Fwd: [bmdc-wg] I am leaving BMDC

Subject: [bmdc-wg] I am leaving BMDC
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From: Steve Downie <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 6:52 PM
To: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


I am leaving The Boston MayDay Coalition. Effective immediately. I'm tired of the transphobic shit. I am tired of the ridiculous arguments defending the transphobia. David is an absolute jackass and so is Jane. I will not be attached to this BS. Do not reach out to me and ask if I'm joining any future meetings. Do not reach out to me asking me to take up roles or tasks for future events you are planning.


I am done with this group


Sayonara assholes!


Stevie Downie
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From: Dyani Tisdol <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 8:26 PM
To: <downie.steve@yahoo.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


I too, am leaving the BMDC. I just haven't had enough psychic bandwidth and positive energy to be honest with this group. I wish all of you well. It is a sad day for me to finally say goodbye but I am highly ashamed and embarrassed with all of this. I do not feel that my voice as a Black Woman is well suited with the goals of this coalition. Take Care. 


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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 9:54 PM
To: Stevie Downie <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, Robert Michael Pittsley <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>, lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


BMDC:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

=====================


Stevie has been an active member of our group and he just painfully announced that he is leaving our group.

I am in pain and cry out, "NO"! "NO"!  "NO"! "NO"! "NO"!

This is what happens when we permit and defend transphobia in our group.

At the start of our last meeting, we approved the agenda without dissent. David did not request that we discuss trans issues. David did not say anything for most of the meeting about any agenda item. Near the end of the meeting, David spoke for the first time and dropped his anti-trans bomb. He has done this before!

It was not on the agenda. David's own toxic personal agenda was more important to him. This was a premeditated attack on the BMDC!

I have heard that he has done this in other organizations. I can personally testify that his misleadership brought much pain and disruption to the GRP.

Because of his toxic misleadership, BMDC's email list has been dominated by this toxic debate. Our collective energies have stopped being focused on wars, climate catastrophes (Have you been breathing in the toxic chemicals from the fires in Canada?), the attacks on immigrants, the attacks on the working class, etc.

Our Trans Siblings are being attacked. They are being murdered. The right to be who they are are under massive attack. Yes by the Republicans. And shamefully under attack right here in the BMDC.

Allowing our Trans Siblings to be attacked at our meetings and on our email lists has damaged BMDC before this recent explosion. Now Stevie is our most recent comrade who has announced his departure. For those of us who know Stevie, he is a wonderful person and a wonderful comrade. 

I want Stevie to come back. I want others who have left to come back. They will not come back until this toxic cancer is removed.

David and Jane have had a toxic presence in our group. They have shown no capacity to learn or even control their venom.

I request that addressing transphobia in the BMDC be the first important agenda item at our meeting next Sunday.

We have to decide "whoose side are we on!"

Women have the right to control their bodies including having an abortion if they chose. Not debateable in the BMDC!

We oppose racist pollice brutality. No, we do not include, "Blue Lives Matter".

6 Million Jews were murdered. We do not provide space at our meetings and the use of our email lists for "holocaust deniers".

We support immigrant rights. Not debateable!

What is the BMDC agenda? It includes Trans Rights!

David has his own toxic transphobic agenda. Does he ever ask that his agenda be placed on our agenda? Never! That would at least be transparent and honest.

For those of us who attend BMDC meetings and whenever David attends, we do not know when he will drop his toxic bomb. What we do know is that another bomb is coming. 

This is unhealthy. This is sick..

For at least some of us, this must stop!

At our next meeting next Sunday, BMDC must decide who we are.

"Whose side are we on?"

And they came after our Trans Siblllings, what will we do?

Love,

Mike Heichman


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From: Lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 10:11 PM
To: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: Stevie Downie <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, Robert Michael Pittsley <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>, BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Thank you.  I love you all. 


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From: Michael Vaglica <iravaglica@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 10:19 PM
To: <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, Robert Michael Pittsley <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, Stevie Downie <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>


I am reiterating, 

We can't find a position on this issue because either side will turn against its contender. It is also not a coin flip, it is delicate. 

One thing my mental disability that has brought me to a high IQ has taught me is, communication through a dramatic event does not pertain a solution on its own. 

In my professional life, we do not introduce things that hurt my business in staff meetings, rather the administration committee keeps those away from newcomers because they'll get scared and may get shoved away indirectly because of the scarcity of communication. The reverse happens to be true too, therefore too much communication leads to a tangled mess in not only mismatched facts, but opinions. 

David K and I agree, but where I disagree is that there are reasons why too much communication is not good. It should be handle with 1) a mediator neutral group 2) a majority agreeable group or 3) third party groups. This would rectify the "interval group that disagrees" type of communication, into a more diverse perspective. 

Another thing about impulsive / abusive language, the way some people write on here is very unprofessional, and it surprises me how mature folks cannot make sense of the arts of communication. I'm not directing this to any individual, but that is my opinion on a separate issue, simply stated now because I recently had to let go of an individual at work because he sent a fax with profanities to a partner. I just don't tolerate it in a formal way. 

Bigmike 


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From: DAVID KEIL <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 1:57 AM
To: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


It's appropriate to include transphobia on the next meeting's agenda, as Mike suggests, as well as misogyny, and the rights of women, lesbians, gays, and trans people. The July 4 picnic is probably the priority agenda point. Of course we can hear reports on Pride Month events. 

BMDC is on record for free expression. Under women's rights, two specific items could be for BMDC to affirm the right of women to speak freely about sex and gender, and to affirm the right of lesbians to state their same-sex preference or orientation. An appropriate action would be to acknowledge or support the May 19 comments of the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Ms. Reem Absalem. They begin, "I am deeply concerned at the escalation of intimidation and threats against women and girls for expressing their opinions and beliefs regarding their needs and rights based on their sex and/or sexual orientation" (https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/women/sr/statements/2023-05-19-statement-sr-vawg.pdf).

If there is something controversial about this, we can discuss it on the BMDC-Discuss list.

David



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From: <john.r.harris@verizon.net>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 9:30 AM
To: bmdc@lists.riseup.net <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, downie.steve@yahoo.com <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, rpittsley6@gmail.com <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, michaelheichman@gmail.com <michaelheichman@gmail.com>, xulingkelley@gmail.com <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Cc: bmdc@lists.riseup.net <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


A week ago, Mike violated the list rules voted on by BMDC with impunity. Since then, others felt that the rules we vote on do not need to be respected. This led to a chain discussion on the BMDC work list. We have seen the results. Mike has only himself to blame. The discuss list was created to conduct our internal political debates among those who choose to be on the discuss list. The decisions we make collectively should be respected. 

John


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From: Lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 10:19 AM
To: <john.r.harris@verizon.net>
Cc: bmdc@lists.riseup.net <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, downie.steve@yahoo.com <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, rpittsley6@gmail.com <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, michaelheichman@gmail.com <michaelheichman@gmail.com>


That's not true John.  We voted to create a discussion list.   Mike asked for written guidelines,   You refused and asserted yourself in your typical authoritarian manner.   POST THE WRITTEN RULES!  They do not exist!
 
It was JANE that posted transphobic rhetoric to the work list first and Mike responded,   



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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 10:33 AM
To: David Keil <dmkeil@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Notice…

1. The attacks continue

2. No mention, never mind taking responsibility, for the resignation of our two most active African-American members.

Mike H


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From: Michael Heichman <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 4:17 PM
To: John Harris <john.r.harris@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, Stevie Downie <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, Robert Michael Pittsley <rpittsley6@gmail.com>, xulingkelley@gmail.com <xulingkelley@gmail.com>


John,

I did not violate the list rules with impunity.

I ACIDENTLY sent a response to the general list instead of the new discuss list.

I did not know that I made the mistake until Jane pointed it out to me.

When I realized I made a mistake, I apologized.

Since then, there has been a mass refusal and the debate has remained on the general list.

When you pointed that out, you were yelled at.

Mike H


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From: Michael Heichman <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 4:20 PM
To: <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Cc: John Harris <john.r.harris@verizon.net>, BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, Stevie Downie <downie.steve@yahoo.com>, Robert Michael Pittsley <rpittsley6@gmail.com>


Lita,

Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, I did ask for guidelines for the usage of our lists.

Yes, I did not initiate discussion on the general list.

Mike


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From: Lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 16, 2023 at 8:50 PM
To: <porchpotscott@proton.me>




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From: Lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 3:28 PM
To: <xulingkelley.bmdcantitrans@blogger.com>