In an effort to find some relevance for myself last fall, I found myself as the volunteer coordinator of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Interest Group here in PC Ecuador, a group of mainly straight volunteers who were interested in working on homofobia here in Ecuador. We had grand visions of building a nationwide network of glbt activists, planning leadership camps, and helping to spur the creation of gay liberation movement here in Ecuador.
We haven´t quite gotten to that yet. I think the email I was working on this morning pretty much shows where we are in the process.
Hi All,
A few updates.
1) Jambelí was great although we missed Eva and Farrah and Amy and Susanna. Thanks to everyone for making such a nice weekend and "teambuilding event." I´m working with Paulina to get the reimbursements out so hopefully you should get something before the end of the month.
2) Meeting on Thursday, June 28. Please block off the entire day 9-5 pm and the evening for PRIDE in Plaza Foch. Please note, this meeting is mandatory and will be fully funded,w transport, two days of $8 per diem and one night of hotel. If you cannot make this meeting and Pride, it counts as one of the two absences after which we would have to ask you to forfeit your seat on the group. If you are trying to coordinate your mid-service medical exam with this meeting, porfis, schedule it for the 26 or the 27!
Here´s why it´s so important: As you know, we have been asked to perform as part of the program for Gay Pride in Quito. We discussed this at Jambelí and the consensus was that a good lip sync piece would be Better Shape Up from Grease. (Stay with me here, folks. And Dana rest assured that we want you to participate in this important cultural integration activity here as well, so please mark your calender if you are available!)
Jen has (pretty much?) agreed to help out with choreography and I believe that Brian and Becca have agreed to be take on the gender inverted roles of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. And they were entirely sober when they agreed to do this. The idea is that women in our group would be the T-birds and we would search out interested male Peace Corps volunteers to be the Pink Ladies. We have about $100 to spend on Pride so some of this could go for costumes. I anticipate that we can have a relatively short meeting to do business in the am of the 28th and devote the rest of the day to pulling together our performance.
If any of you are thinking some crap like "I´m not going to get up in front of hundreds of gay Quiteños and make a fool of myself," just try to let go of that. Please. I have.
Based on all this, here are a list of to-do´s to prepare for Pride. If everyone signs up to do one thing, it won´t be so stressful, for, um... me.
Performance
Burn discs with "Better Shape Up" and send to everyone in the group - Rachel and Becca
Choreography - Jen?
Send email to other Peace Corps volunteers to participate -
Find and design costumes -
Table
Get a banner made with Peace Corps log and glbt groups name -
Design folletto on the glbt pc group -
Secure condoms to give out at our table, and perhaps lube? -
Confirm all arrangements with los organizadores- Claudia
Thanks all
Claudia
2 comments:
did i ever tell you how some of my boys performed better shape up for the center's talent show? they did have a female staff member play sandy but it was still hilarious to see these tought teenage boys performing silly choreography (fingers pointing, etc.) anyway, i think my point is that from my experience quitenos love grease so you guys will be a big hit. :)
That is REALLY good news, hope you guys can make it!
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