Fwd: [bmdc-wg] Regarding conduct at meetings and on the worklist

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: DAVID KEIL <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sat, Mar 4, 2023 at 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: [bmdc-wg] Regarding conduct at meetings and on the worklist
To: bmdc@lists.riseup.net <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>

An outburst by a member at the February 19 BMDC meeting was triggered by another member's use of the phrase "shit show" to describe a public action that the member enthusiastically supported. The outburst was followed by her written apology on the list. The apology was not sufficient for some members, with the partial result that John details below. 

After the unfortunate action taken in spite of the apology, an hour of additional discussion followed at the meeting, indicating that some members wanted to purge BMDC politically after strongly chastising a member. Thus virtually the entire meeting Feb. 26, two and a half hours, was devoted to the matter. The organizing for a May Day action is being disrupted.

This was at a meeting at which no member was present who had been born and socialized female; I have called it an "all-male" meeting. I would call the refusal to accept the woman member's apology an act of misogyny typical on the left.

By naming the female offender on the list, the message below seems to incite shunning of her for transphobia, "denial of a member's gender identity." This seems to go along with an effort to accuse a respected community spiritual institution on similar grounds, i.e., being associated with someone accused of transphobia. The actual political dispute at the Feb. 19 BMDC meeting was about the "Rage Against the War Machine" action in DC, not about gender or trans rights. 

In a witch hunt, neither apologies nor innocence of wrongdoing are enough. In a witch hunt, defending a woman accused of witchcraft, or denying that witchcraft exists, are the greatest crimes of witchcraft.

I agree with the phrase below stating that BMDC "consider[s] the gender identity of anyone in BMDC to be a settled question." This means that everyone chooses their gender identity and expression. It does not mean, however, that everyone chooses their sex, because sex is a biological reality finalized at birth. Whereas to get along with each other, we should not be focusing on each other's sexes or genders, or referring to each other in unwelcome ways, it is also the right of every person to use the definitions of "sex" as a biological trait, "woman" as an adult human female, and "man" as an adult human male. It is the right of women, as the oppressed sex, to create female spaces, including in sports, and everyone's right to defend age-of-consent laws that protect children in matters of life-changing medication and surgery. 

By its way of handling this case, BMDC has indicated an inability to proceed in a normal manner after outbursts and conflicts, and an inclination toward witch-hunting women. In my opinion, the success of the May Day action will depend on BMDC's ability to put this matter behind us, welcoming diversity of opinion, and at long last accepting rather than rejecting the apology offered about two weeks ago. 

David Keil

On Sat, Mar 4, 2023 at 12:07 AM john.r.harris <bmdc@lists.riseup.net> wrote:

Hi Folks,

Last Sunday BMDC voted to adopt the following statement regarding recent conduct at a meeting and on the worklist:

We are discussing the issue of an outburst at our last meeting and subsequent posts on our work list. At the meeting last Sunday, Lita described the mobilization in DC on February 19 as a "shit show". This led to an outburst by Jane saying: "Fuck you bitch!" and she then immediately left the meeting. Disagreements within BMDC should not be addressed in this manner. We want to have an atmosphere in our meetings where we respect the right of everyone to have their own opinions. That disagreements be discussed in a civil manner free of outbursts and expletives. We learn nothing about the facts and issues under dispute when someone resorts to uncivil outbursts. We are opposed to this kind of behavior.

 

As far as the list serve goes, Jane proceeded on Monday to send an email to the work list stating her opinion in the dispute and attacking Lita in an offensive and disrespectful manner, and even worse, denying her gender identity. Trans folks are an oppressed social layer in this oppressive imperialist nation who are fighting back through a wide social campaign demanding to be treated equally and asserting rights that should be protected by the constitution. However, discrimination exists and all too often, acts of violence continue against our trans sisters and brothers. Trans folks are murdered at a rate disproportionately higher than the overall population. BMDC has had a longstanding position in solidarity with trans rights and members have participated in different actions supporting trans folks. Lita legitimately felt offended and disrespected and no one in BMDC supports this behavior.

 

We are asking Jane, going forward, to cease from expletive outbursts at our meetings and to cease using the worklist to express denial of any member's gender identity. Although Jane has apologized to Lita and to BMDC we consider this necessary to make clear what our stance is. We don't want this on our worklist. We consider the gender identity of anyone in BMDC to be a settled question determined by the trans member who belongs to BMDC. We value the contributions of trans members both in recent times and in years past. We want to continue to welcome trans folks into participation in BMDC and this recent behavior cuts across that effort.

Adelante,

John

 

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