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