The Princess Interview
Jun. 6th, 2003 06:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judecorp1. You've hit the lottery and decide to start your own non-profit agency. What kind of agency would you open, and how would it serve people?
If I could create my own agency, I'd be working with my target population of my dreams - that being LGBTQ youth. Provided I hit the lottery in a large way, I'd like to create a combination of things. I'd like a large space that could be used for a recreation area and drop-in center, where there would be activities and social events. I'd like there to be at least one social worker on staff to provide individual counseling, family counseling, support groups, safer sex information, etc. I'd like to have, either as part of this building or a separate building, a home for runaway youth that are LGBTQ, as these youth often become targets in other institutions, and have a higher rate of being kicked out of the home as young people. I'd link with other agencies (the local health department, alcohol and drug services, etc.) to bring their services to my center so that youth (who often need parental permission or are too intimidated to seek out services) would be able to take better care of themselves and their needs. Mostly, it would just be known all over the state as a safe place to go, no matter what. Bored after school? Kicked out by your parents? Just got beaten up? Just got dumped? Need to come out to Mom? NO PROBLEM.
2. Matt Lauer is doing a series on the plight of the homeless and the potential for increased numbers of homeless in the next few years. He wants you to take him through a day in your life, and show him examples of what people have to face everyday. What do you choose to let him see? What major point do you want the public to get?
One thing I would like him to see, in great detail, is how difficult it is to get everything in order when you're homeless and you start a job. Everything's always so bent on the idea that "getting a job" is the panacea for everything homeless. I would like Matt Lauer to meet someone who got a job that day, and is expected to start the next day. He is working food service, and his job requires black pants and black shoes. He has no transportation to work, and has no money. (He just got the job, after all.) He will be at work for 8 hours, and he will miss two meals at the shelter. The shelter has a curfew of 9pm, and he has to work until 11. What does he do?
It's a complicated, tiresome process. For starters, he can begin checking out local clothing pantries to see if any of them have at least one pair of black pants and black shoes acceptible for work. This could send him all over the city, so he'll need a daily bus pass. As for how he gets to work, well, there is an agency in town (JOIN) where one can get 2 weeks worth of bus passes for work. They're open M-F from 10am - 11:30am. (What if it's 2pm right now?) But for JOIN to even give bus passes, he has to have a verification letter from his employer stating his date of hire, hours, rate of pay, supervisor's name and number, date of first paycheck. He can then use this letter to get an extended curfew at the shelter and be put on the sack lunch program (at my particular shelter) so he has a lunch to take to work. All of this takes a considerable amount of time and coordination. And to get the work letter, he has to gamble... Do I tell them I live in a shelter, or do I lie about what this letter is for?
Yes. I'd like everyone to see all of that. Bootstraps my ass.
3. The religious right is hosting a rally on the steps of the State House, campaigning for more restrictive laws against the gay community. How do you counter their actions, and what would you need to do to get the point across?
I don't need to get a point across. They are doing a great job showing their ignorance without me having to do anything. They have a right to assemble, and to campaign for laws. I personally believe that freedom of speech is great because it lets the idiots advertise themselves. But I can counter their campaigns with my own campaigns. I frequently write letters to my local, state, and national representatives. I have shmoozed with elected officials. If people were counter-protesting, peaceably, I would think about going, but likely as not I would write letters and encourage others to do the same.
Regardless, I demonstrate peaceably against homophobia every day when I show affection to my girlfriend in public just like everyone else. And I counter homophobia every day by getting to know people, helping people, and being a damned good person. That way, when they "find out" I'm with a girl, they may have to stop and rethink their prejudices. I've heard several times, from several different sources, things like, "You're the first lesbian couple I've ever been close to" or "You're the first queer person I've ever met." That's education!
4. Mayor Coleman is hosting a symposium to get more input on what changes need to be made before he leaves office. It's mostly a publicity stunt to show how great he is, and he's trying to improve his chances in bigger election campaigns (i.e., governor, senate, the presidency). You've raised your hand, and he calls on you. What do you say to him?
"Good evening, Mr. Mayor. I think the first thing you should try to do is to finally make good on all of the promises you've fed to the LGBT community, to the communities of color, and to the people in poverty for years."
5. You and Jen get to build your dream home. What would it be like?
Ours. It would be on the coast, and it would be big enough for our family. And she would be in it.
If I could create my own agency, I'd be working with my target population of my dreams - that being LGBTQ youth. Provided I hit the lottery in a large way, I'd like to create a combination of things. I'd like a large space that could be used for a recreation area and drop-in center, where there would be activities and social events. I'd like there to be at least one social worker on staff to provide individual counseling, family counseling, support groups, safer sex information, etc. I'd like to have, either as part of this building or a separate building, a home for runaway youth that are LGBTQ, as these youth often become targets in other institutions, and have a higher rate of being kicked out of the home as young people. I'd link with other agencies (the local health department, alcohol and drug services, etc.) to bring their services to my center so that youth (who often need parental permission or are too intimidated to seek out services) would be able to take better care of themselves and their needs. Mostly, it would just be known all over the state as a safe place to go, no matter what. Bored after school? Kicked out by your parents? Just got beaten up? Just got dumped? Need to come out to Mom? NO PROBLEM.
2. Matt Lauer is doing a series on the plight of the homeless and the potential for increased numbers of homeless in the next few years. He wants you to take him through a day in your life, and show him examples of what people have to face everyday. What do you choose to let him see? What major point do you want the public to get?
One thing I would like him to see, in great detail, is how difficult it is to get everything in order when you're homeless and you start a job. Everything's always so bent on the idea that "getting a job" is the panacea for everything homeless. I would like Matt Lauer to meet someone who got a job that day, and is expected to start the next day. He is working food service, and his job requires black pants and black shoes. He has no transportation to work, and has no money. (He just got the job, after all.) He will be at work for 8 hours, and he will miss two meals at the shelter. The shelter has a curfew of 9pm, and he has to work until 11. What does he do?
It's a complicated, tiresome process. For starters, he can begin checking out local clothing pantries to see if any of them have at least one pair of black pants and black shoes acceptible for work. This could send him all over the city, so he'll need a daily bus pass. As for how he gets to work, well, there is an agency in town (JOIN) where one can get 2 weeks worth of bus passes for work. They're open M-F from 10am - 11:30am. (What if it's 2pm right now?) But for JOIN to even give bus passes, he has to have a verification letter from his employer stating his date of hire, hours, rate of pay, supervisor's name and number, date of first paycheck. He can then use this letter to get an extended curfew at the shelter and be put on the sack lunch program (at my particular shelter) so he has a lunch to take to work. All of this takes a considerable amount of time and coordination. And to get the work letter, he has to gamble... Do I tell them I live in a shelter, or do I lie about what this letter is for?
Yes. I'd like everyone to see all of that. Bootstraps my ass.
3. The religious right is hosting a rally on the steps of the State House, campaigning for more restrictive laws against the gay community. How do you counter their actions, and what would you need to do to get the point across?
I don't need to get a point across. They are doing a great job showing their ignorance without me having to do anything. They have a right to assemble, and to campaign for laws. I personally believe that freedom of speech is great because it lets the idiots advertise themselves. But I can counter their campaigns with my own campaigns. I frequently write letters to my local, state, and national representatives. I have shmoozed with elected officials. If people were counter-protesting, peaceably, I would think about going, but likely as not I would write letters and encourage others to do the same.
Regardless, I demonstrate peaceably against homophobia every day when I show affection to my girlfriend in public just like everyone else. And I counter homophobia every day by getting to know people, helping people, and being a damned good person. That way, when they "find out" I'm with a girl, they may have to stop and rethink their prejudices. I've heard several times, from several different sources, things like, "You're the first lesbian couple I've ever been close to" or "You're the first queer person I've ever met." That's education!
4. Mayor Coleman is hosting a symposium to get more input on what changes need to be made before he leaves office. It's mostly a publicity stunt to show how great he is, and he's trying to improve his chances in bigger election campaigns (i.e., governor, senate, the presidency). You've raised your hand, and he calls on you. What do you say to him?
"Good evening, Mr. Mayor. I think the first thing you should try to do is to finally make good on all of the promises you've fed to the LGBT community, to the communities of color, and to the people in poverty for years."
5. You and Jen get to build your dream home. What would it be like?
Ours. It would be on the coast, and it would be big enough for our family. And she would be in it.
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no subject
Date: 2003-06-06 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
?
Date: 2003-06-07 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-07 01:58 pm (UTC)That is so awesome. :)
I'd have to agree. I'm a (nominal) conservative, and I'm a Christian, and if these guys weren't so publically pathetic, I'd actually have to worry that I was becoming a conservative Christian.
*shiver*
When Ralph Reed gets home and takes off his toupeé, I'll bet there are horns underneath.
Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-07 11:48 pm (UTC)Quotable:
Date: 2003-06-07 11:48 pm (UTC)HA HA!
Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-09 09:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-09 09:04 am (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-09 04:31 pm (UTC)And now I have YOU!
no subject
Date: 2003-06-09 04:31 pm (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-09 08:02 pm (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-10 05:09 am (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-10 06:22 am (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-10 06:23 am (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-10 10:14 am (UTC)You need more bright red dye. That would work!
Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-10 10:20 am (UTC)Re: ?
Date: 2003-06-11 05:02 am (UTC)