Building a system of exchange By Bixi B. Craig, Publisher When we developed the theme for the last Lavender Lens edition of the decade, the cover concept of helping hands was quickly chosen to become the symbolic message we wanted to carry into 2010: women need to support each other, regardless of personal hardship, jealousy, or any other barriers or hang-ups. 2009 was the toughest year for many of us in the work force, spanning over 4 generations. Stories of bereavement, lack of medical care, sudden loss and often related poor mental health, kept piling up at Lavender Lens and we tried our best to direct women to the resources needed. Now, more than ever, we find the principle we founded this media voice on, to be called upon: the fair exchange of ideas and goods in a unified stride to establish a democracy that places our lives under our own control. How can we find strength within our community, among people who face similar hardships as ourselves? The pillar is there but we need to reclaim it every single day. As a lesbian business owner with a small operating budget – a plight a many community businesses can relate to – I have noticed two distinct changes this year in regards to the production and exchange of products and services. The volume of communication in general has increased, and we’ve been witness to this shift. To distribute the information our writers’ collective produces, our managing team has to initiate and maintain a much higher number of relationships than ever before. Expanding your circle of personal friends and acquaintances and then keeping up with several dozens of individuals seems to be a difficult task considering how much energy needs to be devoted to staying afloat. Yet, we firmly believe in the long-term benefits of reaching out beyond your familiar limits, and thereby building a safety net and market place that promotes fair trade beyond the confinements of capitalism. Every day examples of a micro community exchange based support system are sharing of meals, passing on print media, trading services such as yard work for transportation or child care for tutoring, referring “family” business owners and contractors, and devoting some of your time to the participation in local government. The new decade also calls for the breakdown of ageism within the LGBT community. It can be difficult to identify with people who are older or younger than us; to find a common, worthy ground of interaction. There is the blame coming from the demographic of 50 and up that Gen X deployed the privilege it was dealt, and it’ s that group of people that dominates the workforce, the people born in the 1960s and 1970s. This population, even in a marginalized population like ours, disconnects from the desensitized Gen Y population which is conceived as being indifferent, disengaged, and entitled. It’s really difficult to see beyond one’s immediate age and to accept it merely as a temporary stage in life. We could have so much more control over the well being of all LGBT people if wisdom and innovation, experience and fresh energy were better meshed. Gay youth and elders share isolation and invisibility even within the gay community. Volunteerism and monetary contributions to organizations are channels that could decrease the gaps between our generations. For example if you are 30 years young, a donation made to a respective non-profit organization today could turn into a retirement community for lesbians when you are up there in age. Or, your support of the Youth Housing Project directly contributes to the strength of our currently young generation that will represent the economic force when you are over 50. Which leads to my second significant observation of the year: individually, we have had to put a lot of emphasis on the decisions to be made as far as investments go. Small investments – and many of them – for a potentially big return appear to be the working principle for shaky times like these. This applies to personal, professional and financial decisions. For example, a $10 cover charge for a lesbian produced event might seem like a cut into the gas tank or lunch fund, but it might also be the pass to that special friendship or the mentor you’ve been looking for or to someone who provides a service you need. Networking is the key to a working socialist democracy. Have you not gained at least something from each effort to mingle? Every little investment is an important link in the chain of giving. Another example: You design the website for an entrepreneur friend at a lower than average rate, and in exchange she gives you gift certificates for her bistro. You share them with your friends who talk up the establishment and in exchange for the customer base you have helped create you land a design job for her realtor, who pays you at your regular rate. Enhanced resources can be attained through Samaritan deeds, providing a non-judgmental atmosphere within our tight community as well as by personal and social support, and referrals. Learning from the young, dynamic crowd and from the people who have survived oppression and recessions can be very beneficial to our core. Many of us don’t have a strong support system in our families, but this only confirms that we are not alone. We just have to actively develop a cadre of friends and extend our hands to give and receive. I would like to thank you on behalf of the entire volunteer staff of Lavender Lens for your loyalty, inspirations, support, feedback, and contributions. It is our goal to deliver our services in 2010 and beyond, including sponsorship of several organizations, and the information and referral exchange our brand stands for. |
