Insert Witticism Here
OK, right out, let me say I’m not speaking on behalf of anyone here. But one aspect of Queer Up North has stirred a bee in my bonnet.
Last year, several people in the Manchester transgendered community gave us grief because one of our artists had previously performed in a venue that does not allow transgendered people access. We had protests, we had all sorts of stuff going on.
That’s fine. I might not agree, but I respect completely the fact that there are different viewpoints here, and that public protest is a legitimate way of expressing opinion.
However, forward to this year. QuN had two transgendered artists in leading slots. It had Joanne Meyerowitz, one of the most eminent academics working in the field of transgender studies, lecturing on “A different history of gender.”
And what feedback do we hear from the transgender community this year? Nothing. Not a word.
This leads to an interesting question. Why?
My opinion is going to get me the hate mail. I think it’s because the transgender community in Manchester (at least) is politically immature. It’s being a group of cowering people in a huddle, pointing at perceived threats and saying “look, you’re victimising us!”
To my mind, a politically mature community gives credit where it’s due. It engages with friends and enemies. It doesn’t make itself out to be the victim. It’s better than that. I’m not seeing that here.
Queer Up North didn’t put on such a trans-inclusive programme this year in order to provide balance to last year. Tokenism is not what drives its programming. Not, I think, should shouts of “we’re being victimised” drive the transgender political community and its choice of fights.
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Let me get this right — after demonstrating to us that we’re less important than giving bigots an artistic platform last year, you’re now laying into us for not giving you a standing ovation for inviting performers who aren’t transphobes?
You call us immature, but I might suggest someone is having a little bit of a temper tantrum here, and it’s not us.
By the way, what’s “transgendered”? It sounds like something one might get done at the vet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22789525@N00/3455427220/in/set-72157616944737345/
No, that’s not right. I’m interested in, and asking why, it’s not even been talked about, as far as google can tell me. No perjoratives, no superlatives, just why.
I pushed out one (deliberately provocative) thought as to why. Care to address it, rather than me?
“To my mind, a politically mature community gives credit where it’s due. It engages with friends and enemies.”
I didn’t realize your org was an enemy of the trans community. We’ll keep it in mind. Thanks for the warning! :D
Thanks for the smiley on that one — I almost read it as if you meant it!
As someone that attended the Joanne Meyerowitz lecture I don’t feel the need to heap praise on queer Up North after all they are funded by the Arts Council who are funded by the tax payer.….me . Did you attend the lecture?? it was very well attended which is more than I could say for the other events which were in some cases only half full. This was probably due to the woefully poor marketing. I know a trans person that volunteered to help , but perhaps next year she will not be available. As for the festival poster — all very nice picking a minimalist design but was it eye-catching …I think not! The poster just DID NOT WORK
Yup, I was there, in the front row. I thought it was fantastic. Marketing was difficult this year because finances didn’t come together until the very last minute — corporate sponsorship was near-zero because of the economy, and we rely on that a lot.
I agree with you about the poster — but I’m told as many people love it as dislike it.