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Bash Back!

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Bash Back! is a network of radical, anti-authoritarian queer projects within the United States. Bash Back! seeks to critique the ideology of mainstream GLBTQ movement, which the group sees as dedicated to obtaining straight privilege by assimilation into the dominant institutions of a heteronormative society. Bash Back! chapters employ direct action to confront capitalism and all interrelated forms of oppression, especially focusing on exposing the gay mainstream and the dangers of gay assimilationism and homonormativity. Bash Back! is noticeably influenced by the anarchist movement and other radical queer groups, such as ACT UP and Gay Shame. Many within the group also draw significant inspiration from events like the Stonewall Riots and the White Night Riots.[1]

Points of Unity

According to their news website, anyone can form a Bash Back! chapter as long as they adhere to the basic points of unity:

"1. Fight for liberation. Nothing more, nothing less. State recognition in the form of oppressive institutions such as marriage and militarism are not steps toward liberation but rather towards heteronormative assimilation.
2. A rejection of Capitalism, Imperialism, and all forms of State power.
3. Actively oppose oppression both in and out of the “movement.” All oppressive behavior is not to be tolerated.
4. Respect a diversity of tactics in the struggle for liberation. Do not solely condemn an action on the grounds that the State deems it to be illegal."[1][2]

Origins

Bash Back! was formed in 2007 in Chicago, to facilitate a convergence of radical trans and queer activists from around the country, and plan a trans/queer presence at the 2008 Democratic and Republican Conventions. [3] Other chapters began to form as well, and have continued to stay active.

Actions

The First Collective Action

The first Bash Back! Convergence was held in April of 2008. The goal of the convergence was to form ideas for the upcoming DNC/RNC protests, and discuss the formation of new Bash Back! chapters in other regions of the country. As a result, groups in Milwaukee, Memphis, Lansing, and upstate New York sprung up as new chapters.

Together, members of the newly-formed Bash Back! groups took to the streets of Chicago's Boystown neighborhood in protest of assimilationist politics, trans-exclusion in the gay community, and recent police assaults on trans and queer persons. The unpermitted march was eventually dispersed when a mob surrounded the Chicago Police's Addison/Halsted headquarters, reading aloud statistics of trans and queer people killed by police brutality.[4]

Antifascist Action at 2008 Milwaukee Pridefest

File:Milkwaukeenaziconfrontation.jpg
Bash Back! Milwaukee Displaying Banner at Milwaukee Pridefest

In June of 2008, the neo-Nazi organization The National Socialist Movement, released a statement that announced its intention to demonstrate at Milwaukee's annual Pridefest as a statement that the Nazis do not support "the promotion of homosexuality in [their] community".[5] In response, Bash Back! Milwaukee planned a confrontation of the hate group.[6] A group of more than twenty confronted members of the NSM, carrying a banner proclaiming "These Faggots Kill Fascists."[7] The action prompted Pridefest organizers to criticize Bash Back! Members of Bash Back! Milwaukee in turn denounced the organizers as betraying the queer community, stating "They would rather see well protected neo-nazis than a well-defended queer and trans community. Nobody will protect us if not ourselves."[8]

2008 Chicago Pride Events

Bash Back! Chicago carried out a number of actions on Pride Weekend of 2008. The first of these was participation in the annual Dyke March in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. Bash Back!'s contingent in the march focused on resistance to gentrification in the Pilsen community,[9] with a large lead banner stating "Bash Back Against Gentrification!"[10] In addition to the Dyke March, members of Bash Back! also took part in Chicago's Pride Parade. Bash Back wheeled a cage through the parade containing a member dressed as Chicago's Mayor Daley, whom the believes is responsible for cutting AIDS funding, turning a blind eye to police torture and brutality, and supporting gentrification. Simultaneously, members of Bash Back! also distributed barf bags with slogans written on them such as "Corporate Pride Makes Me Sick," a statement about the commercial and assimilative intentions of mainstream gay culture.[11]

2008 Democratic National Convention

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Bash Back! Denver organized a protest of a fundraiser for the gay rights lobby group the Human Rights Campaign. Bash Back! Denver criticized the HRC for its policies of trans exclusion in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as well as the HRC's support for corporate interests and the Iraq War. The action ended in the detention of four activists at the scene and the arrest of one.[12]

Bash Back! also organized a "trans and queer bloc" as part of the larger black bloc of the Anti-Capitalista Day of Action. The event ended in the detention of most participants, and several bystanders. [13]

The following day, Bash Back! counter-protested against people holding signs reading things like "homo-sex is a sin" by having a queer kiss-in. [14]

2008 Republican National Convention

At the 2008 Republican National Convention, members of Bash Back! from around the country participated in a road blockade as a part of Unconventional Action's direct action strategy to disrupt the convention. Bash Back seized an intersection in downtown St. Paul and blocked cars and delegate buses from passing by having a festive dance party. The blockade was eventually met with force by mounted police and the activists were forced to disperse. Soon after, members of Bash Back! also confronted the Westboro Baptist Church when they appeared at the intersection where Bash Back! conducted its action.[15]

2008 Annual Human Rights Campaign Dinner

On October 4, 2008, The Human Rights Campaign held its annual dinner in Washington. Bash Back! DC confronted the HRC once again for publicly not supporting a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the House of Representatives in 2007. [16] About 20 protestors gathered for a dance party at the front doors of the fundraiser with signs such as “HRC Is Not For Me” and “Stonewall Was a Riot”.[17] Dandee Lyon, a member of Bash Back! DC, stated that the reason for the protest was that “assimilation will not save us, it will only end in the decimation of our community. society must change to accommodate us, queers and transfolk must refuse assimilation and cultural erasure at the hands of the homonormative gay elite and build a world where we can liberate ourselves.” [18]

Disruption at Mt. Hope Church in Lansing, MI

Bash Back! Christaphobic Members disrupted a Sunday sermon at Mt. Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan on November 9th, 2008. Bash Back! Dropped a banner in the church, threw thousands of fliers, made out in front of the congregation, Yelled "Jesus was a Homo", pulled the fire alarm and initiated pro-gay chants. Mt. Hope is an Assemblies of God church which holds and promotes "ex-gay" events and preaches that homosexuality is a sin. [19]

Chapters

There are Bash Back! Chapters in each of the following areas:

Bash Back! News
Gay anarchist group storms church service - includes comments and poll

Notes

  1. ^ "About BB! News". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  2. ^ "About BB! News". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  3. ^ "Radical Transfolk and Queers Converge In Chicago April 5th". Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  4. ^ "Bash Back! Marches in Chicago". Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  5. ^ "Milwaukee Summerfest". Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  6. ^ Krulos, Tea. "Neo Nazis, Riot Gear, and the Pink Bloc". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  7. ^ boozie, m. "Pictures From Milwaukee Pridefest". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  8. ^ "Bash Back! MKE Statement About Pridefest and Nazi Confrontation". Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  9. ^ Nair, Yasmin. "Dyke March: Different neighborhood, same message". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  10. ^ "Bash Back Pride Pt.1: The Dyke March!". Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  11. ^ Nair, Yasmin. "Bash Back! makes point at parade". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  12. ^ "DNC: 4 Detained, 1 Arrested @ Bash Back! Demo Against HRC". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  13. ^ "Video of the Anti-Capitalista march, and subsequent arrests". Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  14. ^ "DNC Protests: Day Three". Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  15. ^ ""Act up, Bash Back!" An analysis of the radical queer organizing surrounding the RNC and DNC". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  16. ^ Miga, Andrew. "Ted Kennedy pushing non-trans inclusive ENDA" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  17. ^ Guerilla Radio 88.1 FM, WSQT. "Bash Back! Protests $250-A-Plate Human Rights Campaign Dinner". Retrieved 2008-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Lyon, Dandee. "Bash Back! DC Confronts HRC Assimilationism". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  19. ^ http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/11/10/13335/904
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