies the reason for this blog-to connect with families like mine. I suspect many other LBGT POC parents who are spread across the States or elsewhere might be looking too.

I know we exist-and I hope you reach out to me to let me know you're here via email

Thanks to the Mombian blog I can at least participate in something like this. I think this blogging event is very important given that I have found several other bloggers I visit often via this event last year and I have made a great many connections via the Internet world to other LGBT parents.

I hope to write more as soon as my kids give me a moment to breathe. Cuidate mi gente. Peace.

All About Avatar

2009-12-23T23:02:00.001-05:00

Originally uploaded by OfficialAvatarMovie

If you can spare almost three hours, this movie is worth your coins. Run to see it.

2009 coming to an end

2009-11-30T21:26:00.002-05:00

It's almost the end of 2009 and I haven't written as much as I'd like...the holidays are coming and my town is already celebrating. Here in South Jersey, the towns bring in Santa in a fire truck. Last year, the kidlets and I were home waiting for the Mrs. to come from somewhere, and unbeknownst to me, the lighted fire trucks blasting their sirens and bright with Christmas lights, came riding up and down our streets. Firefighters handed out candy canes, and Santa waved from the truck. I probably was more excited than my two kids.

A Queer NY State of Mind

2009-08-11T20:47:00.002-04:00

Back in the early 90s, I was a young Latina dyke finding herself in a wonderful moment for queerness. Coming out of the closet was certainly difficult, but as my generation found their way to the queer light, they found a community ready to fight to be seen, loved, and celebrated. Reminiscing right now, listening to "Love and Happiness" with La India's fabulous house diva voice, I can easily transmit myself to the streets of the West Village, when on any given night, the streets were packed with a queerly marauding crowd. We looked, we "kee-kee'd", we vogued, we made out under streetlights, we crept on crumbling piers and held on tight to the brown sugar love that came our way by way of the wonderfully useful NYC transit.

And yet, with all that queerness, nothing at that time prepared me for being a 30-something dyke in the 'burbs, a wife and 2 kids to boot. That life was transient, the moment of gayness in that degree feels far removed from me.

Of course, I realize I was living in the zeitgeist of the 90s, a much freer, positive moment in recent history. Sitting here in my introspective mood, my Itunes playing the house music of Little Louie Vega, I sense that spirit is too much a distant memory.

Perhaps that's why I enjoyed watching RuPaul's Drag Race so much, and why I was so drawn to Nina Flowers...I remember literally bumping into RuPaul at the Pyramid, the most East of the Village I ever ventured to.

Justice Sotomayor

2009-08-08T19:06:00.000-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

2009-08-06T20:40:00.003-04:00

How exciting for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. This Bronx-born Nuyorican is very proud to have heard the news of today's vote.

Listen here, from NPR
More to follow...

what you find on the Internet

2009-08-03T21:17:00.000-04:00

Mombian

2009-08-03T21:05:00.001-04:00

Mombian

Posted using ShareThis

LGB parents please read

2009-08-02T20:57:00.003-04:00

One of the things I am most proud of is how my partner and I share the joy of reading with our children. Our kids clamor to hear our voices telling stories--about trains, funny stories, rhyming stories...books that don't insult their intelligence by being commercials for television shows.

As a follower of Mombian, a queer website about queer parenting, I appreciated being alerted to a great kids' book by the famed author of "Heather Has Two Mommies", Leslea Newman The board book is a wonderfully sweet book about the every day life of a child in the home with a Mommy and a Mama. At first reading, it reminded me of the books by Todd Parr, another favorite in our household. But earlier today as I sat with my daughter in my lap waiting for her Mama, my wife, to come back from running errands, it dawned on me that this book was more than a simple board book. In fact, I truly felt that here was a book that soon-to-be (same-gendered) parents could use to guide them in seeing how queer parenting really is. Beyond saying "look we're just like everyone else", it's comforting to read how easy this recounting of life for queer parents can be. I know not all queer moms go by Mommy and Mama, but in my family we do, and my daughter who isn't even two could point to the pictures and say Mommy and Mama and point to me and my wife. She saw her family, something I can't say she does in 99 percent of the books we read.

Now, convincing heteros that queer parents are just as good is a whole other animal...

NYC Pride 2009

2009-06-30T21:18:00.003-04:00

Ahh to be in NYC for Gay Pride. What a great joy to any out loud and proud queer in the city. Even though the queer life I once knew has morphed into something else, pride in NYC seemed the most logical place to go to show my kidlets what a great community we have, even far away in the 'burbs of South Jersey.

(video from El Blog de PJ)

Gay Pride in NY with kids is very different. First, how do you explain pride to toddlers? We did have the pleasure of going to the Gay Center's "Center Kids picnic" in the Village. I had hoped that we could one, expose the kidlets to other queer families (particularly Daddies and Papas) and two, to meet other queer parents to just talk. I think I hoped for too much given the short amount of time we would be in town and, it is very difficult as an adult to strike up new friendships as we once did...

I'm delirious tonight. More with pics soon...

I'm back...and, the sad news

2009-06-25T20:36:00.002-04:00

I had been meaning to return to this blog and today was going to be my day. I got a text message from my sister who told me Michael Jackson died. I didn't immediately comprehend what she wrote and couldn't believe it. Lo and behold in fact Michael Jackson, the voice of my childhood, had indeed died.

I cannot say that the madness of his adulthood was appropriate or questionable, but I can't deny his music was the proverbial soundtrack of my childhood. I truly feel like today, a part of my childhood has died.

Nelly Furtado-Powerless

2008-03-14T22:57:00.001-04:00

Yes, I think she's hot.

Cafe Tacuba-Ojala Que Llueva Cafe

2008-03-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

Okay. It's been some time since I posted anything, but I am very much in love with this version of Juan Luis Guerra's "Ojala que llueva cafe" by Cafe Tacuba and you all must must watch this great performance. What I would give to to play any instrument like that violinist/fiddler?

humor, Philly style

2007-09-26T09:31:00.000-04:00

My good friend Amy is a nut-and a great singer/actor/comedian. Check her out

Aviva Chomsky, Immigrants, and such

2007-09-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

Browsing through the books at my alma mater, I noticed the book "They Take Our Jobs" and 20 other myths about immigration by Aviva Chomsky. Sounds like a book we should all read, especially you over at CNN. As reviewed in Colorlines Magazine:

Review By: Daisy Hernandez, ColorLines - July 1, 2007
“If ever there was a need for a pithy primer on immigration, it’s now, and scholar-activist Aviva Chomsky has provided just that. She considers myths from the book’s title, “immigrants don’t pay taxes” and then gracefully and in plain language delivers arguments with lessons on history, law and racism. In other words, this is the book to give your xenophobic mother-in-law at the next family barbecue.”

bilbao is grey

2007-09-13T20:20:00.001-04:00

bilbao is grey
Originally uploaded by txiribiton

I really need to get to Spain. I found this great photo on Flickr

music and more of what I miss about NY

2007-09-11T11:51:00.000-04:00

Today I am really missing NY. First, sadly it is the 6th anniversary of September 11th, though unlike that day, today is a dark, dismal, rainy day. I can't believe how much my life has changed since that time, including the fact that I no longer live in my beloved city. Please take a moment to remember all those who perished that day, and to pray for peace and the bringing home of our women and men serving in Iraq.

On a much different note, my buddy over at Blabbeando posted this and other great videos of a party in Brooklyn reminding me how much I miss the spontaneity of NYers coming together to party out in the park or anywhere else where finding the spirit that moves us is present in beautiful, dancing brown bodies...

Coming Out at 88

2007-09-04T19:44:00.000-04:00

Living in the 'burbs, hell, living in Philadelphia has often made me feel like I retreated into the closet and if I sit and think about it, queerness feels much different now that I'm a parent trying to live a quiet existence in a safe neighborhood. These days, it's my son who outs me regularly as he tries to explain in his toddler voice that I'm his mommy and my partner is his mama while strangers smile and look bewildered.

Found this great essay at MSNBC/Newsweek about an 88-year old woman who has finally been able to say she is a lesbian. Her essay can be found here.

Ozomatli Playing in the crowd

2007-08-24T14:01:00.001-04:00

I just saw Ozomatli in Philly yesterday and they were beyond awesome! What a fun group, with guapo musicians and great musica pa la raza! Thanks to my BFF I spent the evening sipping an ice-cold beer, enjoying the mild summer night looking out over to the Ben Franklin Bridge, and checking out the musicheads who ventured out to the festival piers on Penn's Landing. Thankfully Ozomatli performed first, riling up the audience and making me sweat to their funky Latin, ska, cumbia, rock, hip hop fusion. I have been into this group ever since I read a snippet about their first album in the magazine, Urban, The Latino Magazine. A big shout out and thank you to the guys for making my night!

Non-trads and College; American Born Chinese, playgrounds in Philly

2007-07-31T09:19:00.000-04:00

Previously I mentioned that I recently earned my college degree at the age of 34. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment and very aware of the difficulties so many poor, working-class and students of color have with getting into college and actually earning their degree. In fact, I have decided that in whatever capacity I can, I will bring attention to this matter and try to work on ways to make sure POC and poor and working class folks get all the help they need to get into and stay in college.

I read a fabulous book called First in the Family. Advice About College From First-Generation Students by Kathleen Cushman. Although it is a slim volume, the advice and guidance provided in the pages of this book is truly invaluable and something I wish I could turn to when I was a student. For me, I always felt like everyone else had some kind of background knowledge on how to navigate studying, missing home, CULTURE SHOCK, being in the extreme minority on campus, etc. I also felt it was difficult to get support from parents, family and/or friends because they were not in school nor had they been to college so they had no useful advice. These topics are all covered in this book written for and by POC, poor and working class students. One thing that was not covered as much was being a non-traditional student-that is, over the age of 24. Being an adult returning to college, particularly in a school with no programs specifically for this demographic, is daunting to say the least. Hopefully the Lumina Foundation, which provided generous support for the writing of the book, will also support the writing of a survival book for non-traditional students.

I also just finished reading Gene Yang's book American Born Chinese. I'm a sucker for graphic novels written by POC so when I found the book in my local library I snatched it up. Although billed as a young adult book, this graphic novel is quite a good read for any person interested in a fictionalized account of the effects of Americanization and assimilation on folks of color. Yang gives us an intertwining triptych of the life of his protagonist, mixing myth and legends, pop culture, and teen angst that is engaging, funny and heartbreaking.

* * *
Given that my little one is a precocious and active two year old, my wife and I are always on the lookout for fun things to do. Given that we live so close to Philly we try to get to the city (and diversity) as often as possible lest our son think that the world is just made up of White folks like those found in the 'burbs. An acquaintance of ours pointed us to an out of the way playground/playhouse in Fairmount Park called Smith Playhouse. Although it isn'tt easily accessible by train or bus (that we could tell) it was a short distance away from the Philadelphia Zoo off of Girard Avenue...It was pretty cool to see this house made just for children, to go down the famous wooden slide, and play on the new playground equipment. The house itself was 3 levels of playrooms which the little one truly enjoyed though it was pretty hot in there given that there was no air conditioning or ceiling fans. Even so, it was still fabulous and best of all FREE.

Healthcare for Children, Latino music, beautiful day, ah?

2007-07-22T13:24:00.000-04:00

I happened upon the NY Times editorial for this Sunday about Bushie's attempts to dismantle and diminish the Child Health Plus insurance made available to working class folks in this country. The Times rightfully notes that decreasing the funds will only make more CHILDREN be without health care, and as we already know, too many of these are poor and working class people of color. Why is Bushie so intent on taking away the little help that CHiP provides to parents who cannot afford the high cost of health insurance? He rather us pay out the wazoo health insurance premiums that are out of control. If anything, CHiP needs more money, and more coverage should be afforded to folks who might be without children, working at low-waged jobs. One of the things I can "thank" PA for is allowing me to at least apply for and be accepted to their health coverage for single poor adults, even if I did have to go on a waiting list for almost a year. I mean, it is totally ridiculous! Here is today's NY Times Editorial

I still haven't recovered from Rumba 104.5's move to the AM dial particularly since I cannot get the frequency at home which means I can only listen to grainy Latin music in my car radio-(damn that's messed up!) I've been trolling the Internet for Latino music-any music to satiate my need for a little Latin sound. I found a very good site called Onda Tropical which has reviews of funky music. I have also revisited my old music on Itunes and on CDs (which are gathering dust these days) and have rediscovered Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, Daddy Yankee, Aterciopelados, Timbalada, and my other eclectic bunch from the Global South.

It's been quite gorgeous these days, which is bringing back memories of a couple of years ago when I was getting ready for the arrival of my little man. My ladyfriend/wife was so beautiful and glowing and round, and it was such a happy moment in my life. I adore my sweet boy, and I'm glad I didn't have to pop him out! His bday is coming up-I can't wait till he too becomes excited for his special day.

Latino Life in America

2007-07-17T10:30:00.001-04:00

Having missed Sunday night's The Next Food Network Star, I relied on TiVo to record for me the sweat and food shenanigans of the contestants for this year's competition. I have been rooting for JAG-Joshua Adam Garcia given that he was the only Latino on the show and has been batting for Boricuas from day one. Much to my dismay, I faced the black screen toward the end of the show with its white letters informing me that in fact, La JAG was misrepresenting his culinary qualifications and his military career. WHAT!!! I could not freakin' believe it, I mean, I was really hoping that this dude was going to come through for all Boricuas who faithfully watch the food network with nary a Portorra showing us the magic of Puerto Rican sofrito, sazon, or any other of our culinary secrets. I was totally disheartened and totally pissed off. Now he's gone, having "resigned" from the competition. Puerto Ricans are not prominent on any television show and here is this miscreant ruining it for the good people out there! BOOOOOO!! hisssss!! to him. Now that I got that out of my system, how sad is it that JAG felt the only way to validate his obvious talent was to make up stories about himself. See, he needs direction on how to get on the ladder because he is truly misguided. Someone help that man, please.

Elsewhere, I was putzing around at the Blabbeando Blog when I found this-I don't even know what to call it- story.
(from the Blabbeando Blog)

Sports Illustrated Latino is gay-inclusive

The June-July issue of Sports Illustrated Latino has two different covers depending on where you buy it.

States in which the predominant immigrant population is from the Caribbean (read: the Eastern coast) can oggle at Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees because residents in these latitudes like baseball a lot, or so tell us the editors. Residents in states where the predominant immigrant population is from Central America, South America and Mexico (read: the rest of the states) get a cover story on Copa America, the soccer tournament taking place right now in Venezuela in which Uruguay and Brazil will duke it out for the championship this coming Sunday, because they like soccer a lot (thanks SI Latino editors! Now I really know my peoples!).

Not happy to pander to two different Latino populations, the editors have sneakily targeted a third: Los marico... ehem... da gays!

In a photo gallery featuring fourteen of the "most colorful" Mexican lucha libre fighters (that's wrestling to you muchachos) they include Maximo (pictured above):

"This exotic [character] (a wrestler who interprets a homosexual) causes confusion in his rivals by flirting with them. He's been a professional [wrestler] for five years" says the caption.

Considering the machismo in Latino sports, it's good to see SI Latino promote tolerance in it's pages. Not that the US-based WWE hasn't been just as inclusive in the past.

Other People's Stories, Dan Gottlieb, and Ben Stein

2007-07-16T14:44:00.000-04:00

Something my lady friend and I have in common is that we are immensely intrigued by people's life stories. For me, I can't help but listen to the natural poetry of life stories and how people use their bodies, voice, and colloquial language to conjure up the images and emotions of personal memories. Today I happened to be listening to Dan Gottlieb's radio show on NPR while hanging out with my son and I had to stop and listen to the stories being told. The premise of the show was that we don't listen to each other closely enough, that people's lives are a complete mystery and that we as a community don't do our part in taking time to truly listen to what's on people's minds, or to find out what people's stories are all about. Taking this premise, Dr. Gottlieb spoke with several folks who shared whatever they felt was important to share about their lives, and we heard from an 85 year old woman, a mother of six with terminal cancer, and a man in his 40s who was feeling the pain of his mother's loss and all that happened after it since the age of 8. What struck me most about these stories is that these are ordinary people with an extraordinary ability to tell their stories once they were given the opportunity. And I thought to myself, how many life stories have I heard that have shaped my life, moved me in a zig zag directions, and brought me here to this town in Pennsylvania...I urge you to take a moment with a friend, neighbor, loved one, or stranger, and ask them about themselves. Dr. Gottlieb suggested that perhaps the world would not feel so scary if we could listen to our neighbors. If you have a moment, go to the website and download the show here.

In other news, I was picking up Sunday's paper from the living room floor when a story in the NY Times business section caught my eye. The headline of the story was "Getting a Boost Up the Ladder of Success" written by Ben Stein. It instantly drew my attention because I surely could use some help trying to figure out how to get back on the ladder and then finally up it! I had forgotten that Stein is quite conservative and so his point of view was way different than mine. He did not fail to annoy me. The gist of the story is that he credits his success to nepotism and cronyism He smugly states that "success depends largely on a combination of education, ability, work habits and connections" while acknowledging half-heartedly that some people just don't have that luck. He ponders, "what if you are a young man or woman who has some talent and ambition but little or no idea of how to get onto the ladder?" His answer, "I am not at all sure what you do." Given that most of his column was about how he has managed to be successful, one loses interest in the fact that at the end he is calling for folks to be mentors. Here's an idea--why don't you (Ben Stein) start the organization that mentors folks and works toward erasing inequality. Or better yet, give of your leisure time gallivanting around the world in first-class seating to worthy organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters who have been doing just this for quite some time. And while you're at it, expand that list for getting up the ladder by adding "be a White man."

Brooklyn Bridge 6 am

2007-07-14T15:08:00.001-04:00

Brooklyn Bridge 6 am
Originally uploaded by overshadowed

This guy's photography is amazing! I've always wanted to capture this time in the morning...

Poetics

2007-07-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

Hello from the sunny 'burbs of Phila-del-phia. I've been getting back into the swing of poetry these days after a too long hiatus from composing original work. In 2001, I had the privilege of being invited to a writer's retreat in Washington State and there I finally had the courage to come out as a writer and poet. Of course, I knew these things about myself but it is very difficult to own up to this type of calling in a world that expects you to have "real" vocations like Internet mogul, politician, or businesswoman to name a few. Despite this coming out, my level of writing had diminished for some time which I finally attributed to needing to live life so that life could provide those snapshots of memory to commit to the page. Most recently, probably in part to having a bit more time on my hands, I've begun to write again. Some day soon I will post some work for your reading pleasure.

I also attribute this writing bug to the fact that I have been reading and rediscovering the works of poets I admire, such as Adrienne Rich, Mark Doty, Billy Collins, and Pablo Neruda. It had been some time since I visited the poetry sites Web Del Sol, Gertrude Press, and Small Spiral Notebook, and much to my happiness they are all thriving and growing and still publishing amazing poetry and art. More close to home, I have been tinkering around UPenn's Kelly Writer's House website and PENN SOUND. I didn't know that you could listen for free many poets reading their work. For instance, here is June Jordan's Poem, Poem for a Young Poet, posted on UPenn's Website, PennSound.

I'd love to find out about poetry sites that highlight the work of poets of color. Please post these to my comments page and I will list them for all in a future post.

A Queen Just Needs a Hero

2007-07-11T21:37:00.001-04:00

Rock it, sock it, push it! Thanks to my lady for forwarding this OVAH, FIERCE performance from one fabulosa Queen!

What do we want? Free and low-cost Healthcare!

2007-07-11T14:15:00.001-04:00

If you are poor, working class, or plain can't afford healthcare, Michael Moore's "Sicko" is not telling you something new, but it's sure making news to everyone else. Here's a clip from YouTube FYI

Latinos Will Not Be Televised...

2007-07-10T19:48:00.000-04:00

We all know that Latina faces and voices are few and far between in any popular media, though as I am quickly learning we are quite a force in cyberspace. This became more evident to me when I sat to do a research paper in which I surveyed televisions shows from the beginning of the boob tube to today and noted that only a small percentage of actors, performers, or television shows starred known Latinas or were geared to the Latino audience. I did not cover radio however, and being from New York where today you find a range of Latino music radio stations (on FM no less) I felt perhaps we are at least acknowledged. That is until I moved to Philadelphia and nary a salsa or merengue was to be found on the FM dial. In moving to Philly I quickly resorted to my grand collection of CDs and mixed tapes, and finally to Itunes for my dose of musica Latina.

Upon moving to this town I also found myself drawn to NPR. I started to enjoy Car Talk and Fresh Air and This American Life until I realized, I almost never heard stories about Latinos (that wasn't about immigration) nor did I hear the familiar sonido of our voices reporting the news or any other cultural event.

I remember oh so long ago as a teenager meeting Maria Hinojosa when she came to interview students participating in a NYC teen newspaper summer program. I remember to this day her distinctive voice, her tape recorder, and how she pronounced her name "Ma-rrreee-aa Ino hosa" and how embarrassed I became of my own lack of a distinctive Latino voice (or so I thought). Since our meeting I followed her trajectory through the media world up until now when I have the pleasure of hearing her once again on the show, Latino USA. Thankfully the Internet is providing a bridge where other popular media has forgotten or continues to diminish the needs of the community of Latinos eager to experience their culture by any means available...

Call For Submissions

2007-07-10T09:03:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd pass this information along.

Sinister Wisdom Journal #74
Activism Latina Lesbian Style!
Deadline: October 1, 2007
Guest Editors: Juanita Ramos

Chicana/Latina/Latin American lesbians living all over the world are
invited to submit material. We want to know how our sisters define what
lesbian activism means to them in whatever way they see fit.

Send submissions for #74 only to: Juanita Ramos, P. O. Box 678 W.V.S., Binghamton, NY 13905-0678. Email: companeras1994@yahoo.com

Writing guidelines and details: www.sinisterwisdom.org

Also, I know the deadline is very soon, but here is this:

Examining the Lives of GLBTQ of Color
Deadline: July 31, 2007 with a planned publication in 2008.

A special issue devoted to the above topic in: The Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services: Issues in Practice, Policy & Research

In recent decades, queer scholarship and scholarship on race have begun to examine what it means to be raced and/or sexed in the U.S. Yet despite this movement, both Queer Studies and Ethnic Studies have often overlooked the existence of gay men and women of color.

This special issue is an attempt to add to the scholarship about lesbians and gay men of color; where lesbians and gay men of color find a "home" and what kind of home they find, what needs are specific to those who are both "raced" and "sexualized" and what are the factors that need to be addressed when working with people marginalized both along racial and sexual lines.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
1. Domestic violence against/amongst lesbians and gays of color.
2. HIV/AIDS prevention with gays and lesbians of color.
3. Disability, sexuality, and race.
4. Class issues for lesbians and gays of color.
5. Racism in the gay community.
6. Homophobia in racial/ethnic communities.
7. Negotiating lesbian and gay identities with racial identities.

Manuscripts should be one or more of the following types: empirical (quantitative and qualitative); conceptual, addressing theoretical model development or research methodology needs, strategies, or innovations; reviews of empirically-based knowledge, or theoretical pieces. Exceptional personal essays will also be considered. Papers that explore the experiences of two or more racial groups are especially welcome.

The references and format of the manuscript should follow the style of the American Psychological Association and include an abstract of less than 100 words. Authors should submit three hard copies as well as an electronic copy (either on disc or through e-mail as a word document).
Manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by at least two anonymous
reviewers and returned with comments. Submissions should be sent to:

Chong-suk Han, Guest Editor
Department of Sociology
Temple University
713 Gladfelter Hall
1115 West Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Early submissions are encouraged and appreciated. Inquiries for the special issue should be directed to the guest editor at chan@temple.edu or cwhan@u.washington.edu. (215) 204-7751. Further information about the journal may be obtained at www.haworthpress.com or contacting the editor Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. at msulliv3@utk.edu or (901) 448-4475.

Latino Heroes and Sheroes

2007-07-09T09:53:00.000-04:00

Good morning Good People,

Another beautiful weekend for this Summer 2007. I had a good time visiting family in Nueva York and wishing that freakin' SEPTA was as entertaining and as economically feasible as the NYC subway. Okay, maybe I'm comparing apples and oranges...Regardless, visiting my dear Mamazonita is always a venture into adolescence, but isn't that the case for many of us? My little man loved the trains and thoroughly enjoyed mimicking the sounds of the doors closing and was fascinated by the varied faces, voices, and garb of New Yorkers.

La Mamazonita is an urban gardener. She has taken her small patch of land and transformed it into an oasis of roses and black eyed susans, lilies of all hues, numerous herbs, and a towering butterfly bush that really is a haven for these delicate insects.

I was reminded of one of my mother's heroes in a blog I stumbled upon...Roberto Clemente. Apparently, there is talk of retiring his baseball number-read on:

RETIRING ROBERTO CLEMENTE'S NUMBER? IT'S A NO-BRAINER
By Willie Perdomo
The New York Post

MLB icon Clemente deserves his props.

Should MLB retire Roberto Clemente's 21 like it did with Jackie Robinson's 42? Vote Now!
June 6, 2007 -- In A RECENT profile of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, one of his closest advisors commented on the in-fighting amongst Latino politicians and said, "We have a propensity, like other minorities, to screw one another."

I've erased the word "minorities" from my vocabulary a long time ago, but the comment made me think about Sharon Robinson (the daughter of the great African American baseball player Jackie Robinson) and her reluctance to endorse the retirement of Roberto Clemente's jersey, No. 21.

Ms. Robinson was quoted in a January 2006 Associated Press article as saying that her father's situation was "very unique and historical. (Roberto) Clemente did an awful lot of good things and was a terrific ballplayer, but I don't think it's the same type of situation as Jackie Robinson."

Ms. Robinson's type of thinking is endemic to the racial divisions that currently plague our major cities. For her to imply that "the situation" was different for the Puerto Rican ball player is to negate the struggle that Clemente endured as a dark-skinned, Spanish-speaking man in this country.

Did he not encounter the same Jim Crow injustices that were experienced by Robinson, Willie Mays and Don Newcombe? Did he not, unlike the aforementioned players, have the courage to speak up about these injustices? Must an argument really be made to retire the number of a baseball player who was called a prince?

A player who consistently got the good wood on a bad pitch and a consummate All-Star who made playing baseball look like modern ballet.

A ball player who hit a cool 3,000 hits, won 12 Gold Gloves in twelve consecutive seasons, four batting titles and virtually ensured the Pittsburgh Pirates a victory in the 1971 World Series by hitting safely in every post-season game for a .421 average.

Sure, Jackie Robinson was the first African-American man to wear a Major League Baseball uniform, but ask the million-plus Puerto Ricans who will be parading up Fifth Avenue on Sunday if Clemente's number should be retired. I guarantee that you will hear a resounding "Claro, que si" and "Hell, yeah!" followed by a "Wepa!" and then a symphonic clanging of cowbells to rally the issue.

If the problem, as W.E.B. Dubois reflected, within our Latino and African-American communities (and I include myself as a member of both) is that we fall prey to the "crabs in the barrel phenomenon" then Sharon Robinson is acting like a queen crab to a man, Roberto Walker Clemente, who died en route to a humanitarian mission to feed the poor in Nicaragua.

A man who, after having reached the top of the barrel, would undoubtedly grab a rope and throw it back down to help lift up some of his fellow crustaceans.

Willie Perdomo is the author of the upcoming children's book "Why They Call Me Clemente" (Henry Holt/BYR). He's also the husband of Tempo Editor Sandra Guzmán.

(For those who don't know, Willie Perdomo is a great writer and poet. I look forward to his upcoming book.) I remember how my mother said she used to love to watch baseball (in the 70's) and stopped watching the sport altogether when her beloved Roberto Clemente died. She admired his love for his people and the positive image he provided for Latinos in the U.S. I wonder, can I say I feel the same about any Latinos-who are the philanthropic, community-serving Latinos today? Hmmm. folks do not easily come to mind, though recently I was inspired by another baseball player (David Ortiz) who despite not having millions is already giving back to his community.

Gift of ambulance is 'win-win'

Lenox donates vehicle to Sox slugger's hometown

By Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle Staff

Article Last Updated: 07/03/2007 01:18:31 PM EDT

Read the rest of the story here.

job-searching blues and other news

2007-07-04T22:02:00.000-04:00

Recently I earned my Bachelor's degree from an "elite" college here in PA...yes I know, many folks have gone ahead and done this, but not many women of color in their mid-thirties! It was imperative for me to get my education, and even though it took a long time, my magic paper sits proudly by my side, a testament to several years of re-learning, rethinking, dealing with the bull of a world that still is shaped by and for White men, and questioning my very existence. My experience as a non-traditional student in a school where most students were "traditional" age was intense and difficult, something I will expound on in future posts. Now that my mind and soul has been enriched by philosophers and social scientists, radicals, women, and fantastic professors, I am ready to get back into the real world of working for some mullah. It should be much easier, right? Doesn't a college degree from a good school mean something to future employers? I hope so, cuz' my student loan payments are loomin' and my kid needs a new pair of shoes!

Speaking of job searches--these days I have been spending some serious time on job search sites, everywhere from Idealist to HigherEdJobs, local paper websites, my school's career office, and every non-profit or not a freakin' bullcrap business I care nothing about place on the Internet I can think of. I have been recruited via Monster and that was a total nightmare! Note to all those out there with a public resume on any website-be careful to whom you send information and know the types of jobs you are willing to do and STICK TO IT. Figuring out what you are willing to do is so important!

In other news, this past Tuesday I ran into the city (Philly) to join a couple thousand other locos in the cocos to try and break a world salsa dancing contest. This is what happens to you when you are a little lonely Latinita stuck in an area with a tiny percentage of other Latinos with no cultural stake on the landscape-you start imagining ways to sop up a bit of culture jugito wherever you can find it. Tuesday it was the Ben Franklin Parkway for the Goya Festival and Salsa dance extravaganza. Gorgeous weather, my people where out en force. You can't help but feel your blood moving when you smell familiar food, hear the colloquial sounds of your peeps', and hear the ta ta tatata! of the clave calling the crowd to move!
I'll soon be adding a Flickr segment to this blog so you can see more of my photos.

Hasta la pasta folks!

Welcome!

2007-07-04T16:02:00.000-04:00

Hello good people. This is my beginning into the world of blogging, a challenge a good friend urged me to undertake. Given that today is the birthday of our nation, I'd like to fulfill my patriotic duty by taking a moment to remember all the service women and men who have lost their lives in our current war in Iraq...[moment....]

Enjoy this 4th of July, and bookmark this page for further words and images from one Nuyorican in the 'burbs...

Peace.