Comments on: Our tax dollars supporting a “literary queer festival”? http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/ News updates about the "Academentia" afflicting our educational system Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:27:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John C. Davidson http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-271 John C. Davidson Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:41:24 +0000 http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/?p=143#comment-271 Our local newspaper was full of bloggers defending "Gays". It upset the populous so much, comments about the validity of their cause, were deemed abusive. It seems quite a few activists were employees of the newspaper and used that too their advantage. When I pointed out to their corporate administrators that over 99% of their readers found this obvious favoritism reprehensable and it soon would have a negative effect on the financial future of the paper, I saw a dramatic change almost immediately. The question still remains: Do two bulls beget a calf? Our local newspaper was full of bloggers defending “Gays”. It upset the populous so much, comments about the validity of their cause, were deemed abusive. It seems quite a few activists were employees of the newspaper and used that too their advantage. When I pointed out to their corporate administrators that over 99% of their readers found this obvious favoritism reprehensable and it soon would have a negative effect on the financial future of the paper, I saw a dramatic change almost immediately.

The question still remains: Do two bulls beget a calf?

]]> By: Cal Gough http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Cal Gough Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:57:10 +0000 http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/?p=143#comment-75 Deliberately PRESENTNG only literature produced by GLBTQ authors isn't exclusionary: it's focusing on a theme (necessary for any literary event I can imagine). Because Atlanta Queer Literary Festival events are open to the public (as library sponsors require, and as they should require), and because therefore no individual or group is excluded from ATTENDING the festival's events -and because no individual or group forced to attend - means, to me, anyway, that arts-supported government funding is permissable. (As long as 100% of any agency's arts support isn't devoted to one theme, one group of art-producers, etc.) Deliberately PRESENTNG only literature produced by GLBTQ authors isn’t exclusionary: it’s focusing on a theme (necessary for any literary event I can imagine). Because Atlanta Queer Literary Festival events are open to the public (as library sponsors require, and as they should require), and because therefore no individual or group is excluded from ATTENDING the festival’s events -and because no individual or group forced to attend – means, to me, anyway, that arts-supported government funding is permissable. (As long as 100% of any agency’s arts support isn’t devoted to one theme, one group of art-producers, etc.)

]]> By: Mary Grabar http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Mary Grabar Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:13:33 +0000 http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/?p=143#comment-73 Thank you for writing, Ms. Volpert. Again, my concern is with the fact that this event by its title focuses on only one group. I am a taxpayer too, but I doubt that were I to try to hold a such a function explicitly excluding gay writers that I would be welcome. I am certain that I would receive wide condemnation. In fact, it would go against this institution's policy of exclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender orientation, etc. I love good poetry no matter who writes it. It's the poetry that matters, and if our tax dollars are going to support it, it should not be exclusionary. (I learned about this event through the library's email list, which means someone was employed to book the event and to write up the notice and send it--expenses beyond physical space.) I am glad to know that people are still writing and reading poetry! Thanks again, Mary Thank you for writing, Ms. Volpert. Again, my concern is with the fact that this event by its title focuses on only one group. I am a taxpayer too, but I doubt that were I to try to hold a such a function explicitly excluding gay writers that I would be welcome. I am certain that I would receive wide condemnation. In fact, it would go against this institution’s policy of exclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender orientation, etc. I love good poetry no matter who writes it. It’s the poetry that matters, and if our tax dollars are going to support it, it should not be exclusionary. (I learned about this event through the library’s email list, which means someone was employed to book the event and to write up the notice and send it–expenses beyond physical space.)

I am glad to know that people are still writing and reading poetry!

Thanks again, Mary

]]> By: Megan Volpert http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Megan Volpert Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:12:16 +0000 http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/?p=143#comment-69 Greetings, Ms. Grabar! We're very pleased you've taken an interest in the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, now in its fourth year. As Co-Director of AQLF, I welcome your discussion and debate. Toward that end, let me begin by disabusing you of the notion that "your tax dollars" are "supporting the gay agenda." Georgia Center for the Book / Decatur Library is a non-monetary sponsor, meaning they provide us with a venue and nothing more. Anyone with a valid library card is entitled to reserve the venue, including your example of "Heterosexual Writers of America." If you have an issue with the permissiveness of the library's policy, I suggest you take it up with them--but do remember, I pay taxes just like you do, and am glad to know my local library provides space for issues of concern to my community. I appreciate your acknowledging the fact that homosexual writers have "contributed to our rich heritage of letters," but strongly beg to differ when you say that "their sexual orientation was only incidental." This is a much longer argument than a tiny comment box will permit. Should you wish to engage in a more open dialogue, The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival would be glad to provide a venue (at the Decatur Library, of course!) for us to come together and debate the merits of your position, which is not entirely fleshed out in your short article. If you wish make your complaints known in a more constructive manner than you are able to do here, please feel free to contact me at any time. Sincerely, Megan Volpert Greetings, Ms. Grabar! We’re very pleased you’ve taken an interest in the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, now in its fourth year. As Co-Director of AQLF, I welcome your discussion and debate.

Toward that end, let me begin by disabusing you of the notion that “your tax dollars” are “supporting the gay agenda.” Georgia Center for the Book / Decatur Library is a non-monetary sponsor, meaning they provide us with a venue and nothing more. Anyone with a valid library card is entitled to reserve the venue, including your example of “Heterosexual Writers of America.” If you have an issue with the permissiveness of the library’s policy, I suggest you take it up with them–but do remember, I pay taxes just like you do, and am glad to know my local library provides space for issues of concern to my community.

I appreciate your acknowledging the fact that homosexual writers have “contributed to our rich heritage of letters,” but strongly beg to differ when you say that “their sexual orientation was only incidental.” This is a much longer argument than a tiny comment box will permit. Should you wish to engage in a more open dialogue, The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival would be glad to provide a venue (at the Decatur Library, of course!) for us to come together and debate the merits of your position, which is not entirely fleshed out in your short article. If you wish make your complaints known in a more constructive manner than you are able to do here, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Sincerely, Megan Volpert

]]> By: Clyde Hogg http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/education/our-tax-dollars-supporting-a-%e2%80%9cliterary-queer-festival%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Clyde Hogg Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:22:02 +0000 http://www.theliteratecitizen.com/blog/?p=143#comment-27 Ms. Grabar: Lesbianism and self-proclaimed extreme interest in sexual deviancy seems to run rampant throughout Georgia State’s Women’s Studies faculty. It shouldn’t be a surprise, for in this vital area of higher education it seems to be the norm. As is indoctrination with the narrowest world view known to man. Or woman. Who sets the rules of the game is documented on Georgia State’s web site, which reveals “women’s studies” for what they are by unabashedly detailing the research “interests” of its faculty outside the classroom. For example, Mindy Stombler, a senior lecturer, lists her main outside interest as “researching the social meaning of cunnilingus”. This heavy thinker is teaching America's daughters. It also makes you wonder how long Ms. Stombler would be employed by Georgia State if she was straight and male and included a like-minded exposition on the college’s departmental web site. About five minutes. Or less. Ms. Grabar:

Lesbianism and self-proclaimed extreme interest in sexual deviancy seems to run rampant throughout Georgia State’s Women’s Studies faculty. It shouldn’t be a surprise, for in this vital area of higher education it seems to be the norm. As is indoctrination with the narrowest world view known to man. Or woman.

Who sets the rules of the game is documented on Georgia State’s web site, which reveals “women’s studies” for what they are by unabashedly detailing the research “interests” of its faculty outside the classroom.

For example, Mindy Stombler, a senior lecturer, lists her main outside interest as “researching the social meaning of cunnilingus”. This heavy thinker is teaching America’s
daughters. It also makes you wonder how long Ms. Stombler would be employed by Georgia State if she was straight and male and included a like-minded exposition on the college’s departmental web site.

About five minutes. Or less.

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