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• • All About Shameless
  • Arts

  Coco Riot featured in Bitch Magazine

  January 19, 2012 • Team Shameless

  Friend, artist and big supporter of Shameless, Coco Riot, has been featured in Bitch magazine for their amazing art! We are so proud to work with you and to call you a friend, Coco!

  A queer hispanic migrant artist, Coco Riot believes that art is not a tool for social change but social change itself. In their work Coco Riot loves exploring the multiple social possibilities of drawing and language through installation, animation film, print media, graphic novels, comics and in-site drawing exhibitions. The topics that fuel their inspiration range from queer politics, social and personal memories, living in different languages and the experience of migration, to Coco’s desire for bright colours and the love for poetry and repetitive patterns. In their work, Coco Riot uses personal experiences as metaphors to talk about social and political experiences experiences.

  Check out the feature here.

• • (dis)Ability
  • Bibliothèque

  If I Can’t Dance, Is it Still My Revolution? An interview with AJ Withers

  January 19, 2012 • Kate-Christine Miller

  AJ Withers is a Canadian Disability Activist whose zine “If I Can’t Dance, Is it Still My Revolution?” had a profound effect on me as a disabled person and activist. After reviewing the zine and website for Shameless magazine (the Labour issue, out this week!) I wanted to connect with AJ and hear more about radical disability activism. Specifically, I wanted to know what it takes to build solidarity, among and with disabled people, how to connect the struggles of differently disabled people, and to reflect on how this work is transformative. I personally can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of their new book, Disability Politics and Theory, due to be published by Fernwood in April of this year.

  –––-

  Kate-Christine Miller - There are some great guides out there for being an ally, and the guide on your site points to a lot of the problems that come up with being a non-disabled ally. I would imagine there are a lot of issues with disabled organizers recognizing all of each other’s needs and experiences. Are these issues that you see come up in disabled organizing?

  AJ Withers - Yes, all the time. The mainstream disability rights movement has focused on getting middle-class straight white men the privilege that they would have had if they weren’t disabled. So, it has often been classist, heterosexist, racist and sexist, and worked to uphold the oppression of other groups and the many disabled people who are a part of them. I think it is important for all disabled organizers to recognize that disabled people are an incredibly diverse group and that we need to attack all forms of oppression, not just disablism.

  KCM- What advice do you have for disabled people just starting to be interested in radical disability organizing?

  AJW – 1. Make sure that the fact that disability is intersected with other oppressions is reflected in everything that you do.

  2. Work with a diverse group and inter-generationally. When people organize with people who think and act the same way they do, that work can be really limited and one-sided. It is important to work with lots of different kinds of people with different perspectives. Sometimes, this means that you will have fights and it will be harder to compromise, but the final outcome will be better.

  (more inside…)

• • All About Shameless
  • On The Job

  Issue 19 out now!

  January 18, 2012 • Sheila Sampath

  

  On November 2, 2011, Oakland went on strike. In a formidable display of solidarity and support, workers across the city united in opposition to oppressive government policies, industry exploitation and state violence.

  At home in Toronto, I watched while an estimated three thousand protesters successfully forced an operational halt to the Oakland Port. I was moved when I saw local businesses shut down in solidarity and I cried when I saw hundreds of school-aged children carrying crayon-coloured “Occupy our future” placards. The messages of anger, frustration and solidarity were echoed in Occupy and Decolonize protests across the world.

  When workers are able to shut a city down, we are reminded of the power of labour. In the same way that we work to support our causes, our families and ourselves, we are, everyday, supported by hundreds of fellow workers: workers in the public sector who educate us, keep us safe and keep us healthy; workers in the private sector whose labour is sewn into the clothes we wear, assembled in the computers we use and written in the books we read. Labour is embedded in every product we consume and every service we rely on.

  The production and consumption of wage labour is a necessity under capitalism; a necessity made even stronger by the growing income gap and increase in privatization. However, pervasive austerity measures, the normalization of contract and precarious or unpaid work and global and migrant labour divisions make it harder than ever to earn a living with dignity and respect. These government and industry policies disproportionately affect already marginalized groups of people: the working class and poor, women and trans people, migrant peoples, (dis)abled peoples, people of colour, Indigenous peoples, and, significantly, youth. Under a system of global capitalism, these policies fuel the income gap and contribute to a cycle of deplorable workers’ rights.

  We spend a lot of time working, training to work, thinking about work, looking for work and recovering from work. While work has come to shape so much of our day-to-day lives, we need to start thinking about ways of using our work to shape the world around us. While work has come to define so much of who we are, we need to start finding ways of defining the terms of the work that we do. With this issue of Shameless, our labour issue, we hope to use our work to encourage you to think critically about your work.

  In this issue, we feature workers speaking about unions (p. 18), internships (p. 24) and sex workers’ rights (p. 28). We bring you stories about tree planting (p. 8), workers going green (p. 16) and young women farmers (p. 38). We help you learn your rights at work (p. 12) and consider the labour that goes into the clothes we wear (p. 40). By sharing these stories of fellow workers, we hope to facilitate a dialogue around what it means to work with dignity and respect, and to facilitate solidarity among working people that allows all of us to collectively speak up for all of our rights.

  I want to take this opportunity to thank our volunteer staff, writers and artists who continue to work tirelessly bring these issues to you. Shameless is a labour of love and we hope that with it, you are able to find love in what you do.

  Yours shamelessly,
  
  sheila
  
  sheila@shamelessmag.com
  

• • Queeriosities
  • Race and Racism
  • Recommended Reading

  Recommended Reading: The Shit Girls Say meme: friendly prejudice, but prejudice all the same

  January 17, 2012 • Julia Horel

  We have lots of thoughts about the “Shit Girls Say” meme (unfunny) and about the “Shit X Says to Y” meme (in many cases, poignant). We’d like to refer you to Thea Lim’s piece at the Guardian for some reading:

  What’s friendly prejudice? The most common defence of racism is: “But I didn’t intend to be racist.” This response relies on the idea that if we didn’t intend to offend someone, then their feelings can’t possibly be hurt. The Shit X Says to Y videos are delightfully validating because they show that those with the genuinely lovely intentions of being your friend and seeking commonality with you can still be rude and hurtful.
  

  Check out the whole article here.

  If you have other articles to recommend on the topic, please leave them in comments.

• • Anti-violence
  • In My Opinion...
  • Race and Racism

  I’m a feminist NFL fan, and I’m conflicted about it.

  January 9, 2012 • Julia Horel

  Okay, I understand why I’m an American football fan. I started watching hockey with my dad when I was 13, and soon branched into watching almost every sport I could find on TV. (Yeah, I watch curling.) American football (different from the international term “football,” which some of us know as “soccer”) is exciting, strategic, and often just a big, dramatic circus to watch. It’s my favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

  But football is also a really, REALLY violent sport, more violent than a lot of other sports. The basic concept of the sport, for those who don’t know, is that two teams line up along the width of a 100-yard field, with one team (offense) throwing and running the ball, trying to go forward toward the end zone to score points, and the other team (defense) trying to prevent them from getting there. If the offensive team doesn’t advance far enough after a few tries (downs), the teams switch and the other team tries to go the other way.

  There are lots of rules about what you can and can’t do to try to stop the other team from getting past you, but some of the most common tactics are blocking (throwing your weight against someone to keep them from pushing past) and tackling (grabbing someone and bringing them down to the ground, sometimes landing on top of them). Players are understandably heavily padded with protective equipment. Concussions are common. Often, the bigger the hit, the louder the cheers.

  It’s not actually the violence in the game that disturbs me about my fanship of the National Football League (NFL), although I should probably think about it more often than I do. What’s really been getting me lately is the culture of violence, racism and misogyny that’s spilling out of the game and into the personal lives of a number of NFL players – and the way these cases are treated by the league, the media and the fans of the game.

  (more inside…)

• • Eco Speak
  • Event Listings

  Toronto event: UberSWAP clothing swap

  January 9, 2012 • Julia Horel

  Shameless is excited to be attending this event – look for Julia and Sarah at the Shameless table and come say hi, buy a magazine and check out some merch!

  PLEASE NOTE: The venue has a few stairs leading to the entrance and is not wheelchair-accessible.
  –––-

  Join 100+ stylish scavengers in Leslieville for the next edition of Uber-SWAP, our used & vintage clothing exchange! (Facebook event page here.)

  Expect a thriftshop-style swap boasting a tempting stash of gently used, vintage & even some new clothing, accessories & footwear.

  Bring a bag, take a bag!
  NOTE: The main focus is on women’s fashions, but men’s items are also very welcome (no kid’s clothing or toys, please).

  Save-the-date & please help spread the word re: this eco-fab & frugal event!

  Saturday, January 21
  11am-2pm
  Queen St East Presbyterian Church
  947 Queen St East at Carlaw, Toronto, ON

  

  ADMISSION:
  $6 for Advance/Early-Bird tickets + your swap loot (limited number avail.)
  OR
  $10 at the door
  (+ your bag of gently used/vintage clothing)

  Note: Those who contribute their loot in advance will be entered into a draw for a $50 Nathalie-Roze & Co. store credit!
  –––––––––––––-

  UBER-SWAP RULES:

  1. Participants are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 tote bag of decent cast-offs (8 to 10 items). Swap loot must be dropped off by Jan, 20th, in order to purchase a $6 advance ticket (vs. $10 at the door day-of).

  2. No damaged or dirty items, please ~ only bring clean/decent quality clothing & accessories to the SWAP

  3. Each participant can leave with 1 large tote or 2 grocery bags of wearables (a significant haul per person!). Bags will be provided.

  

  (Nathalie-Roze Fischer)

  ===========
  SWEET CHARITY:
  1. All leftover items will be donated to Double-Take, the Yonge Street Mission’s thrift shop at 310 Gerrard St. East (near Parliament), which raises money for various East-End social service programs.
  2. A portion of the admission fee will benefit our underwear drive for Red Door Shelter & South Riverdale Health Centre.
  ===

  Key Swappables:
  ~ Tons of clothing, shoes, bags & accessories (incl. some vintage & maternity items)
  ~ A table of fabric & craft supplies
  ~ A few *new* indie designer gems hidden in the piles from our shop (yay!)
  ––––––––––––––—

  What You Can Expect:
  ~ clothing & accessories divided into categories (eg. tops, shoes, coats, etc.)
  ~ a bit of chaos, but lots of fun too
  ~ mirrors on-site, but no private change rooms, so please dress accordingly (wear leggings or layers)
  ===========

  DO BRING this kind of stuff:
  ~ jackets ~ tops ~ sweaters ~ skirts ~ jeans ~ dresses ~ hats ~ scarves ~ bags ~ PJs ~ shoes & boots ~ belts ~ active wear ~ purses ~ pants
  ~ costume jewellery ~ fabric & craft supplies

  PLEASE DO NOT BRING:
  ~ home decor ~ books & mags ~ baby or kid stuff ~ furniture ~ toys
  ===========

  QUESTIONS?
  Feel free to post any queries on the event wall or call the shop at:
  416-792-1699
  ***********

  See you at Uber-SWAP on January 21st for some eco-friendly fun!
  Bye for now,
  Nathalie-Roze, Ashleigh, Shannon, Laura & Anneke :]

• • Event Listings
  • Queeriosities

  Call for Volunteers: Dyke March Toronto 2012

  January 9, 2012 • Julia Horel

  The Toronto Dyke March is ramping up for 2012 and we need your help!

  We are seeking dykes who would like to help organise this year’s March and affiliated events, including parties, panels, political actions, community art projects.

  We are seeking queer women and dyke-identified trans people who would like to help organise this year’s March and affiliated events, including parties, panels, political actions, community art projects.

  We need both experienced members and those seeking to develop new skills. We need help with event coordination, fund-raising and budgeting, graphic and web design, social media, marketing, blogging, community outreach, volunteer coordination, and political action.

  

  There is more than one way to be involved:

  1) Join the committee! DEADLINE: January 16, 2012
  Send us a brief explanation of 1) why you would like to be involved, 2) your qualities and experience as well as 3) the skills you would like to develop and your areas of interest. [dykemarchto@gmail.com]
  Feel free to follow this template: http://docs.com/G187
  Applicants are encouraged to self identity. Queers of colour, Indigenous dykes and trans folk strongly encouraged to apply.

  2) Join the street team! Ongoing sign up January through June 2012.
  Email us to sign up and we’ll add you to the list. [dykemarchto@gmail.com]
  Help us when you can with postering, baking, running and attending events, and marshalling the March.
  Come to our open committee meetings, bring a friend, see what we’re up to, and share your thoughts. Help us plan and develop our mission statement and goals.
  Allies welcome!

  3) Join our online community!
  Follow us on twitter (@dykemarchto). Help us by retweeting.
  Like our Facebook community page (DykeMarch Toronto) and comment on, like and share our postings.
  Get in the loop on Toronto’s hottest queer events by checking the calendar on our Facebook page.
  Tweet, email, holler your ideas and comments to us!

  4) Celebrate Pride with us!
  MARCH! Come to the Rally and Dyke March on June 30, 2012! March, strut, scream, sign, chant, roll and dance your way through the city streets. Take up space. Take a stand. Share some time with friends and make some new ones.
  Come to the other Dyke Pride events we are running or supporting.

  

  (Jocelyn Reynolds)

  
  Questions? Get in touch anytime! We’d LOVE to hear your ideas, concerns, musings.

  In solidarity,

  The 2012 Dyke March Team

  Email dykemarchto@gmail.com
  Twitter @dykemarchto
  Facebook DykeMarch Toronto

• • Activist Report
  • On The Job

  Tituba’s Revenge: organizing and advocacy for not-for-profit workers

  December 23, 2011 • Meg Pirie

  One of the greatest achievements of neoliberalism is the ways in which the state’s role shifted from caretaker to CFO. This ostensibly seamless transition saw the rise of the not-for-profit/non-profit sector (I use the terms interchangeably in this post), stepping in to provide necessary social services that were once the responsibility of our governments and elected officials. In other words, governments need not-for-profits, and not-for-profits, which might receive some funding form government agencies and need to comply with municipal by-laws, often prop-up governments without tackling the root causes of systemic marginalization. But perhaps the greatest achievement of all is a widespread perception and banal acceptance that this is a relationship between citizens and government that has always ‘been there’ and that no other alternative exists.

  This economic system founded on quantifiable outputs, results, and unfettered accumulation has seen the transformation of many not-for-profits from radical origins to mainstream models that mirror businesses. And while I’m not saying that all not-for-profits are bureaucratic houses of mirrors, they are workplaces and all workplaces are open to labour abuse.

  Moreover, not-for-profits do not exist in isolation; they’re part of a broader system of power and resistance. How these organizations elect to navigate said system varies. Some remain radical; others not so much. Regardless, labour abuses within this sector are relatively overlooked.

  With this in mind, the formation of Tituba’s Revenge earlier this year—a New York City collective comprised of anti-capitalist non-profit for workers who are predominantly queer women of colour—couldn’t be more timely. An ongoing working project, Tituba’s Revenge is dedicated to, in part,

  * dispelling myths about non-profits
  * redressing the current vacuum of analysis devoted to exploitative conditions within this feminized sector
  * highlighting the ways in which many non-profits help to reproduce capitalism
  * facilitating strategies for workplace organizing

  The collective is named after Tituba, a Black Caribbean woman brought to Salem, Massachusetts as a slave and later persecuted during the Salem Witch Trials for her use of African healing rituals. In this way, the act of naming is a powerful one: it gives voice to an individual lived experience and highlights shared histories of resistance.

  Their first pamphlet was just released (PDF link) and in short, it’s amazing. (more inside…)

• • All About Shameless
  • Arts
  • Media Savvy
  • Playlist

  Putting together an alternative playlist

  December 21, 2011 • Sarah Feldbloom

  Readers! Listeners!

  Shameless wants to put together a podcast of music by women, trans, genderqueer and non-binary folk that comes through non-mainstream channels, from parts of the world that often feel out of reach for those of us in Canada. Can you help us?

  Send songs through sendspace.com or another online file sharing program to sfeldbloom@shamelessmag.com, and email some notes about the artist – where they come from, who they are, and what’s awesome about them and their music. How wonderful will it be to hear this playlist?! We’d love to get some of your title ideas too!

• • Activist Report
  • Arts
  • Media Savvy
  • News Flash
  • On The Job
  • Playlist
  • Politics

  2011: A Shameless Retrospective

  December 20, 2011 • Team Shameless

  What a year! People say that every year as they bid the previous one adieu but 2011 has been full of world events that have shocked and touched us. Worry is one of the words that comes to mind when we think about 2011. From worry over the economy to fretting about our political climate, it’s clear the past year was fraught with events that, despite the fast pace of our lives, has caused us to pause and reflect. However, many events have given us lots of reason to hope and to be proud.

  Here are just a few of the events and items of the past year that have caught the attention of some of your Shameless team members. We throw it to you to leave links, comments and discussion-starters in the comment section.

  In keeping with the themes of the three print issues Shameless released this year, we offer you some jumping-off points:

  –––-

  Music in 2011

  Wild Flag (self-titled album): One of Rolling Stone’s best albums of the year, including former members of Sleater Kinney, Mary Timony (ex-riot grrrl bands). [Co-founder Nicole Cohen says: “I am obsessed with this album; so so so good.”]

  On a Mission, Katy B: A major breakthrough in the dubstep music genre, as it crossed over into pop consciousness. A UK release. [Web director Julia Horel can’t stop listening to it.]

  What music did you love this year?

  –––-

  Politics in 2011:

  The Northern Ontario Indigenous community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency in light of a housing and supply crisis … and no one came. Help has since been slow in coming and has been mostly inappropriate and inadequate. This is a humanitarian crisis, but it’s also political because it has occurred due to colonial government policies.

  (more inside…)

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