Tongue to Tongue was a success!
Community members participated in what will historically become known as the Tongue to Tongue Dialogues. Educators, artists, community activists, students, organizers among other community stakeholders came together to address questions of labor, class, race/ethnicity, poverty, sexuality, gender, health, immigration and the intersections of these issues with each of our different communities. In this unique gathering of queer women of color and transgender people of color from all walks of life and professions several dialogues on issues directly affecting us in the city of Los Angeles. Difficult conversations and reflections led us to realize we need to work toward a queer working woman of color and transgender people of color agenda that will call for profound change and justice and not just basic inclusion and visibility. Out of the weekend, six pertinent issues affecting queer women of color in Los Angeles were identified and include: Economic Justice (Housing/Poverty/Jobs); Inclusion of Transgender issues in our society and movements; Race and Ethnic Relations; Healthcare; Immigration and immigration reform; and developing sustainable International Solidarity.
The Tongue to Tongue organizing committee is committed to advance the work we all started together that weekend. Several of you may have signed up to work on one or several of these issues in reflection discussions which took place on Sunday and we expect will continue to work together. We will be following up on the small group reflection discussions from Sunday on the six issues of high priority you identified and began to discuss. We expect that work groups will reconvene to develop the issues explored that Sunday more in depth and that these work groups will move forward collective plans of action.
We know this is a great undertaking and cannot do it without your continued support and attention to the issues—so we count on you and look forward your collaboration. Once again, thank you for making the Tongue to Tongue Dialogues a success by attending, bringing your ideas and concerns as well as your commitment to future collective work. We look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Tongue to Tongue Organizing Committee