Tag Archives: same sex marriage

Models’ Search – Femme PinUps!!!

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The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes are excited to announce our next Models’ Search for our upcoming series…

Femme PinUps!

Submission Period: March 5, 2010 thru April 24, 2010

We are looking for members of the LGBT community who express the feminine aspect of the spectrum and want to share it with the WORLD!!!

How do YOU express “femme”?!

Sexy? Geeky? Large & in Charge? Quiet Church-mouse? How about Naughty School Gurl or BabyGurl? Better yet, Grown & Sexy or Bombshell? You get the idea – the list is endless!

Whatever it is…Bring It!

This Model Search is open the ENTIRE LGBT COMMUNITY!!!

Blac Gurlz Ink is proud to feature REAL members from our community and we won’t ever use “professional models” to act the part. With this premise in mind, we’re sending out a call for YOU to come and REPRESENT – show us, and the world, what you’re working with!! Haha!

Here’s what we need from you:

*Name
*Phone#
*Email
*Birthdate
*2 Photos – showing us your “best” side
*1 paragraph telling us why you’d like to be a Blac Gurlz Ink Femme PinUp!

All components are required to be considered for the photo shoot.

Again, the Submission Period is: March 5, 2010 thru April 24, 2010.

Send your submissions to: bgicasting@hotmail.com or hit our website: www.blacgurlzink.com – click on the “Community” tab and complete the online form. Easy!!

We look forward to receiving your submissions and Thank You!

The Babes!!

Fall in Love with the Blac Gurlz Ink 2010 Butches of the Bay

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The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes would like to take February – the month of Love, as an opportunity to introduce a new product into our greeting card and gift line – Postcards!

AND to also introduce our selection for the 2010 Butches of the Bay!

In keeping with our mission statement to be “authentic” in our presentation of images specifically designed for the LGBT community, by using LGBT members as our models and to showcase the “diversity” of our community, we feel that the handsome women chosen, represent a cross section of the submissions we received, as well as our community.  They come from various walks of life, ethnic representation and gender expression within the dynamics of being “butch women.”  The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes feel that based on the models’ energy, personal expression of their “butch-ness,” in addition to being simply handsome…well, we’re happy with our picks!

We asked our models to give us a brief bio (see bios below) so that you would be able to get to know them as we have and come to “love the Butches of the Bay” as much as we do.  They are an amazing group of women; they were easy to work with and though they had only met one another during the photo shoot (it was an open casting call), their energy was so warm and welcoming that well…you can feel it emanating from their photos!

Who better to launch our POSTCARD series then gorgeous women who also endow such wonderful masculine energy! 

A set of 6 Postcards for $9.99 (assorted)

And there’s more!

We have also reduced pricing on our hand-crafted, couture greeting cards – in time for Valentine’s Day as well!

Now you can have one of these gorgeously crafted greeting cards for $12.99 – they’re great for expressing that “special” sentiment to the ones you love!  Our hand-crafted, couture greeting cards are great for weddings, baby showers, birthday, anniversary or any special occasion giving.

Valentine's Day You & Me Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

We here at Blac Gurlz Ink strive to enhance your shopping experience when you visit us at www.blacgurlzink.com and hope that you enjoy your purchases from our greeting cards, gifts and NOW our NEW POSTCARD line!

Our products are also being carried in the following retail locations, so please show support for local and independent businesses:

Laurel Bookstore
4100 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA  94619
510/531-2073

Crumps Clothing
7416 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93702
559/449-8437

Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/863-0620

VoluptuArt
http://www.voluptuart.com.

www.blacgurlzink.com

Please keep us ALL  in mind when making future purchases and Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Model Bios

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: C. Svendsen

Christine Svendsen is a college instructor who is always busy.  She is the president of her local pride organization, president of a local Dyke on Bikes Chapter and president of an advocacy council, all of this while working on her PhD.  She loves to write and is finishing edits on her first book, which she hopes to see in print soon.  She recently married the first, an only, woman in her life Schileen.  She feels one of her greatest accomplishments has been raising three great sons.

Loretta Cannon is surgical assistant who likes to volunteer in countries who little to no access to health care.  She is a firm believer in promoting good health and well being for all women and their families.

Loretta enjoys making gourmet meals for friends and families and team members.  If she had one wish, she would want all lesbian couples to see and feel the safest and warmest memories within each other.

Blac Gurlz Ink Greeting Cards

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: L. Cannon

Loretta is embarking on a new business endeavor where she will assist you in “wooing” your sweetie – so watch out for it!

Ericka Schneider enjoys spending her days dreaming of a future as a porn star, but when she is not dreaming, she is spending her time running her own company – ELS Plumbing, “where their specialty is snaking your pipes”.

She also enjoys donating her skills to various organizations that help better the community, such as – Rebuilding Together Oakland (RTO), First Christian Church of Concord (FCC) and the First Christian Church of Fremont, volunteer programs.

When she is not working or dreaming she can be found out on the softball field or at a pool table.  Ericka really enjoys meeting new people and learning new skills.

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: E. Scheider

Happy Valentine’s Day from Blac Gurlz Ink & Flirtatious-T!

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Blac Gurlz Ink & Flirtatious-T

Blac Gurlz Ink and Flirtatious-T have teamed up to make this Valentine’s Day a holiday to remember.  With both of us on your side you’re sure to score plenty of kisses from your Valentine!

Everyone knows that flirting is the best way to spark a conversation and one of the quickest ways to a potential love interest’s heart.

However, if you’re not good at flirting why not send a handcrafted, couture greeting card?

In honor of Valentine’s Day 2010, Blac Gurlz Ink has created limited-edition designs to commemorate your sentiments on this special day by honoring romance and all things flirtatious. These handcrafted, couture cards are artistic and the perfect token of affection.

Small tokens of affection on Valentine’s Day can go a long way.

Valentine's Day You & Me Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

To make this offer even sweeter, Blac Gurlz Ink and Flirtatious-T will be donating 20% of the proceeds to the New York Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center and to also show support to team “Flirtatious-T – Flirt with a Cause” who will be participating in the 2010 New York AIDS Walk being held on May 16, 2010!

It’s flirting for a cause.

When you purchase a handcrafted, couture Valentine’s Day card from Blac Gurlz Ink it’s more than just a greeting card — it’s a lifestyle!

www.blacgurlzink.com

www.flirtatious-t.com

Valentine's Day Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

Valentine's Day Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card



Black is Fashionable for ALL Occasions!

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Winter Wedding designed by Blac Gurlz Ink

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” — and dont forget the white gown?

Some of you may know the above adage as recited by many a bride to be…or at least their mothers or bride’s maid — haha!

Traditionally the wedding ceremony showcases the bride, adorned in the most beautiful of gowns — and in virginal white at that.

Well in 2010 this particular bridal tradition may be turned on its head if the new fashion designers have anything to do with it.  Europe has always been viewed as the heart of the fashion industry.  Continuing to be avant garde and walk outside of the box, their new design concepts are incorporating black as an acceptable option for wedding gowns.  http://w-weddinggowns.com/black-wedding-gowns/

This new train of thought coming out of the fashion houses has determined that “black formal gowns” are suitable for ALL occasions, including weddings and to this end, they are designing fabulous wedding gowns, with intricate and delicate detail, but with a twist — they are introducing “black” — it aint just for funerals anymore — haha!

Beach Wedding Under the Stars designed by Blac Gurlz Ink

So for you brides to be — go ahead and be daring — erase the lines and walk down the aisle as you wish with options galore — wear that “sliming” black  wedding gown you’ve had your eyes on but dare not wear.

We here at Blac Gurlz Ink feel that great minds must think alike — we’ve been designing many of our couture line of wedding cards using “non-traditional” black paper to make the design “POP”!

So when we saw this article we simply smiled and thought to ourselves…yes, great minds DO think alike.

Traditional Lesbian Wedding designed Blac Gurlz Ink

So if you’ve been shy about purchasing our wonderful 3-dimensional wedding cards, dont let that stop you any longer — black is now fashionable for all occasions and Blac Gurlz Ink has a custom couture card for you to mark any wonderful occasion!

www.blacgurlzink.com

Introducing Our Couture Line of Greeting Cards!

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Lesbian Christmas 4 Couture Greeting Card

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

The holidays are fast approaching and the Blac Gurlz Ink line of greeting cards is expanding just as fast!  We know that the holidays can present a unique opportunity for same-sex loving members and their allies to exchange holiday greeting cards that reflect and express their sentiments.

So we decided to help out a bit!

Introducing the Blac Gurlz Ink’s “Couture” line of quality greeting cards!

We are introducing the line during the holiday season so that not another day goes by where you’re wondering…”isn’t there something more…something more representative of my community?”  Well, now there is!

And the beauty of the Couture line is that you can place a custom” order!

These limited edition and signed greeting cards are lovingly handcrafted from the finest materials we have found thus far and can we just add that anyone giving or receiving one of our Couture cards will know that they are SPECIAL to someone!

Once the holiday season has passed they will make wonderful keepsakes AND we didnt just create cards for the Holidays!

Please go to our website to view our complete line:
http://www.blacgurlzink.com/

Holiday Special!

From now until Dec. 20, 2009, when you purchase 4 premium greeting cards or 2 handcrafted couture greeting cards, we will send you a FREE card as our way of saying thank you!

Below are some ideas taken from Gallery Collection of great ways to enhance your greeting cards to fit your home decorating motif.

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Greeting Card Crafts
(excerpt taken from http://www.gallerycollection.com. All photos are of Blac Gurlz Ink Couture greeting cards)

Puzzles
Choose a theme, such “Winter Wonderland” or “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Cut out the pictures and arrange them on a piece of cardboard (a cereal box is ideal)Glue (Modge Podge works well for this craft) the pictures to the cardboard and then brush Modge Podge on the top of the pictures for a strong glossy finish. After it dries, cut in puzzle size pieces with an Xacto knife.

Christmas Gift Tags
This is so easy. Cut the front of an old Christmas card or just the picture from any greeting card. Punch a hole and place ribbon through it.

Gay Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Gay Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Wall Plaques
Your local craft store sells wooden plaques in all different shapes and sizes. Paint or stain the wood. After it dries, use Modge Podge to glue the picture to the plaque. Put another coat of Modge Podge over the picture for a glossy finish. This can be great in place of a holiday card or Christmas card.

Place Mats
Glue your pictures to cardboard. (You may want to paint the bottom of the cardboard first.) Laminate or use clear Con-tac paper.

Framed Art
Your favorites designs can be framed and hung on the wall. Or artfully arrange a few personalized greeting cards in one frame.

Lesbian Wedding Couture Card

Lesbian Wedding Couture Card

Gay Wedding Couture Greeting Card

Gay Wedding Couture Greeting Card

The “Hello Europe!” FundRaiser Special!

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Blac Gurlz Ink is Heading to Europe!

Supreme Challenger of the Status Quo!

Supreme Challenger of the Status Quo!

Awhile back the Supreme One (aka Spring) entered Blac Gurlz Ink into StartUpNation’s “Face of Opportunity” contest, co-sponsored by British Airways.

Contestants had to write an essay stating why it would be beneficial for their businesses to have access to overseas markets. There were 45 businesses chosen, from 1000’s, to win the *Grand Prize…and well…the Supreme One is off to Europe to promote Blac Gurlz Ink!

We WON!

To assist Spring in covering her lodging expenses, for her time there, the Blac Gurlz Ink Babes decided to have a fundraiser.

“Hello Europe!”
Fundraiser Special

From now until Oct. 10, 2009, when you purchase 4 premium greeting cards or 2 handcrafted couture greeting cards, we will send you a FREE card as our way of saying thank you!

Premium Greeting Card

Premium Greeting Card

Please join us in sending positive energy out to the Universe that Blac Gurlz Ink is successful and that Spring has a safe trip!

Always in Gratitude…The Babes!

To view our Current Line of Greeting Cards: http://www.blacgurlzink.com

Premium Greeting Cards retail for $4.99/ea.

Premium Greeting Card

Premium Greeting Card

Handcrafted Couture Greeting Cards retail for $14.99/ea.  Custom orders available.

Handcrafted Couture Lesbian Wedding Card

Handcrafted Couture Same-Sex Wedding Card

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*Grand Prize: 1 r/t ticket to Europe (with a 30 day “open” return) and 1 night hotel stay. Any additional travel/stay is at contestant’s expense.

Babes Babel – Sept. 2009

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Now that we’ve had an opportunity to rest up, we wanted to drop you a note to say that it was nice to meet all of our new friends from the Butch Voices Conference and Sistahs Steppin Pride! Your email addresses have been added to our newsletter database & now you’ll be in the loop about events we will be attending or supporting, get first-hand information about our wonderful new greeting card releases and gift additions, casting calls, contests and discounts!

We hope that you had as much fun as we did and please remember Blac Gurlz Ink for your greeting cards and gift needs! We know our paths will cross again as we venture around the Bay…the Nation…hell, the World…because we’re going Global baby!

The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes!

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New Product!

NOW AVAILABLE!

We are excited to announce a new addition to the Blac Gurlz Ink Gifts Line.

The Blac Gurlz Ink $50 Gift Set!

1) 1 Custom T-shirt – $35 (you pick the design)

2) 3 of our Premiere Cards or 1 Couture Card – $15

3) 1 poster – $10

*That’s a $60 value…if purchased separately.


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Winners of the Email Give-Away

The Winners of the Butch Voices Email Give Away are:

Lisa Everly and Niko Summers!


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Future Babe Sightings!

September 2009

Sep. 5 – Butches of the Bay photo shoot

October 2009

Oct. 4 – Castro Street Fair
Oct. 13 – Supreme One off to Europe


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“Hello Europe!” Fundraiser Ends October 10, 2009
Buy 4 premium greeting cards & get 1 FREE!

Hello There!

Now that we’ve had an opportunity to rest up, we wanted to drop you a note to say that it was nice to meet all of our new friends from the Butch Voices Conference and Sistahs Steppin Pride! Your email addresses have been added to our newsletter database & now you’ll be in the loop about events we will be attending or supporting, get first-hand information about our wonderful new greeting card releases and gift additions, casting calls, contests and discounts!

We hope that you had as much fun as we did and please remember Blac Gurlz Ink for your greeting cards and gift needs! We know our paths will cross again as we venture around the Bay…the Nation…hell, the World…because we’re going Global baby!

The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes!

How to Make a Greeting Card

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Handmade Lesbian Wedding Card

Handmade Lesbian Wedding Card

It’s funny how things work out.  I never thought in a million years that I would be in the greeting card business.  Hell, at several points in my Life I have been content to be a worker bee…hahaha!

Blac Gurlz Ink, for me, came about due to two reasons…my first girlfriend lived on the opposite coast and when I wanted to send her a card just to say I was thinking of her — there was nothing out there.  The second reason, I love graphic design.  Somehow this Taurus decided that the two should form some breathing entity to catapult me onto the cover of Forbes! *haha, you’re laughing…bring me the issue and I will autograph it for you…hahaha!

I’m stepping way out of my personal comfort zone with this and excitedly so.  To be honest, though, this is ONE, of a few thing in my life, I am certain is the right thing to do!

Now being a creative cookie I am always on the lookout for info, ideas, and opportunities to expand and be better at what I am doing…I’m working on getting the formula just right.

Handmade Gay Wedding Card

Handmade Gay Wedding Card

I make handmade greeting cards, in addition to coordinating the various photo shoots that are subsequently transformed into our greeting cards.

So tonight, after a very exciting and energizing day I find I cant sleep and cant work because its late so I go looking for info and ideas to bring to you and what do I find…an article on how to make a greeting card!  I think it’s pretty interesting and of course if you put your personal spin on it…well, Viola!

Some might say, “why would she tell folks how to make a card vs. buying one of hers?” Well, the way I see it, some days you might want to make them yourself (and why not have a guide of some sort) and others you might feel like  “oh bust it, I’ll just buy one from Blac Gurlz Ink!” hahaha!

I think our greetings cards are a hot item and once folks learn about us and that we’re using “real” lesbians vs. professional models in our design concepts, to give our product a more “authentic” look and to provide a more “accurate” representation of the lesbian community…well, we have no worries…there is enough of everything for us all!

Now for the instructions and check out our greeting cards, we currently have 3 series up and the 4th, Butches of the Bay will be released late 2009!      http://www.blacgurlzink.com

One Love,

Spring Opara
Supreme Challenger of the Status Quo

INSTRUCTIONS provide by brokengirl (an eHow community member):

1. Go to your local arts & crafts store and get all the necessary things you need. I would also include paint on the list…a tricky ingredient in making the greeting cards is the feather quill pen that can be found at Barnes & Noble or Michael’s.

2. Cut the large sheets of handmade paper in halves and then bend them together so they have a crease down it’s spine…You can open and close them at this point and you are on your way to creating a greeting card.

3. Write the greeting. It can be words of inspiration or a poem. Do the writing in india ink with the feather quill pen and it will look magnificent! Choose the celebration greeting, from Christmas Eve to Congrats to the newly weds or proud parents.

4. Decorate. It is always fun to decorate a surface. Now you can attach any images you may have or write more words with coloured markers. Stickers are always a good choice when decorating.

5. Are you just going to give the person the greeting card or are you going to put it in an envelope send? Make sure you buy over-sized envelopes to fit your handmade cards!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2218834_greeting-card.html

The SF Intl Gift Fair

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One of My BFF's

One of My BFF's

Well, let me start by saying thank you to my best friend E, for getting me there, setting up, working 2 days of the event with me, left to do her own gigs and THEN came back to pack me up and haul me back home!  Ya’ll it was no easy feat and for that I am eternally grateful to her.

The SF Intl Gift Fair (SFIGF) is an amazingly huge and exciting event.  When we entered the main hall, two thoughts came quickly.  First, I must have been transported to Santa’s workshop.  Second thought…these exhibitors have some magnificent booths and damn…Im outta my league…I quickly dispelled both and found our booth in the Haight area of trade show.

Our group was very grounded and oh so helpful.  We were busy setting stuff up and Lori and her husband Chad of Miss Ruby Sue, http://www.missrubysue.com immediately came over and asked if we needed any help.  A few minutes later Barbe St. John and her husband Rob came over and introduced themselves…Barbe and I became really good friends and Im looking forward to hanging out with her real soon.  Talk about manifesting…this sistah has that down to a tee and well, I just might sit at her knee just to have it rub off…check out her wonderful one-of-a-kind jewelry at: http://www.barbesaintjohn.com.

Barbe Saint John - Saints & Sinners

Barbe Saint John - Saints & Sinners

One of the most amazing moments that happened within an hour of our arrival was bestowed upon me when Jimbob, of “Jenny & Jimbob,” http://www.jennyandjimbob.com (they make some amazing jewelry too), walked over to me, introduced himself and gave me the biggest hug ever.  He looked at me and said…”I can tell you’re full of Love…never forget that.  Good people can feel it Spring.”  If only he knew how much that meant to me.

The trade show was the first for some of us and we all pitched in to help and motivate each other to just “release, enjoy the fun and make some $.”  Our biggest cheerleader was Barbe.  Her good energy just kept our little crew motivated and optimistic in knowing that all was good.  She’d come into everyone’s booth before and during the show to encourage us to do the “money dance” hahaha!  I think she and Jamie, of Jamie Lau Designs, http://www.jamielaudesigns.etsy.com did the dance the best.  Barbe is my girl though…kindred spirits and Im so glad I met her.

Jamie Lau - Jamie Lau Designs

Jamie Lau - Jamie Lau Designs

Jamie is Taurus like me and designs reversible totes and fabric colored notebooks.  I so loved seeing her bounce from place to place like a child exploring the world…made me remember where I was last year on my Spiritual path and Im so glad she and Cindy Yep, the “Hamburlger” as Jamie has affectionately nicknamed her friend, are cool sistahs too and Im looking forward to connecting with them in the near future.  Cindy is the owner of Hamburgerpanda and she has some wonderful T-shirt designs: http://www.hamburgerpanda.com.

I learned so much at this event that I have already begun to incorporate and I can’t wait until my next event.  I tell you with each one I become more and more confident in what I’m doing and that I’m on the right track and as I release and allow Mother/Father God to guide my steps and remove drama and obstacles from my path, I realize and acknowledge how truly blessed I am.

The crowd was really conservative and though the event was held in SF they walked passed us with those “middle America” smiles of “oh you all must be from California” haha!  (Umm, no, “you’re” from somewhere…haha!).  The pleasant nods and polite smiles as they tried to look without making eye contact…see we were the “hippies” of the show, but many buyers lamented that our products were unique and unlike the “bulk” items many came to buy. We were the hidden “gems” of the show!

The Haight Area at SF Intl Gift Fair

The Haight Area at SF Intl Gift Fair

I got some wonderful leads and sold some of our product which felt really good, considering that many walked by, pointed at the “lesbian” portion of our banner and said “wow” I’ve never seen such a thing but its a wonderful idea. That’s exactly the reason I began the company…”yes America we LGBT folks would like cards that are “reflective” of our relationships too”…it was if a light went on. haha!

Another interesting phenomenon that happened which I understand, but have mixed feelings about is how the “older” women who stopped by the both thought I was like 25…haha!  Though truly a compliment, because I’m not…I really thought at least two of them were going to pinch my cheeks…hahaha!  Now what would I have done…haha!  Too damn funny, especially with all of my gray hair peeking out from under my cap.

The Blac Gurlz Ink Booth & Me!

The Blac Gurlz Ink Booth & Me!

The camaraderie was what I thrived on.  Though I started my days before 6am and finished well after midnight…I looked forward to hanging out with my new friends and I am a bit sad its all over.  I know that I will see them all again as we have exchanged info and have let one another know what upcoming events we are all attending for the remainder of the year.

The trade show was nothing like I thought, yet everything that I thought — a learning opportunity.  By day two many of us had reconfigured our spaces and “stepped our game up” as Cindy put it!  I put out the “love” Jimbob felt…he’s an enlightened soul and the Universe sent me demonstrations that Mother/Father God has my back and will ensure that I have folks around me who will lend me the support I need when I need it and that’s comforting!

I truly loved how supportive, not only Jimbob and Rob were of their wives, but of how all the spouses “showed” up for their partners.  It was a beautiful thing because ya’ll four days of a trade show will wear you out by the end of day two.  Cement floors, blizzard inducing A/C systems and crowds that come in waves can be daunting.

I realized that though I was not in the company of my immediate Tribe/partner, I had found more members of  it — my business Tribe, who cheered me on and gave me emotional, physical and Spiritual support and I them…it was good to find them early in the process…without them I would have just well…faded away amongst the candy, toys, baby items and gaudy baubles that were on display.

Thank you my extended Tribe…thank you!

Tim of Tim Synder Urban Photography

Tim of Tim Synder Urban Photography

Barbe Spreading the Love!

Barbe Spreading the Love!

The supreme court, prop H8 & Us!

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Though I have a BS degree (how appropriate…haha!) in Political Science, I dont consider myself an activist/feminist by any stretch of the imagination.  I do, however, believe that in order to “play the game”, or avoid playing it, one must first KNOW what the RULES of game are, thus, my reasoning for pursuing my degree.  The politics which exist in the United States, hell the World is One Big Game and I learned at an early age that I needed to know the game, if for nothing else but to avoid falling victim to its far-reaching grasp.

The furor over California’s Prop 8 decision by the state’s Supreme Court, has everyone in an uproar. As humans divisiveness seems to be an acceptable programming and so I am not surprised at how this issue has splintered the world.  Humans often choose interesting measures of worth and unfortunately two of the most prominent ones pervading us today is equal rights for tax paying citizens who identify as gay/lesbian and cold hard cash, considering the economic diabolical of 2008!

So I’ve been doing some market research and what I discovered is this, “gays and lesbians spend more than $600 billion, annually!” according to the article, Guide to Marketing to Gay & Lesbian Consumers, authored by Matt Alderton, for Business.com

WoW!  We have that much economic wherewithal and we are in the streets PROTESTING for our Constitutional rights? Seriously?

I think we need to take a step back, breath and look at this from the “game” perspective.  If we, as a group, have that much economic POWER why are we protesting in the streets?

Even more poignant — Where are we spending these billions of dollars?  In who’s establishment?

No take inventory. I’ll wait.  How many businesses do you patronize, other than the clubs, that are LGBT owned?

Are our dollars fueling the machine that would silence us, deprive our children and keep our partners/families from us in our last hours?  How many of you walk pass a queer business and opt for someone who smiles in your face, yet may be voting your demise behind your back?  Im just saying.  I know there may not be many LGBT businesses, but that’s another good question as well…Why arent there more LGBT owned business?

Perhaps, we dont support them so they close? Where’s Mama Bears?  Or they dont even open because the statistics show that “we, their community” wont spend our dollars with them?  So again I say…where are we spending our $600 billion, annually, in economic power?

In the scope of the game, money has power, thus, if we as a community stop spending our dollars with those who do not support us, then the machine will have to listen.  It is the sound of money that it understands  — or the lack thereof.  The caveat to this scenario…we must do it as a collective!  As an ECONOMIC COLLECTIVE we can yield great influence of change for us all…but we must do it together.  Afterall, that WAS how the Civil Rights Movement succeeded…as a economic collective they won the war!

Think carefully my people about the PEACEFUL tactics of Martin Luther King Jr., if it is his platform we pluck ideas and ammunition of change.

Boycotts are effective.
Peaceful sit-ins are effective.
Peace Rallies vs. Protests signal to the Universe that it is a, peaceful and fair outcome, that we seek.

But back to the game.  I say to us all that WE are responsible for the Supreme Court decision and even the emergence of this machine of hate.  We fed it with our hard earned cash!

So I say…Take back the power that fuels the machine.

I challenge us all to the following:

1) Lets have “days of withholding” where we spend NO MONEY at all,
2) Lets boycott businesses/organizations that do not support us,
3)On the days we do make purchases, we endeavor to find out who is “family” and spend our dollars with them,
4) We support organizations who are on the front-lines with donations and
5)We petition our elected officials – vigorously. but peacefully.

I personally feel that the “days of withholding” will be the most effective, but lets change the rules of the game.  You see in this “game” cold hard cash fuels the machine…take away the fuel, the machine goes quiet.

Think about it…

Peaceful Wanderings,

S. Opara
Supreme Challenger of the Status Quo