Butler said that she declined the award in order to distance herself from the explicit racism of the organizers of the giant Berlin gay pride event (known here as Christopher Street Day or CSD) and their failure to deal with racism in their movement, including racism against Muslims here in Berlin. Butler also decried the commercialism of the pride event. Her action has, as you can imagine, caused a kerfuffle here, but sadly hasn't gotten any coverage in the U.S. as far as I can tell.
I say: Way to go, Judy B.!
Butler suggested that the "Civil Courage" prize be given instead to these Berlin groups:
GLADT (Turkish Gays and Lesbians)
LesMigraS (an organization of lesbian migrants and black lesbians against violence and discrimination)
SUSPECT (a group of queers against violence, racism, and homophobia)
ReachOut (an organization for victims of right-wing, racist, antisemitic, homophobic, and transphobic violence)
Transgenialer CSD (the alternative Pride parade)
Here is an English press release from SUSPECT and and a video of part of Butler's speech (with English subtitles--she apparently spoke in German.)
Angela Davis's statement of support for Butler.
Transgenialer CSD's 2009 logo:
3 comments:
Do the Germans have a word for sanctimonious?
Man, no turks, no immigrants, no blacks, no muslims. It's Germany, so no jews... Exactly who do the queerenvolk get to discriminate against over there?
Well, Turks, Muslims, blacks, Jews. It's multicultural Europe, baby!
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