FIERCE Blog

FIERCE Launches Queer Pier, 40 Years Website

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:19:00 GMT

Launched to coincide with FIERCE’s 10^th Anniversary, Queer Pier, 40 Years was an arts-based initiative connecting LGBTQ youth of color and queer artists in documenting our communities’ histories, cultures and future visions for queer liberation through arts and media. The project was an incredibly rich experience that provided new avenues of exploration and insight into FIERCE’s history and the broader history of LGBTQ movement building in NYC and beyond. Last year, FIERCE wrapped up the project with creative and educational workshops led by inspiring queer and trans artists of color and a youth-led Journey to the Past event with current FIERCE members and alumni.

Throughout the process, FIERCE built new relationships with LGBTQ artists, archivists, media-makers and organizers. Together, we hosted community events and coordinated amazing art projects with artists such as Randal Wilcox from the Alvin Baltrop Trust, Parallel Lines, Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Victor Tobar & Kay Barrett. And, thanks to the support from NYU Fales Library and Special Collections, we started building FIERCE’s archive and are exploring more ways to share our history with others.

View complete details of the project at www.queerpier40years.org!

As FIERCE continues to move into the next decade of LGBTQ youth of color-led organizing, we remain committed to fostering powerful community building that is rooted in the stories, work, struggles and celebrations of our past, while encouraging revolutionary, fabulous, and fierce visions for the future.

FIERCE with Bob Kohler & Sylvia Rivera.
(from FIERCE archive, copyright FIERCE)

Queer Pier, 40 Years was conceived and organized by FIERCE’s Art Crew, a group of FIERCE members, board, and staff, along with artists, activists, educators, allies and cultural workers.

FIERCE sends a special thank you to members of the Art Crew, our allies and supporters for dedicating your time, energy, work and ideas to this project. Thanks also to Shawn Salgado for designing a beautiful website commemorating the Queer Pier, 40 Years project and providing a means for us to share this important work with others. A special thank you to the Documentary and Photography Project of the Open Society Foundations and the Arcus Foundation for providing funding for this project.

LGBTQ youth of color interrogate equality and how we create change

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:16:00 GMT

In 2009, FIERCE held the first LGBTQ Youth of Color Organizing Summit as part of Creating Change’s then racial and economic justice day-long institutes. This year, we organized a media justice workshop and youth of color caucus to connect with LGBTQ youth from across the country and talk about the issues facing our communities and the solutions we are creating to address these issues.

Since 2000, FIERCE has been organizing LGBTQ youth of color in NYC to lead campaigns against policing, gentrification, and violence that routinely impact our communities. Today, LGBTQ youth of color face targeting and harassment from NYPD policing tactics, such as ‘stop, question, and frisk’ and racial profiling—the same policing strategies and tactics that are exported to train police departments across the country and around the world.

SOLIDARITY: AN ESSENTIAL VALUE OF LIBERATION

Through our work, we draw direct connection to and solidarity with queer and trans people of color in the U.S. and around the world who are fighting for liberation. We know that the systems that detain, abuse and deport immigrants in the U.S. are the same systems that target and lock up low-income and homeless communities of color in the U.S. We know that Palestinian and Iraqi struggles against occupied and militarized land is directly linked to police states in the U.S. that nurture gentrification and displace low-income and homeless communities.

It is this exact juncture – of acknowledging interconnected oppression across identities and borders – that moved us, as young queer people of color, to use our collective voices to speak up for liberation, and in doing so, question the “LGBT Agenda of Equality” so prevalent at Creating Change. We did so by organizing a People’s Mic at the Task Force’s Friday morning session, “The Obama Administration and the LGBT Community.” Footage of our Mic Check and a full account of it can be found here: http://bit.ly/yEpSic.

By interrupting the panel, we took a space that was never intended for our voices nor the injustices we wanted to talk about as LGBTQ young people of color. We demanded that our voices be acknowledged, and though there have been individuals who have reached out to us since we organized the People’s Mic, by and large, our action has still only played a small role in the historical retelling of the session by the Task Force. Immediately following the session, there was no mention of the action and though we did receive a brief mention in the conference wrap up blog—“Fierce NYC Mic checked the panel, you can watch it here”— the content and importance of our message has yet to be acknowledged by the organization. Until the writing of this blog, we have remained silenced and erased.

ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP: BUILDING ACCESS FOR MARGINALIZED VOICES

The terms “silenced” and “erased” may seem like strong words to describe the Task Force’s actions, however as young LGBTQ people of color, we can’t help but to ask:

What are the repercussions of WHO is talking, WHO is listening, and thus WHOSE equality is being promoted?

These vital questions make it evident that the notion of silence and erasure as “too strong of a description” for what happened, becomes a soothing excuse for those not only included in, but in control of, setting the “LGBT Equality Agenda.” Indeed, for LGBTQ youth of color, the silence feels really loud.

If we are truly building a movement where we have the opportunity to engage our country’s political leaders and elected officials, we must create space to hold the depth and breadth of a movement that encompasses much more than marriage equality and the right to serve in the military. We must build an agenda that acknowledges the limitations of equality—how equal access to unjust systems that are embedded in racism, classism, ableism and sexism, only grants relief for a few, not liberation for all.

Undeniably, the Task Force has a lot of power to get the ear and presence of the White House and that too as representatives of the LGBT movement. Given this power, how is the Task Force accountable to the broader movement, to the needs and voices of the most oppressed communities? How is the Task Force using their power to elevate folks on the ground doing grassroots LGBTQ organizing from a racial and economic justice lens?

The White House choosing to highlight LGBTQ youth homelessness at their National Conference on Housing and Homelessness in Detroit is an important step forward in bringing awareness to this issue. However, if we are to truly address issues impacting LGBTQ youth, it is crucial that LGBTQ youth have a seat at the table as key leaders and experts who hold the power and knowledge to put forth impactful and sustainable solutions.

Our experience at the panel and at the conference overall, makes us truly question “How does change happen?” As queer and trans youth of color, we believe we have the power to meaningfully shape and lead an LGBTQ movement for transformation, liberation and revolutionary change. The LGBTQ youth movement is a crucial piece of the broader LGBTQ agenda, and we need more spaces at Creating Change and in our mainstream movement to step up and build our power. And when we do step up, like we did with the People’s Mic, our voices, viewpoints and issues should not only be acknowledged but also treated and respected as integral leadership in this movement.

SHIFTING RESOURCES, SHIFTING POWER: HOW CHANGE HAPPENS

While Creating Change helps provide access to space where we can meet other LGBTQ youth and work with other organizations, we know that there is much work to be done to make Creating Change a conference that creates space for meaningful and authentic participation and leadership by LGBTQ youth, especially youth of color. We spoke to several youth at the conference who stated that while Creating Change did a good job of providing space for LGBTQ youth to hang out, have fun and meet each other, there weren’t many workshop spaces centered on youth leadership development, youth experiences or spaces where young people felt like their ideas and contributions were taken seriously.

As the Task Force plans for Creating Change in 2013, we ask that critical changes be made and actions taken to make the conference both accessible to LGBTQ youth and one where LGBTQ youth don’t just try to fit in but play a key role in shaping the conference.

We ask the Task Force:

1) Waive registration fees for low-income LGBTQ youth and provide substantial monetary support for food, housing and travel for LGBTQ youth of color to attend.

2) Create a Youth Organizing Track and/or have 30% of all workshops be by and for youth.

3) Prioritize day-long institutes and workshops on LGBTQ youth organizing from a racial and economic justice lens (i.e. not have Campus Organizing be the dominant or only space to highlight youth organizing)

Similarly, as the conference will take place in Atlanta, we know that the South is an incredibly under-resourced region, powerfully altered by both slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, and home to the most military bases in the country. We stand in solidarity with organizations like S.O.N.G. and Project South that have been organizing LGBTQ Southern people and creating models that grapple with what does it mean to be Queer and Trans in the South.

We ask that the Task Force use their role in the movement to support grassroots work already being done by those of us who are creating models, building leadership, and leading campaigns. We must forge strategic alliances between grassroots and national organizations to shift power and strengthen our movement.

What we say and what we do ultimately comes back to us, so let us own our responsibility, place it in our hands, and carry it with dignity and strength.
– Gloria Anzaldua

My Creating Change Experience 2012

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:05:00 GMT

During my stay in Baltimore I roomed with Evonna, Tiph, Anna, Donita and Sofie in a Hilton which was a great experience because they were all very open minded and accepting people who were easy to feel conferrable around.

The first and honestly the only workshop I attended besides FIERCE’s was, Queers for Economic Justice’s day-long workshop on Thursday. I fell in love with the organization because they were for all the things I’m for: ending racism, ageism, classism, ableism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia. I loved the wheel of oppression they used in the workshop. They had an activity were the whole room split up into different groups and they had to share why they were interested in attending the workshop. Most people in my group said that they wanted to learn to support others that weren’t as fortunate as them. One woman even said that she was part of the 1% and wanted to learn about people who weren’t.

As more people said that, I felt more and more uncomfortable because I was not only coming from a very poor family but I was also the youngest person attending the workshop. Later on I realized that the only people who weren’t of upper class came to creating change with either an organization or with their college because the cost of creating change excluded people who weren’t rich. Hopefully not on purpose.

Kenyon Farrow at QEJ's Day-Long "Class More Than Ever" Institute

The most memorable part of my week was the trans pool party that happened on a Friday night. I’ve gone to the dyke march before but had never felt comfortable enough to take off my top. What made this party a safe space for me to do this was knowing that I wasn’t going to find a picture of it the next day on the internet and if anyone did take pictures, it wasn’t to sell them online as child pornography. When I entered the pool, a female bodied youth called out “FOR GENDER EQUALITY!” and took off her top and others joined cheerfully. Now I feel comfortable enough to go topless at the dyke march because I feel I need to make the statement: All bodies are equal! Stop sexism!

The biggest highlight of Creating Change 2012 for FIERCE members who attended was calling out Obama’s administration on Saturday morning. I was extremely tired from the night before but forced myself to get up that morning because Tara thought it was a good idea to go and that we had to mic check them for all of the wrongs they had been doing. I didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity for my voice be heard by people who have power because as a youth of color my voice is always silenced in the media so it never reaches the people who actually can do anything about it. When I walked in the room I realized how much of a big deal this was going to be because the room was really small and the only people there were mostly white and dressed up. I came in wearing a tank top, jeans, and rain boots which out-casted me from the group of people already there. I came out of the room to make myself coffee and over heard a white man saying in a snobby voice “I wonder where the 99% is” and I half awake turned to him and said, “I am!” Later on I discovered that he was a part of the Obama’s administration. During the whole time I was there I kept a close eye on him because I’d already made an opinion about him and it wasn’t a good one.

The Obama administration representatives introduced themselves then asked if there were any questions. No one raised their hands so then they continued rambling about how great they were and the good things they were doing. Then as planned, Tara interrupted and called out “MIC CHECK!” and everyone in the room turned around to view the row of the only youth of color in the room in complete embarrassment. I started to feel a little embarrassed too and felt a bit of doubt but then I felt a little betrayed by the LGBT people in that room. I soon found myself feeling above the people who were staring at us like that because they were not standing up for their rights and letting their voices be heard. All they did was try to fit in and suck up to the White House reps by trying to act and seem heteronormative. They were probably people who spent all of their lives trying to prove to the straight community that they were just like them so that they would feel accepted and unalienated in their everyday lives. I understand why they act like that on a regular basis. It is their survival mechanism but with in the walls of a LGBT friendly space called ‘Creating Change’ it is a loss of opportunity to act as if they would be in danger if stepping out of the status quo.

FIERCE Preparing for the Mic Check.

The next day Tiph, Ana, Donita, Evonna, Dulani, Tara and I met up for lunch at Panera to brainstorm possible ideas for a blog post on the event that had happened the day before. Everyone had a lot to say about what had happened and were really passionate about getting our message out to others. Dulani scribed while every one went around in a circle describing their experience being a youth and person of color at creating change. We wanted to get the message out to everyone at creating change so we planned to post a blog by that night . We also planned to interview lgbt youth of color and ask them about their experience. While interviewing I noticed that most people said the same thing. They didn’t feel ignored but they also didn’t feel very welcomed to participate and raise their hands in the workshops. They were silenced by ageism and one person’s excuse was “well, the other people seemed more knowledgeable and like they had more experience” which at a place like creating change should not matter. Every one has their own experience that is worth sharing.

Since this event I’ve had a really easy time networking by using it was a starting point for conversation. People get really interested in hearing about FIERCE’s work and tell me that “FIERCE is a really dope organization!” So far the video of FIERCE challenging Obama’s administration has only gotten around 3,000 views in the 1st week but I have confidence that it will get to a million views by the end of February and continue to go viral.

Summing Up: Creating Change Conference 2012

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:26:00 GMT

This time around my experience at Creating Change was completely different -although I still cannot find the words to describe the feeling behind it.

Upon arriving, much of our (FIERCE staff and members) initial time was spent preparing for FIERCE’s Media Workshop and Queer Youth of Color Caucus scheduled for Friday evening. We all worked together, made suggestions, and critiqued each other until we were confident that we had solid agendas for both.

In between and around that, I got to go to a few workshops. The first one I attended was Queers for Economic Justice’s day-long institute on class and race, and how class (at the intersections of race, queerness and disability) impacts both visibility and access to resources. It was amazing and lasted from about 9am-6pm. The topics discussed included things like class, race, HIV status, adoption and families, disability, youth homelessness, sexuality and sex, politics, sex work, and aging.

Queers for Economic Justice's Queer Survival Economies Wheel, 2012.

After the day-long institute, Tara Tabassi, FIERCE’s Organizer proposed the idea of organizing a mic check at Friday’s 8am panel discussion on LGBT issues with the White House LGBT Liaison and other high ranking government and military officials. The first thing that struck me about this event was that there even WAS an LGBT Liaison at the White House. I wondered how that person was representing my wants and needs as a queer youth of color who is working class and un(der) employed. Working diligently, members and staff sat down to discuss what we thought were the most urgent and under-discussed topics effecting queer folks of color.

We were all there as representatives of our communities and wanted to make sure the most silenced and marginalized queers could be heard through our voices. Making foreign politics, immigrant issues, and youth issues our focus point, we wrote our script and all went to bed in excitement and anticipation for Friday’s direct action.

Waking up the next day was not an easy feat but nonetheless, nine folks met outside the conference room, unsure of what was going to happen next. The room was filled with queers in business attire, most/all were professionals, and none (besides us) were youth. As we smothered our fear and sat in the back of the room, the importance of the words and message we were bringing sank in.

At the sound of the first “Mic Check!” heads turned and eyes searched to find its source. The room was quiet, although the disapproval was being clearly communicated from the faces and body language of most who were in the room. I chose to look straight ahead and speak as emphatically as I could from the seat I had chosen because I was too scared to stand.

As Tara yelled the last mic check and encouraged others to voice their concerns, the panel moderator broke the quietness to condescendingly chastise our words. My heart sank. It seemed as if any space, even one of “creating change”, was an appropriate setting to silence queer youth of color.

Suddenly a voice from the crowd, clear and confident, “Are you just going to ignore what these youth had to say?” Others came to our aid and defense as well, as the panel members struggled (unsuccessfully) to answer our “questions” and demands.

As we left the room nods of approval and appreciation from around the room were directed our way. Debriefing in the hallway, outside of the conference room, I felt a sense of excitement and accomplishment. THIS was my first direct action. However, coupled with the pride, was and still is, a good amount of sadness about how we were treated and silenced.

After getting breakfast and finding time to regain my confidence and to center myself, I went in search of another workshop. I ended up at “Kink, Race, and Class” done by Ignacio Rivera and Yosenio Lewis. The hour and fifteen minute workshop outlined how to navigate kinky and sex positive spaces and the way in which power and privilege affects the way that all of us play.

By the time I left, it was time to set up for FIERCE’s Media workshop followed by the caucus. The turn out for both was great! I was especially proud and appreciative of Karen’s facilitation and energy in the media workshop. The team (Manny, Naa, Dulani and Karen) successfully turned a 3-hour training into an exciting and informative 1-1/2 hour workshop. The caucus was equally as successful! All the participants were engaged and came with great thoughts and ideas that will help us in the planning of our National Youth of Color Organizing Summit next October.

FIERCE's Media Justice Workshop

Over the rest of the weekend, I attended two other workshops. One done by Streetwise and Safe instructing on what to do if/when the police stop or harass you. I also went to the Queer People’s Movement Assembly done by Southerners On New Ground (SONG). It was amazing, beautifully facilitated and informative as far as the critical theory of the work we are all doing as organizers.

On Sunday, leaving Baltimore, there was so much to process and reflect on. Of course, there was the down time, parties, pool and people; however, the experiences at the workshops and at the mic check were the most salient. FIERCE had later gotten word that the Task Force’s blog about the Obama administration panel didn’t mention us or what we said. On the bus riding north, I thought about what that meant in terms of their intention and also the impact of our exclusion. I also thought about the message we sent to the White House and the faces of those I know we represented in our action. The response of the White House Liason was positive, and I could only hope that our heartfelt Mic Check was enough to shift efforts in support of queer folks over seas, immigrant queers, and queer youth of color.

I am very grateful to FIERCE for giving me the opportunity to go to the conference as a representative of the membership and as a facilitator.

See you in Atlanta, CC13 ;)

FIERCE Welcomes New Organizer and National Program Director!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:00:00 GMT

We are excited to welcome Tara Tabassi as FIERCE’s new Organizer. Tara comes to FIERCE with experience as a youth organizer at Stonewall Youth in Olympia, WA and youth-led social movements in the Netherlands. Tara has worked on issues such as political education for liberation, war crime & sexual violence survivor trauma therapy, and Queer Muslim Diaspora community building and advocacy. Tara studied social justice at the Evergreen State College in Washington, and war/violent conflict and reconstruction at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, Netherlands. Tara is committed to transforming communities through people power while also shaking off trauma and oppression by being silly, living with integrity and cooking up a spicy storm in a full home.

As Organizer, Tara will be responsible for supporting FIERCE’s membership in outreaching to LGBTQ youth of color and building our base to support our campaigns, media work, national program and fundraising strategies. As FIERCE member Rudy Rosado said, “FIERCE members are the heart and soul of the organization, and they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t the efforts of FIERCE’s Outreach Team and our base-building work.” In addition to coordinating FIERCE’s Member-led Outreach Team, Tara will also serve as a key point person in our coalition work with the Association of Street Involved and Homeless Youth Service Providers and the Kiki Coalition. Welcome Tara!

Morgan, 2011 ELP Mentor Britney, and Tara at ELP1 Graduation

FIERCE is also pleased to welcome Richard “Morgan” into the position of our new National Program Director. Morgan was born and raised in south central Los Angeles where he developed his skills as a youth organizer. As a founding member of South Central Youth Empowered thru Action, Morgan organized youth around several statewide initiatives relating juvenile justice, immigration rights, education and substance abuse. After eight years, Morgan transitioned to a leadership role as Program Coordinator of Youth United for Community Action (YUCA), where he continued the fight for social justice by developing the political consciousness and organizing skills of south LA high school students. Morgan has also worked on campaigns that have raised awareness on issues including early childhood education, gentrification, quality health care in low-income communities of color, homophobia, LGBTQ rights, racial profiling and sexual assault. For over 10 years now, he has been a member of The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company. As a Teaching Artist, Morgan has worked with underserved youth who have been currently incarcerated or on probation. The Unusual Suspects Theater Company utilizes theatre arts to helped youth discover leadership skills and talents that they can use to use to change their current situations and make positive life choices.

As National Program Director, Morgan will be working with our member-led National Committee to coordinate our national LGBTQ Youth of Color Organizing Summits, implement our capacity building cohorts, distributing our Youth Organizing toolkit, and working closely to build stronger relationships and coalitions with other youth of color and LGBTQ youth of color organizing groups. We are honored to welcome Morgan into this position!

FIERCE Announces New Co-Directors!

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:34:00 GMT

Krystal Portalatin, a FIERCE co-founder and current Associate Director, will be transitioning into one of the Co-Director positions. “I am excited to take on this new leadership role and invest a new level of support to the organization that has shaped me so much over the past 11 years,” stated Portalatin. “I am humbled and grateful to be able to support FIERCE members, staff and board in fighting for our campaigns, expanding our national program and continuing to develop LGBTQ youth of color into leaders of New York City and beyond."

Krystal Portalatin with Bran Fenner and Jesse Ehrensaft-Hawley, former FIERCE Directors, at FIERCE's 10th Anniversary Gayla Celebration!

Krystal joined FIERCE’s staff in 2008 as Operations Manager, and went on to develop our first-ever Wellness & Youth Development program. In August 2010, Krystal was appointed to Associate Director, managing our financial management systems, supervising key program staff, and coordinating organizational development processes. Over the past six months, Krystal has taken on significant leadership responsibilities including fundraising support, supervising our Lead Organizer, and being a guiding force in our campaigns. We are thrilled to welcome Krystal into her new role!

Dulani, FIERCE's New Co-Director!

FIERCE is also excited to welcome Jai Dulani as FIERCE’s other incoming Co-Director. Dulani, a long-time FIERCE ally, brings over 11 years of experience working at the intersections of LGBTQ, Youth, Immigrant Justice and Anti-Violence Movements. He has worked with young people in NYC facilitating youth leadership programs with an anti-oppression framework at organizations including Global Action Project, Sadie Nash Leadership Institute, and South Asian Youth Action. For the past four years, he has been instrumental in the growth of SupaFriends, an LGBTQ youth media program at Global Action Project.

Dulani has worked with South Asian, Muslim and Arab communities to organize against post 9-11 state violence. At Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, he organized free legal clinics and translated legal advice to hundreds of Muslim men being targeted by the Special Registration program. At DRUM: Desis Rising Up and Moving, he provided administrative and development support for organizing against detentions and deportations. Dulani is also the Co-Editor of the anthology, The Revolution Starts At Home: Confronting Intimate Violence in Activist Communities and has worked as a consultant, trainer, and collaborator in local and national transformative justice efforts.

“I am excited to transition into my role at FIERCE and begin the process of learning from the amazing work of the FIERCE staff and membership,” stated Dulani. “As someone who is deeply connected to different communities of color and queer communities in New York, I am thrilled to join an organization that has transformed the landscape of organizing among queer youth of color in the City and nationally. At this critical juncture of increased policing in New York and the expansion of criminalization and deportation efforts in communities of color, I look forward to building with FIERCE and continuing to both resist the violence in our communities and transform new spaces for our futures.”

“The FIERCE Board is delighted that Dulani will be joining the staff this July,” stated Raquel Lavina, FIERCE Board Co-Chair. “With Dulani and Krystal’s leadership, we are confident that FIERCE will continue being a home base for LGBTQ youth of color organizers in New York City effectively fighting against policing and gentrification in the West Village and ensuring that LGBTQ youth have access to safe public space 24 hours a day.”

FIERCE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YEAR!!!

2011 has already been a very productive year for FIERCE:

In March, our Campaign Steering Committee (CSC) established a collaboration with the Urban Justice Center (UJC) to continue work on FIERCE's Our S.P.O.T Campaign.

With support from UJC, FIERCE members have been canvassing the West Village for abandoned or underused buildings that may be viable sites for a 24 hour LGBTQ youth center.
In April, the CSC organized a weekend retreat for FIERCE members that included intensive planning and visioning for the next year of our campaigns, as well as trainings on power mapping and NYC's political landscape.
In May, FIERCE was honored to be awarded the North Star's Fredrick Douglass Award. This award was given in recognition of our work to create equality, economic justice and peace.
Our Leadership Development Program, the Education for Liberation Project, graduated 13 participants of our ELP level 1 program. We are also supporting several new internships and fellowships, including two Media interns, a Campaign Fellow, a Resource Organizing Fellow, and an Administrative Assistant.
In May, we released a press release and new campaign demands in response to increased policing and escalated targeting of LGBTQ youth of color in the village.
This month, we will kick off a series of 6 free events for LGBTQ youth at the pier, including our annual mini-ball, movie screenings, and artistic and wellness events specifically for youth - all victories of our Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign. For more info on our event calendar click HERE.

We're continuing to expand our reach and build with a diverse group of youth organizers in NYC and other parts of country.

At the 2011 Creating Change Conference in February, FIERCE organized a workshop for 15 LGBTQ youth of color on community organizing.

In March we rocked the Left Forum, coordinating the first-ever Youth of Color Organizing Panel with our comrades at DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving), Make the Road's PRYDE and Youth Power, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

This month, FIERCE is heading to the Allied Media Conference, where we have been co-coordinating the Trans & Queer Youth workshop track with Branching Seeds of Resistance from the Colorado Anti-Violence Program!

Our National Program is working on the release of our highly anticipated Youth Organizing Toolkit and planning for our 2nd National LGBTQ youth of color Organizing Summit in 2012. We are also excited to welcome a new National Program Director, Richard Morgan.

In closing, we want to say how much we appreciate the support and encouragement we’ve received during our interim period. This support enabled us to complete our search and hire process while maintaining the strength of our campaigns and supporting our active membership who have been hard at work these last 6 months.

“It’s been an honor to work with FIERCE during this transition and provide support for new leadership changes,” commented Yasmeen Perez, FIERCE’s Interim Director will be transitioning out at the end of July. “With our programs strong and our membership having all hands on deck, it is a wonderful time to welcome new and vibrant leadership to FIERCE. We are excited for the growth ahead!”

Creating Change with LGBTQ Youth

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:57:00 GMT

Three FIERCE members and I were part of a member led facilitation of a workshop about Youth Organizing 101. Before we flew to Minneapolis, members with support of staff were able to create a curriculum to the workshop. We had intensive preparation meetings that last 3 weeks. We had about 15 participants from all over the country attend our workshop.

At the conference, I had some really unique experiences. I participated at few workshops that discussed youth workers & their relationship to youth; Race & LGBT organizing; Queer Progressive Muslim organizing. I was able to learn about different aspects of LGBTQ social justice movement, LGBTQ youth organizing, and LGBTQ communities in general. Also, I was able to meet some of FIERCE allies. I had great opportunity to network with other LGBTQ youth of color organizers.

Overall, I had a great experience at Creating Change.

Click here to view pictures from Creating Change 2011.

FIERCE Host Youth Organizing 101 Workshop at Creating Change

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:21:00 GMT

Friday Night Caucus - 6:30pm

Fabulous & Empowered: A Presentation of FIERCE’s Organizing Tool Kit and other Youth Organizing Models

FIERCE is proud to be releasing our organizer’s toolkit this year. The toolkit is a guide we hope will serve to support organizations that either already follow a youth-led organizing model or are looking to implement one. In our current climate, youth-led organizing as a tool for empowerment and change is an undeniable necessity. Come dialogue with us about successful youthled organizing models, how to implement them, and the lessons learned along the way.

Saturday Session -- 9am

Youth Organizing 101 Workshop

Are you an LGBTQ youth of color looking to gain some knowledge on organizing? Then this workshop is for you! Join FIERCE, a NYC-based youth-led organization dedicated to building the power and leadership of LGBTQ youth of color, for a workshop on base building and youth-led campaign strategy. Through this interactive workshop, we hope to provide you with the skills you need to start to make the change you want to see in your own communities. This workshop is open to LGBTQ youth of color between the ages of 13-24 years old.

Saturday Evening Fundraiser at Hell's Kitchen - 9pm

We'll also be going to the Dirty Queer Show III, a fundraiser for TYSN (Trans Youth Support Network) and FIERCE! The show will take place at Hell's Kitchen, located at 80 S. 9th St., Minneapolis, MN.

The Dirty Queer Show's mission is to push the boundaries of queer artists/performers & people in the non-mainstream side of sexuality & art.

More info about the show, click here.

Thanks for an Amazing 2010!

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:34:00 GMT

We're proud to share with you 10 fabulous highlights from our 10th Anniversary year!

LGBTQ Youth of Color Summit: This year, FIERCE's National Program made history at the 2010 Creating Change Conference in Dallas, TX. In February, we organized the first-ever LGBTQ Youth of Color Organizing Summit for over 40 LGBTQ youth of color leaders from around the country and released our first national report Coming Out, Stepping Up:Organizing to build the power of LGBTQ youth.

Safe Space Saves Lives campaign victories: For the second year in a row, FIERCE won the right to hold free summer programs for LGBTQ youth on the piers including a Queer film series, an artistic night, wellness events and a wildly successful Mini-ball for over 700 LGBTQ youth!

FIERCE rocked the United States Social Forum and Allied Media Conference in Detroit where we co-organized the USSF Queer People's Movement Assembly and the first-ever Queer and Trans Youth track at the AMC. Reflections by FIERCE members can be found on our blog.

FIERCE offered our first youth fellowships! This year, we expanded our Education for Liberation program to include 5 new advanced-level leadership development fellowships for LGBTQ youth of color.

Our 10th Anniversary Gay-La Celebration: FIERCE celebrated our 10th birthday and annual concert with a fabulous Gay-La extravaganza. Over 200 of you were there with us! Few people throw a party like FIERCE, so if you missed it, highlights from the night can be viewed here.

LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Month: In response to the LGBTQ youth suicides and anti-gay attacks, FIERCE organized to get Mayor Bloomberg and other elected officials to proclaim every October LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Month in New York City. FIERCE continues to hold elected officials accountable to LGBTQ youth needs, including creating safe spaces for LGBTQ youth and prioritizing youth voices in addressing bullying and violence.

The Queer Pier, 40 Years Art Crew Project: While FIERCE has only been around for 10 years, our roots go back over 40 years to the LGBTQ youth of color who led the Stonewall Rebellion. This year, FIERCE collaborated with queer artists and our allies to manifest the Queer Pier Project: an art and archiving project that documents the stories of LGBTQ people of color on the Christopher Street piers and the work FIERCE does to preserve the piers as a safe space.

Fa-bowl-ous FACE/off Bowl-a-thon 2010 reaches new heights! This year, your love and support helped FIERCE raise over $30,000 in our member-led Bowl-a-thon. Over 700 people chipped in to support FIERCE and 22 teams helped make the event a success. We'd like to send a special thank you to all the team captains, participants, sponsors, and prize donors who make this event possible. See you on the lanes next October!!!

FIERCE New Leadership Transitions: As we bid a fond farewell to outgoing Executive Director Rickke Manazala, the Board of Directors was delighted to announce Yasmeen Perez, as our new Interim Director this year.

Joint Housewarming Party: FIERCE has a strong commitment to movement building and after many years of being a part of numerous local and national coalitions, we were proud to become neighbors with some of our longtime allies: the Audre Lorde Project, Queers for Economic Justice, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Our four organizations welcomed in a new era of queer movement building with a joint housewarming party in September and look forward to using our shared space for strategic collaborations in the future!

2010 underscored the importance of FIERCE's work to lift up the voices of LGBTQ youth of color within social justice movements. We believe that queer and trans youth of color provide crucial leadership to movements that work to ensure that everyone can make decisions about the ways we love, our bodies, and the conditions that shape our lives.

Thank you for believing in FIERCE and for supporting our work this year!

With love and gratitude,

FIERCE Members, Staff and Board

P.S. As the cold sets in this season and LGBTQ youth services keep being threatened with daunting cuts, FIERCE knows how crucial our campaign to get a 24-hour LGBTQ youth center in the West Village is. Please support our organizing efforts by by becoming a monthly online donor with $10, $15 or $20 gifts! Your contributions go a long way in helping FIERCE keep New York City safe for homeless and low-income LGBTQ youth.

Commitment to Our Communities

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:56:00 GMT

FIERCE is one of those organizations with which once you get involved and see how we are committed to the social justice movement you want to stick around. FIERCE is an excellent resource for LGBTQ youth. FIERCE has opened so many doors of opportunity for me, for which I am truly thankful. I appreciate what FIERCE has done for me, and I hope that you, yes you, will to be able to find a home at FIERCE.

Below is my graduation speech, which I gave upon graduating from the Education for Liberation Project Level 2 (ELP2) in August 2010. I hope that it will provide you with some insight as to exactly the type of organization that FIERCE strives to be. Thank you for reading, stay up and stay positive! =)

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"From the point of inception when I decided to involve myself with this organization, up until now at this very moment, I can truly say this has been an experience of a lifetime. I have no regrets and assemble myself to have a bright vision for the future. This organization to me means so much. The work that we do speaks volumes about what we as individuals believe in and what we as a group stand behind.

"After involving myself with FIERCE, I very quickly came to realize how important our work is to the community that we serve. As an active member and ELP 1 and ELP 2 graduate, I have learned so much. The skill set and preparedness that we discuss and practice here at FIERCE is truly priceless in my eyes, and I thank each and every one of you for being a part of such a wonderful experience for me, and I mean that sincerely from the bottom of my heart.

"I have dedicated myself to this social justice movement and I will continue to push my growing edge, step up step back and listen to all of those who have it in their hearts to share their experiences with me of being an LGBTQ youth of color. FIERCE has opened my eyes and captivated my mind. I stand today a proud ELP 1 & 2 graduate but not only that, I stand before you in a state of enlightenment which I feel could not be if it were not for the presence of this organization in my life.

"Thank you to the staff. You all have worked so hard and have been there for all of us. Thank you to my fellow ELP 2 graduates for making this an experience of a lifetime. And thank you to anyone and everyone who supports FIERCE in any way. I hope that we can all continue to put our all into this movement because it means so much not only for this generation, but for those to come as well. Thank you."

About the FIERCE E-Zine:

The E-Zine is an online publication by FIERCE Media Crew for other LGBTQ youth within and outside of NYC. The E-Zine will highlight FIERCE's work, programs and events; feature stories and reflections from LGBTQ youth about their experiences; member profiles; ally features; articles on fashion, music, movies; and videos, photography, art, and poetry projects produced by FIERCE members.