March 25 in ATL: Legislate This!
I won’t be able to make it because it’s during work hours for me, but get yourself downtown on March 25 if at all possible!
This year, in partnership with the Center for Women at Emory we welcome Angela Davis as our keynote for Legislate THIS! With the expansion of the prison industrial complex into our communities, it is vital that we explore and address the impact the prison industrial complex has on our bodies, within families, and in our lives. The expansions of prisons and the increased surveillance and detention of women of color and queer people of color is a reproductive justice issue. Join us as we fight back and begin to lay the ground work to set a public policy agenda as well as organizing to build community power and strength!
Visit www.legislatethis.org * Email Paris at paris@sparkrj.org
SWC 2008: Success!
Thursday night was Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008. It was AMAZING. Already I’m looking forward to Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2009!
It was at the Park Tavern this year, which, if you’ve never been, is a beautiful venue. And the place was packed. I got there at around ten after seven, thinking I’d get there early and beat the crowds. Silly me.
I took a few photos but they didn’t really turn out; my camera doesn’t do well in low light. Here are the ones that are decent enough to post:
My camera’s video function does surprisingly well in low light, though, and I saved the day (okay, maybe “saved the day” is an exaggeration; but we like delusions of grandeur, right?) by taking video of the PoleLaTeaz performance when their camera wouldn’t turn on. I’m going to put the video on a DVD and give it to Angela Monday night at class, and whenever she posts it on YouTube, I’ll embed the video.
Speaking of PoleLaTeaz, they brought down the house just like last year. I can’t even convey to you how much they rocked. Every time I see them perform, I feel myself almost bursting with joy, cheesy as that might sound. And I was thinking, “I wish all those people who talk shit about pole dancing could be here to see this.” Because if you could be there and see that performance and feel that energy, and still try to tell me that’s NOT feminist, there’s just something wrong with you, and that’s all I have to say about that.
The Entanglement Circus performance was also amazing. I stood with a few of the PoleLaTeaz gals while the EC lady was performing, and we just kept saying, “Wow. Wow. Wow.” I think we have an extra appreciation of just how amazing her performance was, because it’s like doing everything we do on the pole but on silks – so no hard, sturdy support. She was doing things like climbing to the top of the silks, wrapping them around her ankles, and hanging. And then doing three flying eagles in a row, simultaneously climbing backwards.
All of this was so much better than watching the VP debate!
My one complaint would be that people who aren’t sitting and watching need to lower their voices when the performers are on. Even if you’re in the back of the room at the bar and not watching the performers, even if it’s something that doesn’t interest you – be respectful. These are people who have worked hard and are donating their time and talent to make this event a reality. Do not talk over them.
SWC 2008 was a huge success, and I can hardly wait for next year. The atmosphere there just felt so right. The whole time, I was thinking, “This is what sex-positive means.” As I said to Mia in an email: I wish every day could be Sex, Wine and Chocolate!
Reminder: Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008 tomorrow night!
Sex, Wine, and Chocolate 2008:
Telling Our Truths, Taking Off Our Masks
A Fundraiser for SPARK Reproductive Justice Now and Project South
FEATURING: LAKARA FOSTER
PERFORMANCES BY: POLELATEAZ * BLAKKAUFI * MS. VAGINA JENKINS * YOLO AKILI * KEN J MARTIN * DJ MARK ANGEL * MS. STEWART * ENTANGLEMENT CIRCUS * N2 PASSION * DJ CHA CHA JONES * MILLICENT M. JOHNNIE * ESHE SAKURA * JENNY BUNNS YOUNG * KERESTEN BOOKER
Join us for a sensual night free of sexual oppression for all of us fighting for the freedom of our bodies everyday. Celebrate your authentic self at our Anti-Masquerade Ball with live performances, delectable desserts, fabulous prizes, a live auction and more!
October 2, 2008 at The Park Tavern, 500 10th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (on MARTA Route 45!)
Doors open at 7pm. Show begins at 8pm.
Advance Tickets – Suggested Donation: $20
Tickets at the Door – Suggested Donation: $25
**No one will be turned away for lack of funds; sliding scale tickets only accepted at the door.
RAFFLE:
- GRAND PRIZE: 3 Day – 2 Night Cruise for 2 to the Bahamas or Mexico–your choice! ~ Meghan Elliott, travel consultant for World Ventures.
- Two $100 Gas Cards.
LIVE AUCTION:
- Self-Love Date: Enjoy a night in with the Bunny Love Kit. Courtesy of Babeland.
- PoleLaTeaz Dates: 3 free classes for the winner and a friend at the PoleLaTeaz studio, plus an extra $100 gift certificate! Courtesy of PoleLaTeaz.
- Chocolate Pink Gift Certificate
- Sutra Lounge VIP Lounge for 30, worth $1,500.
All proceeds benefit SPARK and Project South. Can’t make it? Donate a ticket, buy some raffle tickets or make a general donation to support SPARK & Project South’s work!
Contact mia@sparkrj.org or call 404-532-0022 for more information and check our Evite for the latest updates! You do not have to be present to win prizes!
Reproductive Justice Summer 2008 going on now!
I am so inspired by what SPARK (formerly Georgians for Choice) has been doing in response to Operative Save America being in town.
Reproductive Justice Summer 2008
Stand for Justice – Say NO to OSAMonday July 14th: Stand for Justice Say NO to OSA!
- 9- 10 am Press Conference at SisterSong (1237 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd) Bring your signs and spirit.
- 6 pm PPNGO for Choice at Manuel’s Tavern hosted by Planned Parenthood. Play for awesome prizes like free gas cards! Bring some cash. Manuel’s Tavern is at 602 N Highland Ave and 404-525-3447.
Tuesday July 15th: Act Up for Reproductive Justice!
- 9 am sign shaking and banner dropping at Woodruff Park 84 Peachtree St. Bring your signs.
- 6 pm Sidewalk Counseling at OSA’s nightly rally. Carpool from SPARK at 743 Virginia Ave or meet at the Denny’s at 5534 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Bring your signs. Their rally is at Landmark Church at 3737 Holcomb Rd, Norcross.
Wednesday July 16th: Our Bodies, Our Lives!
- 9 am protest at Woodruff Park 84 Peachtree St. Bring your signs.
- 6-7:30 pm SisterSong panel: Women of Color and Abortion. Aderhold Learning Center at Georgia State University (60 Luckie St).
Thursday July 17th: RJ is Sexy! Positive Sexuality Matters!
- 9 am sex positive protest at Woodruff Park 84 Peachtree St. Bring your signs and we’ll have some cardboard poetry.
- 6-9 pm Movie Night at Georgia State University. Library South 8th Floor Colloquium Room (100 Decatur St).
Friday July 18th: Act Up for Reproductive Justice!
- 9 am Last day for banner drops and sign shaking before we bid farewell to OSA. Woodruff Park 84 Peachtree St.
- 5-7 pm Protest at Colony Square (1197 Peachtree St) 404-879-2250.
Saturday July 19th: Goodbye OSA! Don’t Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out!
- 9 am Carpool from SPARK at 743 Virginia Ave or meet at Denny’s at 5534 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Bring your signs as we say goodbye to OSA.
- After the farewell we’ll have a community celebration picnic at Best Friend Park at 6224 Jimmy Carter Blvd near their hotel. Yum.
Contact: Paris: 404-917-7694, Amanda: 770-375-5920, SPARK: 404-532-0022, www.SPARKRJ.org
I only wish I could participate more right now.
SPARK video about HB526
From the perennially awesome folks at SPARK! Reproductive Justice Now (formerly Georgians for Choice) comes a video about stupid HB526:
So far there’s only one comment on the YouTube page (let’s fix that) and it’s from some fool who says the following:
What is wrong with the state giving back parental rights to parents? It is not up to a clinic to decide how to raise and protect our children.
Right, because it’s up to the government to decide how to raise and protect our children.
Day of Action at the Georgia Capitol this Saturday
I won’t be there this Saturday because I’ll be in Augusta, but here’s all the info…
On Saturday, January 26, 2008, Atlanta, host city of the first U.S. Social Forum, will be the venue for a statewide People’s Assembly, beginning with a caravan and rally at the State Capitol. SPARK! is leading the reproductive justice contingent and will be at the GA State Capitol from 11:30-12:30 as our site of struggle where we will speak truth to power FOR OUR BODIES, OUR LIVES, AND OUR FUTURE!
At 11:30 join us for drumming by Cakalak Thunder, Puppets, Teach-ins, an Art Exhibit, Giveaways, and MORE.
At 12:30 the entire caravan will converge at the Capitol for a dynamic Action and Rally where SPARK! will be met by other movements, issues, and hundreds of activists.
From the Capitol, SPARK! will have flatbed trucks and vehicles for activists to join the caravan as we continue through the streets of Atlanta, chanting REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE NOW! The caravan will end at the Hunger Coalition where hundreds of activists will exchange views, plan ongoing actions, and continue to build our movements!
This year, let’s show our power in numbers and send the message that reproductive justice is not a wedge issue!
Instead of solely Walking for Women’s Lives, help make a BOLD reproductive justice contingent happen on January 26 as we march as movements united for power and action.
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2008
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Georgia State Capitol
Contact: (404) 656-2844
Visit legislatethis.org for more info.
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Local folks who are into the whole citizen journalism thing? I recommend you get all up in this.