NYC Dyke March Drama

[u/Ok_Item_3313]

The NYC Dyke March is being boycotted by many other organizations including Act Up NYC for putting out and subsequently deleting this statement. Thoughts?

Imma be real I don't really think this statement is bad at all, but I understand that others have read it as "all lives matter"-ing the genocide in Gaza. Would love to hear more takes.

[u/farbissina_punim]

Jewish and queer and I don't love this.

It could have been more succinct and less needlessly mollifying. "We have received some questions about x,y, and z and we will reiterate that antisemitism is not tolerated at our event or in our community. We remain committed to Palestinian liberation." Or something like that.

It's also built right into their mission statement: "Any person who identifies as a dyke is welcome to march regardless of gender expression or identity, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, race, age, political affiliation, religious identity, ability, class, or immigration status." Lean on your mission statement! That's almost always the answer.

I see some comments being completely dismissive re: how this statement may be taken and how supposedly reasonable it is. I don't know why people have to feel so superior about not recoiling from verbiage like this. Personally, coddling Zionists doesn't make me feel safe at an event. And I wouldn't want to participate in lukewarm Zionist pandering during Pride. Or any other time.

I resent calling this "drama". Dyke march is a protest, not a parade. It has always been political.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Edit: These comments are wacky af to me. You think this statement is "not that bad"? You seem really irritated with anyone who doesn't look at thist statement and say, "Eh, it's fine. Could be worse." You don't have to show up in their Insta comments screaming and ranting, but you can be critical and want better from organizations you believe in. There's a way to encourage an organization to make better choices without becoming deranged.

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/farbissina_punim]

I’m not attempting to be dismissive or superior when I added my comment.. and I added a follow up reply. I get what you’re saying totally and I think you’re right.. I just also think if this statement helps a few uninformed Jewish people feel safer, that could be one step closer to them abandoning Zionism. A statement like this is cringey and disappointing but ultimately I do not see how it costs all that much

[u/farbissina_punim → u/Specialist-Gur]

I don't see how coddling Zionists is going to make them recognize the humanity of the Palestinians. I think our country is constantly clutching its pearls and pretending to be invested in Jewish safety, and that doesn't seem to have tipped the scales in the favor of the Palestinian people at all. Antisemitism exists, but not because Palestinian people dare to exist.

I think it's fine that this org's statement doesn't bother you. I'm personally disappointed that a movement that prioritizes queer liberation has fallen short.

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/farbissina_punim]

I’m disappointed as well I just don’t find it to be so horrific the march should be boycotted. I also don’t think all the Jewish people who are fearful of antisemitism at pride are all “Zionists” though most of them are. I think plenty are merely misinformed

[u/farbissina_punim → u/Specialist-Gur]

You should definitely not boycott it then. 

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/farbissina_punim]

I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m just a bit bothered by more and more divisions within communities of people who largely support each other. That’s it. It’s one thing to allow zionists at your march and it’s another to potentially coddle overly sensitive people

Edit: by overly sensitive I mean well meaning Jewish people who have bought into the propaganda that these marches are unsafe but also support Palestinians.. anyway the OP blocked me so.. I just wanted to clarify for everyone else.

I also don’t love the dyke march statement.. if that isn’t clear.. I just don’t think we as an Antizionist Jewish community are getting anywhere by telling all Jews that are at all afraid to get over it. We’re like the one group that even has a tiny potential to bridge the gap with on the fence Zionists/zionist apologists

[u/farbissina_punim → u/Specialist-Gur]

I'm curious. Since I didn't mention boycotting, why are you particularly singling me out on this? I made a number of different points, none of which have to do with boycotting, yet you are aiming all of your boycott-centric frustrations in my direction. I talked about my wish that the organization would be more succinct in its message. I talked about the importance of leaning on an organization's mission statement. I talked about how Zionists don't make me, as a queer Jew, feel safe at an event. Why is their safety more important than my own? I talked about wishing this organization made better choices. I barely criticized this organization at all. You are using terms like "find it so horrific". Did I do or say anything that implied I was horrified by this?

I didn't use the term boycott one time. Why me? Why, out of everything I said, are you honing in on a point I didn't make?

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/farbissina_punim]

I’m honestly not sure what about my posting is coming off as critical or frustrated with you.. I’m talking about the situation more generally and since you mentioned me specially about “not boycotting” I suppose I wrongly assumed you were for it and were suggesting I make alternate decisions. I don’t think I mentioned you at all.. this thread is specifically about people who are horrified enough to boycott it. I responded to your statement since you were calling out people who were unbothered so I merely attempted to explain my position. That’s all.

[u/farbissina_punim → u/Specialist-Gur]

This has been a spectacular waste of time. You have no POV, you have no argument. You have been talking to me about a boycott I didn't ask for or even mention. "I don’t think I mentioned you at all"? You have been responding to my statements. When you click "reply" the person gets a notification that you are talking to them.

Please go engage with someone else.