Youth Activist Network: Party in the Loop

Happening this month

ICAH's Painting Party!

ICAH is having a Painting Party! Join us for our first refresher at our new office! Friday April 17, 2009 from 4:30-7:30 226 S. Wabash 9th floor. We'll have painting, spray painting, graffiti art, stenciling, digital art, music and food. Don't worry you don't have to have experience drawing. Join us as we talk about reproductive justice for young people and other issues by youth for youth. Easily accessible by CTA Pink, Green, Orange, Purple lines to Adams & Wabash or Red and Blue line to Jackson. We're located between Jackson and Adams on South Wabash.

Condom Madness @ Activate8 Change

If I were walking down the streets of downtown Chicago and had handed to me a pack of male, female condoms and a complimentary tube of lube, I would have been more than happy to take them. Saturday February 14th is National Condom Awareness day. The Chicago AIDS Foundation, in  partnership with other community groups, all participated in the "Love the One You're With" campaign--a campaign that promotes condom usage and accessibility. It was also the second day of our 4-day training during which participants walked the street of downtown Chicago distributing condom packets to people from all walks of life.

Strangely enough, not everyone shared my enthusiasm for free condoms. In fact, some people were disgusted by the sight of condoms. I remember one young couple in particular. They were walking down Michigan Ave holding hands and I approached them to say, "Have a safe valentine's day." And both of them jumped back and cringed like I was handing them my dirty laundry. It is precisely these types of attitudes that training sessions like Activate8 Change are helping to confront. If we do not talk openly and honestly about sexual health and protection, then we'll continue to have people in society who frown upon protecting yourself sexually. Click here for more pictures from Activate8

Featured Op Ed of the Month:

A Conversation with Antonio Orea and his thoughts on the film "MILK", Queer Latino Identity, and Social Justice 
     

     Diego Luna’s character Jack, a Latino who comes to Harvey Milk after he splits with a longtime boyfriend.  Jack’s portrayal was of a stereotypical Queen, which is to say he was the over the top feminine character who was completely unstable.  He becomes the “stay-at-home” wife. He was said to “need” Harvey.  He is always portrayed as being weak and needy, and there is nothing wrong portraying characters like this especially if they were staying true to the real events that took place but it all becomes a little bothersome when they constantly refer to the character as the crazy Latino man, mock him by referring to him as Cesar Chavez, have him become an immense on screen burdensome. The gender role dynamics of Harvey Milk and his first boyfriend Scott were as equals, is this by coincidence that they were both white?

Latino and Queer Identity

     Other portrayals they showed of Latino culture were also degrading.  In one scene Jack makes Harvey a traditional Mexican dish, and the prepared meals they showed on the screen were unappealing, bland looking dishes.  What does that show of Mexican culture, what does that say about Latinos?
      In the Mexican community when you come out and say your gay it’s assumed you turn into a woman and you’re seen and treated as such which means having no power and being uncomfortable with that lack of power. Sexism within the gay community was shown accurately in the film with the lesbian campaign manager.  Gay men still have their sexism and homophobia to deal with.  Everyone internalizes lots of things, its something we learn to do at early ages.  We learn to internalize racism and homophobia.  For example, when growing up and your gay your just practicing how to be straight.  Some men don’t want to have gay friends or even male feminine friends, and a lot of gay men don’t grow out of that...

To read the rest of the article and leave your comments visit ICAH's blog at youthactivistnetwork.blogspot.com/

To see video clips of this interview check out ICAH's amazing youtube page! Just click here www.youtube.com/user/IllinoisCaucus

In this issue

* ICAH Painting Party
* Active8 Change Update
* Interview on the film "MILK"

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Video of the month!

How to Use a Condom by ICAH Peer Educator

     Pass it on

Labor and Immigration Workshop @ The Chicago Freedom School