At the beginning of the year, FRIDA’s Communities & Culture manager, Darcelle, helped co-organise several spaces at CSW. In this interview, they reflect on the importance of trans & queer organising and why it matters so much to FRIDA to be a part of this kind of movement work.
Tell us a little about the events you co-organised at CSW?
We held 2 events at CSW, the first was a panel on trans liberation and mutual aid. This was a collaboration with Astraea as well as some other sibling organisations. The panel was to highlight the intersections of trans liberation and mutual aid during a time of political strife. This particular conversation was timely given the current position of the US Government and how it affects marginalised communities. The objective was to centre the voices of grassroots organisers and build solidarity between organisers. We invited a transitioned FRIDA grantee partner as well as an Armenian-based organisation. The third person on the panel was from a US based healing justice collective.The final person on the panel was from a trans mutual aid collective. The panel brought together international organisers and local organisers , and left me asking a lot of questions. What does it mean to organise in this way?What can we learn as philanthropy from these groups? And how can we be in conversation with grassroots organisers? The 2nd event at CSW was another space focused on trans liberation. There were no trans specific spaces at CSW and in light of the current political climate it’s even more important to create spaces for trans people to gather. Not in a way that is extractive, but in a way that emphasises community and reminds us that we’re existing and surviving even in the midst of these times. There was some money raised to support the funeral cost of a trans sibling that passed away in the week before CSW.
What were the highlights? Lowlights? What moments stuck with you?
One of the highlights from both events was hearing the feedback from participants, just sharing how important it was for them to see that these spaces were available to them.. Despite the chaos of organising with limited funding it made all the stress feel worth it. One lowlight pertains to the mutual aid aspect that was incorporated into the event. I did not expect for us to raise so little, considering that most people in that room were funders with good jobs and regular salaries. There’s this extreme of grassroots organisers on one side and donors on the other and then there’s us in the middle, who have some comfort. So how are we showing up in these spaces, and how are we showing up for our values? How are we showing up for our community in ways that we’re not obligated to, beyond work tasks? When we go to these spaces and do this work, there is a personal aspect of this and so how do we tap into this middle space? It sparked both curiosity and disappointment. Having the panel was important because it brought back into our consciousness why it’s so important to stay connected to our community. We all shared learnings on how we navigate this current moment and beyond, in a way that offers some level of stability, not because there’s an absence of chaos but because we have the tools. Some people have already moved through things that others are experiencing in their communities. Being more connected is extremely necessary at this point and changes the way we look at resources. So that when we think of resources, we’re not just thinking about money but we’re also thinking through what the other elements of resourcing might be and what everyone brings to the space. Defining resources more holistically means that we can talk about it differently and figure out how to share with one another.
FRIDA also convened trans spaces at the AWID Forum, talk to us a little bit about what the space was?
I was part of the working group for the trans pre-convening, at AWID. The working group consisted of representatives from different regions and I represented the Caribbean. We wanted to bring people together to strategise and focus on the things that we may not have the ability to focus on at other convenings. The difficulty with such spaces is that there’s not enough time. We need a space for trans people to gather that is not attached to something else. At AWID I facilitated a session on care, and one thing that came up particularly, was from trans organisers from Palestine who felt like that focus (on care and healing) was a mismatch given their current context (the ongoing genocide), and this really helped to broaden the conversation and the definition of what we mean when we say care and healing. So that it includes preservation of our communities, and isn’t white-washed or depoliticized.
These big convenings are all really important and central to philanthropy, why is it important that FRIDA positions itself the way it does in these spaces?
These convenings are important for FRIDA because we’re constantly trying to do things differently. We are not exempt from causing harm and sustaining the system of philanthropy by our existence and in light of this we are constantly trying to do things differently in whatever way this might be. It’s important for us to be in these spaces and know this, know why we exist. Part of these convenings is being able to meet people in person and ensuring that there is a space to meet with our people when we’re in these spaces. Prioritising meetings with our grantees, advisors, and our community constantly supports us in re-evaluating ourselves and making adjustments wherever possible. Our people will hold us accountable, we know this. I have thought about this question a lot. Creating a social space in this moment can feel off, but I was reminded by folks in the community that entering spaces that create joy, community, laughter is just as important as strategy. These spaces are the thing that keeps us going in these moments that feel like the world is falling apart and queer and trans people are facing extreme challenges.
In the midst of a world that’s falling apart, what does centering and platforming queer joy do?
I struggled with this question when I was organising the sessions at CSW but a community member reminded me just how important joy was. These spaces motivate us in the midst of difficult times. For me queer, trans joy within these convenings is super important because being a part of creating a space where the community is laughing and talking with people who get it, there’s a level of safety and an ability to let your guard down in a way that isn’t present in general spaces. Sometimes I feel the importance of centering joy is that it reminds us that limitations can be removed. Even with the challenge of navigating the world in these bodies, these moments where we centre joy helps take the edge off the constant struggle we experience and sometimes that is all you need in particular moments to keep going & keep moving.
