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Whose Ally R U?

Through my speaking, writing and especially through my performing, I regularly ask people to be my ally. As a gay man, a gay Chrisitan, a gay Christian artist, I need allies in this world.

But whose ally am I?

This weekend I will attend much of the Transcending Boundaries conference in East Hartford, CT. According to their website,
Transcending Boundaries is an annual conference for bisexual/pansexual, trans/genderqueer, and intersex people and our allies. This year we will hold our fourth annual conference for and about those who do not fit into the simple categories of gay/straight, male/female.
At this conference I hope to learn more so that I can be a more informed and thoughtful ally.

As a white, able-bodied, gay, Christian American, I seek to learn more about how I can be a better ally to people with disabilities, people of color, all women including lesbians, young people and the people of Iraq and Afganistan.

If anyone knows of other conferences and resources that will be helpful in becoming a better ally, please post these in comments or e-mail me.

Comments

Peterson Toscano said…
Ann, Thanks for all your recent comments. You are becoming a regular. Yes, I want to take that workshop on TO theory. One of my pieces, "How the Indians Discovered Columbus" employs some of these methods.

Sadly I will not be able to attend the entire conference as I promised Friends from my meeting that I would help them with childcare. I will let you know how the weekend goes (including 24 hours of continuous childcare with two very active children).
9:58 AM
Liz Opp said…
Hi, Peterson.

It's becoming quite a challenge to keep up with all this blog reading! Glad I stopped by, though, to see your post about being allies and your search for other conferences to go to...

Do you know about the White Privilege Conference in Iowa? I haven't been to it but I'm tempted!

Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up
10:57 AM
Peterson Toscano said…
Wow, Liz, that conference sounds amazing. I will have to see how my schedule is. April is going to be a CRAZY busy month with performances all over the US and possibly in Canada and England. But a trip to Iowa to look at white privilege would be a good thing.
1:48 PM
Liz Opp said…
Hey, Peterson-- that White Privilege Conference website had posted the dates for this PAST YEAR's conference, not the 2006 one! You and I will have to check that website later (or email someone?) to find out next year's dates... I can't say for sure that I'll make the trip, but I'm interested in the topic of white privilege, and if I know of others who are planning to go, it makes it a lot easier for me to be TEMPTED to go!

Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up
7:36 PM
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