Anarchist Federation Pride bulletin... anyone willing to contribute?

ummm, no then?

Incidentally, we're wanting short non-theoretical articles.

It's a point that has to be made in light of the fact that usually when i look for queer anarcho stuff I get identity politics, beard-stroking accademic wankery and hippy folk guitarists, and not much on news, events and class.

WSM did something like this. Its a great idea and I fully approve!

Here is the text of a flier distributed a few years back - http://ireland.indymedia.org/article/71272?save_prefs=true

Oh come one cantdo, it's easier for better-off people being gay. homophobia does still exist, a lot, particularly among certain groups and it affects more working class people more - particularly with respect to job security, bullying, etc, Also of course there exists stuff like the middle class "gay community" based on consumption choices, which a lot of people aren't part of. and a lot more.

I've heard lesbians talk about the inequality in the gay community where men earn more and as such are the more dominant voices, any truth in this?

Might be worth writing about then.

Right, i'll try rephrase it....

If you think you can put forward a news / event / etc article on Class, capitalism and the state's relationship with queer folk, and bear in mind london pride last year was sponsored by British Airways, please email me. Cheers.

but you seem to be aproaching this from either viewing the gay 'community' as one big homogenous lump (i.e. 'you think its harder to keep jobs if your gay?') or talking about some problem of working class gay's unequal position in the 'gay community' - these seem to be two positions that only you have come up with, as i understand it the issue here is how being working class & gay affects your position in society as a whole, most working class gay's i know don't have any desire to establish themselves within a specific gay community, so the problem is not their relationship to that community, but of their relationship within, and problems that have to be confronted in, society in general and how they are likely to face problems as a working class gay person

i can't see how an anarchist group based within the british isles preparing a (non-theoretical) leaflet to be handed out at pride events within the british isles which are often sponsored by british airways could in anyway be in danger of being britain specific, do you?

Of course, especially for people in factories, warehouses, construction, transport etc. Having gay bosses can make it even harder as if people see what they think is favouritism towards a gay employee they will start whispering about "gay mafias" and all that bullshit. It is absolutely wise in my experience for gay/lesbian agency workers to hide their sexuality, especially in workplaces with a sizable immigrant or black workforce.

The gay scene certainly does not reflect - or have an interest in these problems.

So all these hardened proley gay types who will be getting pissed, having a good time at pride festival and all these gays fro ''immigrant communities'' who will definitely be there are going to see a leaflet handed about by some decidedly straight looking morose, unpullable and sober anarchists about how homophobia at work is like bad yeah and they're gonna do what exactly? Seriously give me a break, i'm more than happy to counter homophobia and other reactionary ideas at work, and have spent time doing it in the past, but it doesn't stop me thinking 'recruitment' based leafleting like this is a waste of time and effort. Meh i'll stop whinging though, and an admin can split the thread if they want like.

i find it interesting that you feel the need to add that adjective to the description, where did that come from?

as to the wider point , the original poster specifically referred to 'us queers' so not sure where your decidedly straight anarchist comes into it (although given as i understand it the issue is about how being working class & gay effects you within society i'd expect there would be an identity of interest with working class anarchists whatever their sexual persuasion

How was it successful? A serious question like, what good came out of it specifically?

Well handing out a leaflet can be successful or unseucessful. I suppose the most unsucessful leafleting I've ever seen was when the SWP turned up at the Reclaim the Streets in Dublin Mayday 04 with a leaflet condemning the violence on the demo the day before saying:

The leaflet went down so badly they later said they never produced it. They had.

Sucessful leafleting is when a lot of people take the leaflet eagerly, tell you they like it, talk about it afterwards etc.

Hardly a major victory for the working class but leafleting can be 'sucessful'.

Ah its kind of like our slogan. Its on our banner, its at the top of our website, we put it on a lot of our leaflets.

cheers george

how do you know they talk about it afterwards, are the leaflets bugged