Begin forwarded message:

> From: shelley park <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: October 9, 2009 8:47:53 PM EDT
> To: Lisa Tessman <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Kids and FEAST, & FL's anti-gay laws
>
> Thank you for this Lisa,
>
> Yes, I am also appalled by FLs legislative and judicial decisions on  
> gay families and gay rights (which affect me directly as a resident  
> of FL).
>
> But, I agree that
>
> a) moral puritanism is simply not an option, as there is nowhere in  
> the U.S. (and probably nowhere else either, although frankly  
> Canadian locations might better pass the litmus tests than U.S.  
> locales) where we aren't going to find a record of injustices on  
> issues of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, dis/ability, age,  
> etc.  and
> b) we do not serve ourselves well by litmus tests that prioritize  
> boycotting one form of oppression over another, and
> c) whatever we decide in terms not only of locations, but certainly  
> in terms of public statements on behalf of FEAST should reflect a  
> consensus among the membership (or at least a majority of such).
>
> Outrage is simple.  Making decisions about how to select locations  
> that better serve our principles than others is a rather messier  
> matter.  (I thank Joan Tronto, Bonnie Mann and others for taking on  
> this project and reaching a decision we've been unable to reach for  
> several years, but lets not get carried away in thinking that we're  
> not still, as is always the case, making compromises.)
>
> Shelley
>
> Dr Shelley Park
> Associate Professor of Philosophy
> University of Central Florida
>
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM, Lisa Tessman  
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> This is an interesting idea. Let me mention a few things, though  
> (the first two I am pointing out as chair of the steering committee;  
> the third point is just a point I want to make personally):
>
> 1) We have voted to move the conference to Illinois (and away from  
> FL) for 2011; we have not decided to never have the conference in FL  
> again (or to not have the conference in FL until FL changes some of  
> its laws). . Our intention was to consider rotating the conference  
> through two or three locations. We may of course decide not to  
> rotate it, or at least not to have that rotation include FL, but  
> this would need to be decided by a vote of the membership. And, we  
> will be hypocritical if we issue a statement and then four or six  
> years down the road return to FL (even if the laws have not changed).
>
> 2) Even if we do decide not to hold the conference in FL again (or  
> until the objectionable laws change), we would still need a vote of  
> the membership to decide whether or not to issue a position  
> statement (the APA does this when it issues such statements).
>
> 3) Of course I think the FL anti-gay laws are terrible (and my own  
> family is vulnerable in FL because of these laws). But it is hard to  
> be a a moral purist about anything like this, since there are many  
> moral reasons to support/withdraw support from something (a state,  
> an institution, etc). Anywhere we locate the conference, we will be  
> compromising on something (e.g. we have chosen a hotel that pays its  
> workers less well than the Sheraton Sand Key). So, are we choosing  
> to prioritize condemning FL's anti-gay laws through our choice of  
> venue, when there may be something else of equal or greater (or  
> incommensurable) importance? It might be right to prioritize our  
> condemnation of FL's anti-gay laws, but I am just suggesting that  
> we  should have a (difficult) conversation about FEAST's values and  
> how to weigh them before we act automatically.
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
> On Oct 9, 2009, at 4:15 PM, Keller, Jean wrote:
>
>> FEAST steering committee and FEAST members,
>> Reading these articles makes me think, could/should FEAST write up  
>> a position statement explaining our recent decision to no longer  
>> hold our conference in the state of Florida, and point to Florida's  
>> anti-gay policies as a prime reason for this decision (and refer to  
>> this case). My thought is this statement could explain our  
>> principled objections and also document the financial impact to the  
>> state of Florida of our decision, and then send a copy of it as a  
>> letter to the editor to some local Florida papers, chambers of  
>> commerce, perhaps some key Florida legislators.
>>
>> It's perhaps a small way to weigh in on this, but if other groups  
>> follow suit, it may have some impact.
>>
>> Jean
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: FEAST Members [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On  
>> Behalf Of Claudia Card
>> Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 10:30 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Kids and FEAST
>>
>> Thank you, Bonnie, Joan, and Alison. --Claudia
>>
>> Alison Jaggar wrote:
>>> Yes, you speak for me Joan. Even though I too have loved the beach.
>>> Thank you Bonnie.
>>>
>>> Alison.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM, Callahan, Joan <[log in to unmask]
>>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>>>
>>>    I'd like to thank Bonnie for bringing the Janice Langbehn/Lisa
>>>    Pond case to the attention of FEAST-L subscribers.  Over all  
>>> these
>>>    years I, too, have enjoyed the Clearwater location without really
>>>    giving thought to Florida politics on the matter of gay families
>>>    and the importance of attending to such politics in deciding  
>>> where
>>>    a group such as FEAST should meet.  Bonnie has fought long and
>>>    hard for this change, which is well justified on more than one
>>>    ground.  I, for one, am very grateful to her for sticking with  
>>> the
>>>    struggle.
>>>
>>>    Joan
>>>
>>>    On 10/7/09 11:47 AM, "Bonnie Mann" <[log in to unmask]
>>>    <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>>>
>>>    Hey Everyone,
>>>
>>>    Much appreciation to Zoe for writing.  Maybe this will help her
>>>    and the other kids feel better about the decision to move the
>>>    location.  For those of us who live at a great distance from the
>>>    Florida location, bringing our children is not a possibility.  I
>>>    have four daughters, none of whom has ever been able to accompany
>>>    me to FEAST because I could never afford the massive airfare  
>>> costs
>>>    from Oregon.  So also from a kids perspective, this is an issue  
>>> of
>>>    fairness.  The location (as does any location) makes things
>>>    possible for families who live closer that are not possible for
>>>    families who live further.  I must also say that kids with
>>>    adoptive lesbian parents are disadvantaged by the Florida
>>>    location--and I know that many lesbians have brought their
>>>    children to Florida.  As an adoptive lesbian parent I would
>>>    hesitate very much to bring my children to Florida.  If that  
>>> seems
>>>    odd, just a reminder (below... I pulled it off a website) about
>>>    what happened to Janice Langehn and Lisa P!
>>>     on!
>>>    d's children, who happened to be in Florida for a cruise when one
>>>    of their mothers had a fatal stroke.  I hope that the new site
>>>    will be child friendly, but it is important to acknowledge that
>>>    the old site was only friendly for some families and not for
>>>    others.  So my children, over all the years I've been attending
>>>    FEAST (since early on, except for this year), have missed out.
>>>     They've never been able to come.
>>>
>>>    Florida Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit of Lesbian Denied
>>>    Information About and Visitation with Dying Partner in ER
>>>    http://www.blogher.com/florida-federal-court-dismisses-lawsuit-lesbian-denied-information-about-and-visitation-dying-partne
>>>
>>>    A few days ago, a U.S. District Court for Southern Florida
>>>    dismissed Janice Langbehn's case against the Public Health Trust
>>>    of Miami-Dade County, Jackson Memorial Hospital and 3 doctors.  
>>> For
>>>    those unfamiliar with, or don't remember Janice's story I'll give
>>>    you quick synopses.
>>>
>>>    In February 2007, Janice Langbehn, Lisa Pond, and their 3  
>>> children
>>>    traveled to Florida for an R Family Cruise. But before the ship
>>>    left port, Lisa collapsed and had to be rushed to a hospital.
>>>    Janice and their children followed, arriving shortly after. The
>>>    hospital refused to take information about Lisa's medical history
>>>    from Janice, even after a copy of Power of Attorney had been  
>>> faxed
>>>    to the hospital. Janice and the children were not given any
>>>    information about Lisa, and were denied visitation even after the
>>>    doctor had indicated that there was no medical reason Lisa could
>>>    not have visitors. In the mean time, other families, including
>>>    children, were taken back to visit with patients in the trauma
>>>    unit. The only visitation Janice was allowed in the ER, was 5
>>>    minutes while the priest to delivered last rites. At some point
>>>    during the ordeal, Janice was told by a social worker that she  
>>> was
>>>    in an anti-gay state and city, and she would not be acknowledged
>>>    as family. Apparently, t!
>>>     ha!
>>>    t went for their adopted children too.
>>>
>>>    When Lisa was finally moved from the ER to a non-trauma room in
>>>    the hospital, Janice was not notified. She had to find out from
>>>    Lisa's sister, who was told by the hospital staff when she
>>>    arrived. It was more than hour after Lisa had been moved. Yes,
>>>    Lisa's sister had more rights than her partner of 18 years did.
>>>    Later, Dade County Examiner and the State of Florida both denied
>>>    Janice a death certificate, which she needed for life insurance
>>>    and social security benefits for the children.
>>>
>>>    The court ruling, says the trauma unit does not have and
>>>    obligation to allow the patient's family, health care surrogate,
>>>    or other visitors, access to the patient. And since she was
>>>    allowed in for the 5 minutes of last rites, that's good enough  
>>> (my
>>>    words). The ruling found that since she was briefly consulted
>>>    twice, the Power of Attorney had not been denied or ignored. The
>>>    ruling also stated that there was not enough evidence to show a
>>>    fiduciary relationship. This has some bearing as to why it's
>>>    justifiable under the law to keep loved ones apart, but I don't
>>>    understand why. Since I am not a lawyer, and all of this legal
>>>    speak makes eyes glaze over, this is about as much as I got out  
>>> of
>>>    reading the ruling. For a more in depth discussion of the ruling
>>>    and it's implications, check out Leonard Links post Federal Judge
>>>    Dismisses Tort Claims Against Florida Hospital and Staff Who
>>>    Failed to Accord Compassionate Treatment to Life Partner of Dying
>>>    Lesbian.
>>>
>>>    On Wed, 7 Oct 2009 08:58:54 -0400, Sally Scholz
>>>    <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>>>    wrote:
>>>> Thanks Zoe and Anna!  For what it is worth, my two kids were
>>>    similarly disappointed.  The Florida location was a nice place to
>>>    bring families. We are trying to keep an open mind and hoping  
>>> that
>>>    the Illinois location will also be a nice place for kids too.
>>>>
>>>> I was particularly delighted to see Zoe's letter-- I admire her
>>>    courage and pluck in writing.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Feminist ethics and social theory
>>>    [mailto:[log in to unmask]
>>>    <mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of FEAST-L
>>>    automatic digest system
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:04 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:FEAST- 
>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>> Subject: FEAST-L Digest - 5 Oct 2009 to 6 Oct 2009 (#2009-147)
>>>>
>>>> There is 1 message totalling 53 lines in this issue.
>>>>
>>>> Topics of the day:
>>>>
>>>>  1. change of location for next FEAST
>>>>
>>>>
>>>     
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Date:    Tue, 6 Oct 2009 14:22:15 -0400
>>>> From:    Anna Stubblefield <[log in to unmask]
>>>    <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>>>> Subject: Re: change of location for next FEAST
>>>>
>>>> I want to thank all of the organizers for a wonderful FEAST a  
>>>> couple
>>>> of weeks ago! I enjoy this conference so much!
>>>>
>>>> My daughter, who accompanied me to FEAST this year and in 2007 is
>>>> very, very sad that the conference will not be in Florida again  
>>>> next
>>>> time. I tried to explain to her the political reasons behind the
>>>> decision to try a new location, as you will see from her message
>>>> below, although she does not yet grasp the implication of harm  
>>>> being
>>>> done that is not directly to an individual (we'll work on that). I
>>>> confess being very torn myself between loving the Florida
>>>    location, in
>>>> part but not totally because it is a great place to bring my
>>>    daughter,
>>>> and agreeing with the political concerns about where our money
>>>    is going.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, Zoë wanted to express her protest to the organization about
>>>> the change in location, and I certainly did not want to quash
>>>    her urge
>>>> to do so, so I promised to pass on her message. Here it is:
>>>>
>>>> Dear Feast,
>>>>
>>>> I'd like to make a suggestion on account of the location of
>>>    Feast. As
>>>> a ten year old girl, I'm sure you don't take me seriously. And I'm
>>>> sure you think I only want you to stay in Florida because I
>>>    think it's
>>>> fun there. I can tell you it's fun for everyone involved in the
>>>> program and you are making a huge mistake. Florida may have homo
>>>> sexual issues and a bad environment, but they haven't done anything
>>>> wrong to the speakers or anyone involved, have they? I'm sure no  
>>>> one
>>>> there has given you a hassle about anything. Why move to a cold, 3
>>>> star place when you can live in peace at a 5 star hotel, with a
>>>    beach,
>>>> and a pool, and great places to visit?? If things have gone wrong,
>>>> notify me and I'll take back the comment. Just a suggestion.
>>>    Thank you
>>>> for listening.
>>>>
>>>>                      Sincerely Yours,
>>>>                          Zoë Stubblefield
>>>>                         (Daughter of Anna
>>>>                         Stubblefield, Speaker
>>>>                              at Feast of 2009)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ***********************************
>>>> Anna Stubblefield
>>>> Chair, Department of Philosophy
>>>> Rutgers University-Newark
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> End of FEAST-L Digest - 5 Oct 2009 to 6 Oct 2009 (#2009-147)
>>>> ************************************************************
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Alison M. Jaggar
>>> College Professor of Distinction
>>> University of Colorado at Boulder
>>> Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies
>>> Boulder, CO 80309-0232
>>> 303-492-8997 (direct line)
>>> 303-492-6132 (dept. office)
>>> 303-492-8386 (fax)
>
> ------------------
> Lisa Tessman
>
> Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy
> Program in Social, Political, Ethical and Legal Philosophy (SPEL)
> Binghamton University
> Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
>
> Office phone: (607) 777-2269
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
>

------------------
Lisa Tessman

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy
Program in Social, Political, Ethical and Legal Philosophy (SPEL)
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Office phone: (607) 777-2269
Email: [log in to unmask]

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail