My favorite was Spider woman

A step towards healing

Ex-officer charged with murder in BART shooting

Our struggles against violence and injustice are connected

Nobody deserves to fear for their life because of who they are. An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.


















Please come out on Friday Night to support this fundraiser for Richmond Jane Doe

UNITY is about bringing together our community to help a sister in need. Many artists, performers, businesses, activists and volunteers are donating their time and effort to help all of us help Jane Doe.

The UNITY fundraiser is this Friday, January 9th!

UNITY @ Velvet
8pm-2am
21+ w/ID
$5-$20 suggested donation
Performance, Dancing, Raffle and much more!



Lesbian Raped In Richmond
Dear Supporter,

Four men kidnapped and gang-raped a 28 year-old lesbian in Richmond,
CA. This is an unspeakable crime and we must send a message that this
hate crime can not be tolerated.

Zuna Institute has joined several organizations in support of the
peace rally

PEACE RALLY
THE DATE IS SET FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009. THE RALLY WILL BEGIN AT
4PM AT NICHOLL PARK AT 3000 MACDONALD AVENUE IN RICHMOND

**GET THE WORD OUT..FORWARD INFO..COME TO THE MARCH**

HERE'S THE STORY
The four men who allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped a 28-year-old
lesbian for almost an hour on December 13, 2008 HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED!!!!!!!!!!!

The case is being investigated as a hate crime because of comments the
suspects made about the victim's sexual orientation, according to
media reports.

Lieutenant Mark Gagan, public information officer for the Richmond
Police Department, declined to tell the Bay Area Reporter what the
comments had been.

The reported victim is openly lesbian and had a rainbow sticker on her
car, Gagan said.

The December 13 incident started around 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of
Visalia Avenue in Richmond's Belding-Woods neighborhood. After getting
out of her car, the woman was sexually assaulted and then forced back
into her car after the suspects noticed someone approaching, according
to police.
>
She was driven seven blocks to the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue, where
she was repeatedly sexually assaulted near an apartment complex,
police reported.
The suspects fled in the woman's car, leaving her naked. The woman
sought help from a nearby resident, who called police, according to
media reports.
The woman was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries, which
Gagan told the B.A.R. included a serious injury that resulted from the
woman being struck with a blunt object. Her car was recovered the next
day in Richmond, police said.

Tina D'Elia, hate violence survivor program director of Community
United Against Violence, the San Francisco-based LGBT organization
that operates a 24-hour crisis line, said, "The shock of this case I
think is impacted by being a public hate crime, a gang rape, and a
courageous survivor coming forward. I think that that is both unusual
and a sign of real courage. "
PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO THE SURVIVOR to help her reestablish her
life. She is going to need funds to purchase another car, relocate
from her residence, and take time off from work. 100% of the donations
will go directly to her.
>
The Community Violence Solutions and Rape Crisis Center have set up an
account for the victim. Please make your donation NOW either by credit
card or by check, the information is as follows:

IMPORTANT: You must indicate that you want to dedicate the donations
to "Richmond Jane Doe"
Credit Card Donation, please call:
Joanne Douglass at 510-237-0113 at Community Violence Solutions

Donation by check:
Community Violence Solutions
2101 Van Ness St.
San Pablo, Ca 94806
Attn: Mrs. Joanne Douglas
Important: Donors must write "Richmond Jane Doe" on the check in the
memo space

If you would like to show your support by sending something other than
a Donation(CARDS OR GIFTS) do it via the police department.
Here's the address:
Richmond Police Department
Attn: Sgt. Brian Dickerson "Richmond's Jane Doe"
1701 Regatta Blvd.
Richmond, CA 94804
510-620-6668

In the Struggle,

Francine

praying for all who feel unsafe, afraid, or unloved

Heart Beat-Nneka

Tacones y Tenis

It's a new year and a new excuse to start a new blog. I want to create a blog where we can discuss more sides of ourselves, forcing me and whomever wants to join me to be more honest and real about being consciously queer, bisexual and a woman of color. I don't pretend to have all the answers. I don't pretend to use all the "right" words. In fact the goal of this blog is to cut through all the bullshit messages swarming around in my head, learn some new tricks and make it through stronger on the other side. Even if that means throwing on some hiking heels and running through the urban landscape until I'm too tired to worry about how cute I look reading that book on Chicana feminism. Welcome.