Post GJ Love

Dearest GenderJammers!

Thank you, thank you, a thousand times THANK YOU ALL who came to GenderJam: LaDIY and Trans Fest last weekend, November 20th-22nd, and made it the beautiful, hard, empowering, love and friendship-filled mess that it was. Thank you to all who gave of your time, your work, your resources and yourselves to create the temporary community we all shared. We sang and danced and talked and spat and kissed and made stuff and fucked up and tried harder and hopefully, loved each other as best we could. It was what it was because of you.

We (the organizers of GenderJam: LaDIY and Trans Fest Olympia 2009) want to do this again next year. We want to do it better, and we need your help. Did you like the location? How were the workshops? Did you think our policies on stuff sucked? Why? What did you love? (Because we need encouragement too–organizing is fucking hard!) What should we do the same or differently next time? Want to go on a date with one of the organizers? Want to share resources with us or other GenderJammers? What else can you tell us about your experience at GenderJam: LaDIY and Trans Fest? PLEASE get in touch with us. We do this because we want a better world, but we only know what we know. We need your feedback to make this a safer, more fun and more empowering event in the future.

Email us at la.diy.festoly@gmail.com.
Comment on our blog at http://olyladiyfest.wordpress.com/.
Send us letters at
GenderJam
P.O. Box 12532
Olympia, WA 98508

We stomp gender and hetero normality with sex positivity. We smash patriarchy with (verbal and physical) self-defense. We crush the state’s monopoly on decision making when we share skills and turn our theories to practice. We build affinity when we act in solidarity with others (friends, family and strangers) facing repression (which, too, comes in all shapes and sizes).

GenderJam: Lad.i.y. and Trans Fest is not extraordinarily different from what we do in our daily lives. And though we Olympians who have helped create GenderJam: LaDIY and Trans Fest cannot receive full credit for its creation because Gender Jamming is a tactic, an endless variety of practical activities and interactions that arise from your autonomy, YOU. You get to decide what is safe, who you trust and how you destroy the illusion of ‘the helpless’ and take the offense.

So keep jammin’ wherever you are! Have a fest in your own town. Teach a skill. Start a discussion group. Cook together. Keep in touch with the people you met at GJ to form families of solidarity across towns and countries!

We love you.

Love and liberation-
Team GenderJam: LaDIY and Trans Fest 2009

Be prepared for GenderJam: Don’t get confused, get yours!

Be prepared for GenderJam: Don’t get confused, get yours!

• Gender and Jam
  Let’s get the Gender Politicking out of the way. During GJ there will be designated “empowerment” spaces for people of specific identity groups. There will also be time and space for everyone and anyone to come. Let it be known that we’ve tried really hard, evaluated and revisited, to provide safe and inclusive infrastructure for GJ. However, we have not viewed our decision making power as ‘gender policing’ or authority. Please review our LaDIY & Trans Space Statement to best evaluate what spaces you are comfortable with and welcome in.

• Stay Up!
  Our schedule of events may not yet be final. However, we will be updating it constantly. So check in regularly to stay posted on workshops and other events.

• Don’t forget to Register
  Make sure you have a place to stay, have access to child-care, language translation, etc. Register now.

• Before you finish packing, Check out our Wish List to see if there’s anything you can bring along for us to borrow.

• Dollar Billz
  Money is not a friend of GJ. True, without it we may not have been able to succeed in having space, food and materials for the festival. So we hardcore fund-raised to make sure that GJ could be totally capitol-free. Please review our fuck money statement.

• What to Bring?
  Things you want to share: zines, music, ideas, all of it! A sleeping bag and a set of your own dishes might be a good idea too.

In short, come hungry, ready to dance and confront patriarchy on your terms!

Get yours!

See ya soon,
GJ

GJ Needs Volunteers!

We’ve come this far but it hasn’t beeneasy. We need a hand here and there… We’re expecting GenderJam to be HUGE and very well attended.  Please fill out the volunteer form if you would like to spare time and skillz for happenings during GJ. THANKS!

VOLUNTEER FORM

And, please, register if you have not already. Especially if you are coming out of town or have specific needs.

REGISTER

Thanks again! See you soon!

The Schedule is Up!

Hell yeah.  Jam Genders.  We can’t wait to meet you!

See the complete schedule here!

Download the whole program! (.pdf file, 47.1 MB)

Mad Love to Nicki for holding down the program making action.

GenderJam: All Day Every Day

Check it. GenderJamming is something we do all the time…

We stomp gender and hetero normality with sex positivity. We smash patriarchy with (verbal and physical) self-defense. We crush the state’s monopoly on decision making when we share skills and turn our theories to practice. We build affinity when we act in solidarity with others (friend, family or stranger) facing repression (which, too, comes in all shapes and sizes).

GenderJam: Lad.i.y. and Trans Fest is not extraordinarily different from the activities we desire to participate in our daily lives. And, people in Olympia who have helped create GenderJam cannot receive full credit for it’s creation because, ultimately, Gender Jamming is a tactic, an endless variety of practical activities and interactions that parallel your autonomy, YOU. You get to decide what is safe, who you trust and how you destroy the illusion of ‘the helpless’ and take the offense.

We’re excited to have you in Olympia.

And it don’t stop,
GJ

P.S. You are winning.

Nov. 7th, Fundraiser for GenderJam, Be There!

November 7th 2000&crime
7:30PM @ Grandma’s House
720 Thomas St. SW (between 7th & 8th Ave.)

Music By

B-Day Suit
Who’s wearing What?

Gold & Silver
Metallic, lustful explosions

Black Oak
Mind-Bending Acoustic Black Metal

Outlook
Raw hardcore. ‘Nuf said.

Thought Crime Collective
The end of politics… The beginning of (A)ll life.

Also…
Rosco is selling Tamales!
Can you already taste those golden morsels of galactic proportions melting in your mouf’…

Also…
“Hit the Bricks” will be tabling Anarchist Distro and GJ Merch.

Suggested donation at the door. No one turned away.

<3 GJ

Taste The Tangible

Trans, Cunts, Neutrals… It’s Time!
GenderJam is just around the corner!

Confirmed Workshops Include:
Book-binding, astronomy, comics, drag performance, massage techniques, self defense, acrobalancing, piercing and tattoos, radical mycology, portable stove making, ICE Resistance, how to pants the cops without them knowing, making earrings, square dancing, songwriting, screen printing, and more!

Confirmed Performances By:
Kimya Dawson, Eleanor Murray, Foxdye, Aba Cole, Council of Lions, Cumulus, Witch Kromosomes, Femme Uke, Black Guns, Party Thighs, Little Swamp, Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Pet Dander, Mika Mae, Margy Pepper, Violet, Briana Marela and Blood Bones.

Ready or not, here we come…

Forever,
Gender Jamming

Volunteer at GenderJam

Hello again!

Gender Jam is about a month away and we’re getting ready to rock this shit like we know how! Being said, we’re here to let you know that we can’t rock it without you (but we hope you already know that).

VOLUNTEER. If you’re not facilitating a workshop, performing or have your hands full in another venue, let us know what your availability is and what your willing to do to make GenderJam happen.

REGISTER. Especially if you’re from out of town. Make sure you have transportation and a place to stay. Put simply, help us help you.

FACILITATE A WORKSHOP. Share yo skills. ‘Nuff said.

Yours Fiercely,
GenderJammers

Workshop Submission Deadline: November 1st

Deadline is October 25th
Deadline is November 1st
(Though it is now past the deadline, you may still submit your workshop. Unfortunately, we cannot promise that you will have a time slot in our schedule. We’ll do our best to make room for everyone!)

We’re so happy to host your workshop and want to make sure that you have all you need to make it great! Keep in mind that of all the proposed workshops, some match in subject matter. If it’s alright with you, we can put in you in contact with others who desire facilitating a similar workshop. If this is not okay, please specify that in the questionnaire.

Though we have many workshop submissions, we are lacking diversity in subject matter. So submit your workshop now!

Note: GJ’s time and resources are limited. Please try your best to have all of your materials prepared for your workshop.

Sorry for the late notice but we have a lot to do to make Gender Jam the sickest event to ever hit Cascadia!

Go to our “Workshop Facilitators’ Final Questionnaire” and submit your workshop.

We’ve Set A Date!

SAVE THE DATE!

NOVEMBER  20TH – 22ND @ The Procession Studio (Wheelchair Accessible)!

*Downtown Olympia*

We’re still managing logistics, housing etc. please be patient. In the mean time, please fill out our “Watcha Got? Whatcha Want? Survey”

<3 GenderJam