We're here.
We're queer.
And we're calling on the LGBT community to rise up and be counted.
There are several groups here for the sexual minority community and we tip our hats to the outstanding LGBT Kossacks who've created and written for these groups. We've all learned a great deal about trans issues from the years of tireless work by rserven and the writers at TransAction. Clarknt67 and the writers at Milk Men and Women have provided a great service educating and keeping the Daily Kos community informed of the latest news of LGBT equality advocacy. And the Angry Gays have provided a great space for us to sometimes vent and scream, "What the fuck!?"
Still, we see something missing. The sexual minority community is truly among the most diverse here at Daily Kos and we believe that that diversity is something we should discuss and celebrate. It is our opinion that we've allowed ourselves to be divided by issues that aren't necessarily central to our identity and experiences as LGBT persons. So today we introduce the LGBT Kos Community as an umbrella group to unite our community.
Now let me first tell you what we're not.
First, we're not politically oriented. We've got other groups, those mentioned above, to discuss and debate politics. We are interested in policies that will benefit the sexual minority community, but this is not a political group. This is a queer group. Or, if you prefer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, curious, questioning. All are welcome, even - gasp! - our straight friends.
Second, we're not spokespersons for the sexual minority community at Daily Kos. The LGBT community is very diverse, in terms of gender, gender identity, race, religion, and political ideology. We can't speak for everyone if any are "excluded". So we are not here to speak for anybody. We are here to promote everybody.
A few notes before we get started: this is supposed to be a safe space to discuss our issues, so please, keep your piefights where they belong, which is not here. That applies to the meta food fight of the day, the Obama Wars, what have you. It's not that we don't like debate or that we don't have opinions on those issues. We do, but as with our diversity, our community cuts across the great debates at Daily Kos. Some of us think that Obama rocks. Some of us think Obama sucks. Some of us believe that donating to and volunteering for Democrats empowers our community. Some of us believe those actions enable Democrats to ignore our issues. But these issues divide our community at a time when we gain so much more from being united. There are places for these debates and they are not here at LGBT Kos. We are more interested in the diversity of our life experiences, our cultures, and our dreams of a better tomorrow. We believe that we can create a space to discuss these differences without engaging in the political debates that have so often divided our community.
Our topical focus will vary. That's inevitable with such a diverse community. Our goal is to promote the health, culture, sociology, outstanding individuals of the entire community, and whatever else strikes our - or your, dear reader - fancy. We are planning two weekly diaries published under the LGBT Kos banner. One diary will be posted on Wednesday evenings. The author and topic will vary from week to week, and if you are interested in writing the Wednesday evening weekly, please send a kosmail to LGBT Kos. You wouldn't be committing yourself to writing anymore than you so desire. You can write under your own username, but your diary will be reviewed and copy-edited by an administrator before publication. We are requiring that all diaries be reviewed to avoid the type of situation that brought an end to GLBT and Friends last fall. The other diary will be a weekly news roundup, posted on Friday afternoons. This diary will be posted under the LGBT Kos username. This will include a round-up of LGBT news (mainstream and blogosphere) from the previous week, as well as a section highlighting LGBT diaries at Daily Kos.
Obviously, we'd like as many folks, queer, straight, or just simply fabulous, to join us. We need writers and editors who are willing to share the burden, and commit to a deadline. If you are interested, please send a request. You know how this works.
Finally, a note of acknowledgement. The gold standard for community diaries on Daily Kos is Black Kos. They are our inspiration, and we hope to live up to the standards of excellence set by our friends of color, not to compete, but to complement.
This diary was a collaborative effort and reflects the consensus of the LGBT Kos Community administrators:
MBNYC
wyldraven
BFSkinner
psychodrew
Updated by MBNYC at Thu May 19, 2011 at 05:07 PM EDT
For anyone who would like to join, please send a Kosmail to the group account requesting an invite. Thanks!