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I've had time to read and reread and reread this post and I'd like to add a
few comments further, if I may.
"Teddy Welsh" <ewelsh@wsc.ma.edu> wrote in message
news:I40H0H.1yKv@lugnet.com...
> I've been kicking an idea around for a while, and I wanted to put it out
> to the
> community: I'd like to start an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
> and
> transgendered (LGBT) AFOLs. A lavender brick society, if you like. It's
> seemed
> to me that "family" participation at fests and suchlike has been very
> sparse,
> and I'm wondering if it isn't the classic invisibility thing. Wouldn't it
> be
> cool if we all wore a little pink brick (or better yet, a lavender brick)
> on our
> fest nametag, as a subtle little "Yoo hoo, Miss Tallulah!" to those in the
> know?
> Call me an old-fashioned activist bitch, but it sure would make me feel a
> little
> more welcome in the community. Not that I feel particularly
> unwelcome--but I
> have felt a certain disconnect from time to time. A bit of visibility and
> awareness would go a long way in my book.
No one is unwelcome at Lugnet, not even Richard (sorry, had to throw that
in - hi Richard!). If you feel disconnected and and want visibility and
awareness, then build a great MOC! Or start a LUG/TLC! OR...
> In the larger scheme, I want to open a conversation about what it means to
> be
> queer in this community, but I'm not sure I want to have that conversation
> in a
> general forum. I'd rather participants opt into the conversation.
So what DOES it mean to be queer in this community? Have you had troubles
obtaining Lego because of it? Have you been scrutinized for a gay-themed
MOC you posted here? I certainly had no idea that being queer was any
different from being not-queer here at Lugnet, especially when it pertained
to the LEGO community.
> To the administrators: Could we set up an LGBT AFOL newsgroup, perhaps in
> .people? I'd be happy to administer it. I don't imagine it would be
> particularly high-traffic, but it would provide a safe space in which to
> discuss
> issues I (and I suspect others) find interesting and important.
There is no "safe space" in a public forum. Just as you have the right to
post in lugnet.parts,modification, everyone (including me) has the right to
start talking about "on-topic" items in lugnet.people.lgbt (which I'd really
prefer glbt - no reason, really). I have yet to see an interest and
important discussion in lgbt to date that could not have been addressed in
other NGs that would better fit the bill. Post MOC's in moc's or build or
general and take discussion "being queer" to off-topic. I'd love to see
some MOC's from alternate walks of life based on religion, politics,
ethnicity, even lifestyles.
> Thoughts that pop into my mind: Has anyone used bricks to make a same-sex
> couple wedding topper? We could post "sodomy alerts" whenever Rev.
> Brendan
> finishes another Bible story touching on queer issues. Don't even get me
> started on gender representation in our hobby. But many of us create
> representations of entire societies, entire worlds. How do we populate
> these
> worlds? Which stories do we tell? This seems like rich fodder for all
> sorts of
> analysis. And look at other geek cultures. Pick any sci-fi or fantasy
> universe. All participants subscribe to the same rules--or at least they
> say
> they do--with expected (and unexpected) comformity (specifically,
> heteronormativity), as well as noncomformity. We don't have the same
> restrictions. The creative aspect of our hobby puts me more in mind of a
> communtiy of artists or writers. But they seem more serious, less
> spontaneous,
> less likely to graffito a men's room wall. The search for meaning in a
> community is one of the Big Questions.
I still think these issues would be better in other NGs.
>
> A few thoughts, anyway, that I'd love to pursue further. Interest?
> Administrative support?
>
>
> -Teddy
Rob Hendrix
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Lavender Brick Society
|
| I've been kicking an idea around for a while, and I wanted to put it out to the community: I'd like to start an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) AFOLs. A lavender brick society, if you like. It's seemed to me that (...) (20 years ago, 14-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.suggestions, lugnet.fun.community, lugnet.off-topic.debate, lugnet.people, lugnet.org) !!
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