This is part of my coverage of the Secular Social Justice Conference this past January in Houston. I raised money to get me to the conference to report out because conferences like these cover topics that are rarely talked about in the movement. I also raised money to get Josiah Mannion to the conference to take photos. You can see his full conference photoset. If you appreciate the work we do, we’re also raising money cover a portion of our costs to do the same for the Women in Secularism conference in September. You’ll find a donation button at the end of this post.
The second session of the day also consisted of two panels. Choosing was so difficult. Josiah took pictures in the “LGBTQ Queer Atheists of Color” session. I covered the economics session, since I felt my background would be more useful here.
LGBTQ Queer Atheists of Color and Social Justice
Diane Burkholder, Kansas City Freethinkers of Color
Ashton Woods, HBN
Brandon Mack, Rice U
Moderator: Debbie Goddard
Unfortunately, there has been no video posted from this session. I’d been waiting for it, hoping to catch up. At least the majority of Twitter coverage happened here, because this is all the record we have.
#SSJCON gearing back up with a session on LGBTQ Atheists and Social Justice.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
You're not an enlightened individual if you embrace homophobic & transantagonism values/beliefs/attitudes #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
"If the table doesn't fit us all – we're going to flip the table over and start our own" – Brandon Mack #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
"Being black & LGBT-identified is equated w/being white." #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
LGBTQ/progressive groups don't do enough to combat white privilege & outreach twds people of color #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
#LGBTQ panel at #SSJCon pic.twitter.com/vZmzGfm7th
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
Example of race/class exclusionary policies from LGBTQ/progressive orgs: Expecting everyone to be free for weekend meetings #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
People who possess marginalized identities can't simply "walk away" from these discussions. They live it. #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "People at these intersections can't walk away from them. Neither should leaders in these movements"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Here at #SSJCon: Discussion of unchecked-by-organizers racial BS from white gay men at #CreatingChange
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
Dealing with erasure is a daily fight, one we can't ignore/diminish b/c it adversely affects our very existence – #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
yt gay man @ racial justice institute asked when he could be "done" w/"whole race thing". yt fragility -> he left when called on it #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "Even being from marginalized communities, you can have blinders on. Just listen."
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Too many from privileged identities are more concerned about their feels than honoring the lived context & truth of the marginalized #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
Oof, here we go w/the discussion of Afrocentric-flavored homophobia #hotep #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "when they say that, I preface with 'fuck you'"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@ssjc @swirlina LGBT queer atheists & social justice: "We have to bring all of our intersectional identities when we do this work" #SSJCon
— Sikivu Hutchinson (@sikivuhutch) January 30, 2016
@SSJCon LGBTQ atheists of color:"No one ever wants to talk about the destruction the Black Church has inflicted on the Black family" #SSJCon
— Sikivu Hutchinson (@sikivuhutch) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "the church as an institution encourages silence in the black community on important issues (homophobia, health care, etc)"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@SSJCon @AshtonPWoods "Black queer activists have been at the forefront of every liberation struggle but we've been erased" #SSJCon
— Sikivu Hutchinson (@sikivuhutch) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "the black queer has always been involved in activism, but is quick to be erased."
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "religion does a good job of erasing us, because they don't believe we exist"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon discussion on the erasure of Bayard Rustin from civil rights history (ex: "Selma")
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon LGBT community loves "faith-based" outreach, but often excludes muslims, jewish, secular, etc. Just flavors of Xtian.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"Being erased" is a key phrase that comes in across identities. #SSJCon
— BibleName (@BibleName) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "when you speak, you take up space" That is important for people from privilege to keep in mind.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@SSJCon Brandon Mack, lgbtq atheists of color: "For those white cis individuals you can come with us but we're going to lead this" #SSJCon
— Sikivu Hutchinson (@sikivuhutch) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "Was marriage equality a major goal for your LGBT activism?" "Hell. No. I need a job before I can get married"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Re: #LGBTQ "I need a job b4 I get married. I need a place to live b4 I get married. I need to *be* b4 I get married." – Brandon Mack #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon Trickle down logic dictates LGBT orgs. Led by white dudes, white dude issues get priority. Issues relevant to others neglected.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Re: #LGBTQ & #intersectionality – "I can get married but I can also get shot" @AshtonPWoods #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
Using your privilege for good to bolster the voices of the silenced & make space for them #SSJCon
— Heina Dadabhoy (@heinousdealings) January 30, 2016
Transantagonism & trans erasure is a severe problem that occurs constantly – we must address the problem constantly #LGBTQ #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
Being free (being out/outspoken) for me is being free for others – #LBGTQ #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
Panel on LGBTQ Queer Atheists of Color + Social Justice #SSJCon pic.twitter.com/mMrZ9nx4bk
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
Ashton Woods, Houston Black Nonbelievers, talks on hostile work environments as an atheist #SSJCon pic.twitter.com/6bkQ9EQYK9
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "what can we do to change everything that is wrong with everything?" "…pray on it?"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"HIV Criminalization is a #BlackLivesMatter issue." #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon LGBTQ Panel: HIV criminalization is a very real issue that needs to be addressed.
— Deanna (@deemusings1) January 30, 2016
We're not nearly sex-positive enough. Slut-shaming & cultural puritanical beliefs distort our view of sex/sexuality – #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "HIV stigma is an issue because we aren't sex positive enough, and like to slut shame"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon The idea that some religious people see HIV as righteous divine punishment for sexuality…that's mind-bogglingly shitty.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
We must be intersectional in our work & destroy our parochial, silo-viewpoints – Brandon Mack #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
"Trans is beautiful." Diane Burkholder, Kansas City Freethinkers of Color #SSJCon @LGBTQHumanists #humanism
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
"Safe space is a false narrative." Panelist at #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
Allyship can be a slippery slope. Allow the marginalized to view/draw that conclusion rather than you confer the label to yourself #SSJCon
— SecularSocialJustice (@SSJCon) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon resources from LGBTQ panel: Everyday Feminism, Sero Project, Strength in Numbers blog @SSJCon
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
On LGBTQ social justice: "Support the efforts you see, don't be afraid to speak up." @DebGod #SSJCon #humanism
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
Want to support this kind of reporting out from Women in Secularism? We could still use a little help to get there: