Workshops

A 'Queer Golden Rule'?

Edward Strickler, Virginia Anti Violence Project

Different cultures and societies have expressed a 'golden rule' about moral choices: e.g. 'treat others as you'd like others to treat you', 'don't treat others in ways that you'd not want to be treated', etc. Could there be - should there be - a 'Queer (LGBTQ) Golden Rule(s)'? What might it be? Can we agree? How might it matter?

Everyone is welcome to this session, to learn from one another about moral choices in our LGBTQ communities that are sometimes hidden and that may be difficult to discuss: partner violence and sexual violence; stalking, threatening and mean gossip (including on the Internet) within our communities; misfeasance, malfeasance, and lack of accountability by our community organizations, and community members’ lack of volunteering and other support for our community organizations; using sex or lure of sex for purposes of fraud, blackmail, theft; standing by when we see or hear racist, transphobic, anti-immigrant and other prejudice about our multiple/and intersecting identities; and other topics you may bring to the session.

The session’s work will be primarily in small groups. Issues will be described by available data and/or illustrative cases, and each group will discuss one or more issues within the time available. Several guidance questions will help collect key points from the small group conversations to be reported out to the full group. Our outcome will be some practice discussing these difficult issues, from our different experiences, locales, and points of view, and new acquaintances to take away from the Summit.