mandrake society radio » Political

Beware of identity theft from U.S. Census takers.

JW Richard — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:13:55 +0000

Well, it’s almost time for the decennial U.S. Census to be taken, as required by the U.S. Constitution. The Better Business Bureau advises people to be cooperative, but cautious in what information you provide. Here are their tips to tell the real census takers from scammers.

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more information on protecting yourself from identity theft, visit the Better Business Bureau website.

Organization suggests bi-racial LGBT couples list person of color as HOH on 2010 Census

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Annise Parker has been elected as mayor of Houston, Texas

JW Richard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:18:33 +0000

Despite mailers which attacked her for being lesbian, Annise Parker was elected mayor of Houston, Texas this evening with 53% of the vote, while opponent, Gene Locke, got 47%. Congratulations, Annise, on your win!

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Where’s the music for our liberation?

JW Richard — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:54 +0000

This video, now 20 years old, sparked a conversation on my Facebook page recently about rap music and its ability to influence with positive messages. One person asked in essence, “Where are those messages now?”. Like Avery R. Young from the Hetertosexism and Hip-Hop panel podcast I uploaded last month (which you should definitely hear), I agree that those messages are still here in today’s music. Now, what you will not experience as much anymore are major labels picking this music up and distributing it to the masses anymore. While that’s okay to a point because the underground sound is unfiltered and can be full of energy, even underground artists enjoy eating and a roof over their head.

When I think about music in our country’s social movements, I believe it to be a crucial element to bringing us together. In fact, several books have been written about it. Where would the Civil Rights Movement have been without the musings of Curtis Mayfield and Pops Staples, and the voices of Aretha, Marvin, and Mavis? Though Malcolm X in his 1964 speech, The Ballot or the Bullet, said once that “you can’t sing up on freedom, but you can swing up on some freedom”, I believe that even he knew the power of music to ignite and unite.

So in the LGBT/Queer Liberation movement, where are our songs to ignite and unite? Where are the songs during our protests and marches? Which clubs are purposefully playing solid tracks by openly queer artists and inviting them to perform live? Now even though I used a hip-hop example, our list can be jazz, pop, gospel (!), as well as hip-hop. So leave your comment on a song you feel sums up our movement for liberation as queer people.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Why the Dallas Principles?

JW Richard — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:09:59 +0000

So, I get word from a QPoC blogger in Washington, that there’s a crew of about 24 people that met in Dallas to form a “grassroots” campaign to demand full equality for LGBT people. And, I assume, that because they met in Dallas, their calling the document, The Dallas Principles. Nevermind that in their grassroots effort, no Dallasites, or even Texans were involved in the meeting. Interesting.

They do clearly state their purpose:

The Dallas Principles articulate a common set of goals and principles that we hope will inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now.

However what stuck me the most about the group wasn’t its name, but it was the composition. Returning the words of Edwin DeLeon, the blogger who tipped me off about The Dallas Principles, I found these words in support of the campaign:

More importantly, it is the individual on the ground, not the highflyers flitting through the halls of Congress and the White House, who suffer more from discriminatory and unfair policies and institutions. The elite of the LGBT community have the resources as well as social and political capital to buffer themselves. Middle and lower class lesbians and gays do not. LGBT of color have so much less.

This point leads me to question that if LGBT of color have so much more to gain by this campaign, why weren’t more of them involved in its creation? The fact that these like-minded individuals could fly to meet in Dallas for this secret meeting alludes to their privilege. A cursory glance at the authors list and their mini-biographies lets you know that these aren’t middle or lower class lesbians and gays. And, besides Pam Spaulding (and you have to slow down to see her!), every other face is not the LGBT of color who could stand most to gain from this equality, as DeLeon points out.

As well meaning as their group sounds, I have some initial hollowness in my stomach about this, just like I have with Boycott Jamaica: well-meaning activists that would rather speak for queer people of color than allowing us to speak for ourselves with or without them. I hope I’m wrong about this new group. Time will tell.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What could Sam Adams and R. Kelly have in common?

JW Richard — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:24:12 +0000

We don’t the facts. We only know what the media has told us.
We don’t know the people.

It is a shame that the Portland, Oregon, mayor felt he needed to lie about having sex with a male intern (possibly younger than 18) in the first place. However, now that Sam’s admitted that he has lied and asked the younger guy to lie as well, it makes you wonder where the tales begin. In Dallas, former Precinct 5 Constable, Mike Dupree, should also understand Sam’s plight. Perhaps some hit songs would do the trick…uh..

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.