3rd NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CONVERSATIONS BUILD COMMUNITIES
August 15-18, 2013 Oakland Marriott City Center 1001 Broadway | Oakland, CA www.BUTCHvoices.com #BV13
WELCOME TO BUTCH VOICES We are very excited that you are here to take part in what promises to be an amazing event. This weekend is going to be stimulating, educational, and life changing for so many of us. BUTCH Voices seeks to bring together our diverse communities, build bridges, make connections, and use our collective voices to gain better understanding of each other while promoting positive visibility for the identities that fall within our larger communities. Bringing this event to a reality has been no small feat -- we are a volunteer-run conference and board with full-time jobs and busy lives. We only meet virtually or via conference call. We are from all over the US, some with years of participating in our communities, and others just coming into the mix. We have various identities, races, ethnicities, ages, classes, and pronouns of choice. While we all share commonalities within our identities, we are also quite different -that has been integral to shaping this conference. The makeup of our organization has ultimately helped us to create our third biennial national conference. We share the core values of the right to self-identification, inclusivity, diversity, community-building, economic and social justice, integrity, leadership development, and empowerment. We also strongly believe that we do not decide who is butch, stud, or masculineof-center; you decide! The work that we've done to get to this point has been thoroughly challenging and completely rewarding. We have worked with the intention of creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive. We invite folks who are bisexual, heterosexual, genderqueer, transgender, transsexual, intersexed, and two-spirited, as well as those who are queer, lesbian, same-gender-loving, and gay to be a part of this event. The identities we hope to bring together are, at times, one and the same within the individual, and, other times, quite different from person to person. We also welcome our allies of all
identities and backgrounds to share in this event with us. It is not a requirement to identify as butch, stud, aggressive, tomboi, MoC, or any other variation on these identities to participate, present, or attend. We do ask that people respect that this space is invested in creating dialogues that are focused on the issues surrounding the various identities in which the spirit of this conference and organization is intended, and to be respectful of the different ways this is presented and communicated. Participants and attendees are traveling from all over North America to be here with us. So don't be shy -- introduce yourself to people! If you see someone alone, make that effort to walk up and say, "Hi." Take full advantage of the space. Go beyond that “butch nod” to make new contacts and friends. You never know who you're going to meet or what kind of new perspective you may walk away with. It's all about the dialogue and connections, specifically as this year’s theme is “Conversations Build Communities.” We look forward to all of those conversations -- in workshops, at events, and ones that organically happen in the halls. Thank you again for being here with us, and be sure to let your voice be heard!
—–-BUTCH
Voices Board
Joe, Lizwe, Mary, Meg, Sinclair, Lex, Wolf
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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2013 EXECUTIVE BOARD Joe LeBlanc
Sinclair Sexsmith
Founder, Board Chair, Conference Co-Chair
Media Chair
A Cajun Genderqueer Poly Butch who believes in personal story-telling as a significant method for people to share experiences and solidify a better understanding about LGBTIQ identities, issues, and concerns. Joe has served as a member of the University of Michigan’s Spectrum Center Speakers’ Bureau and TransGender Michigan.
Lex
Mary Stockton
Member At Large, Outreach Co-Chair
Treasurer, Finance Chair
Mary Stockton has been a successful Financial Services Professional with Stockton Financial and Insurance Services for almost 2 decades in San Diego.
Redwolf Painter Strategic Impact Chair, Conference Co-Chair
A two-spirit mixed blood Heyoka retired punk from Alaska. For the last 15 years Wolf has been writing, performing and producing events for various non-profit organizations.
Nolizwe Nondabula Secretary, Sponsor/Vendor Chair
Born in California and raised in South Africa, Lizwe is a numbers loving, global citizen boi currently living outside of Boston.
Joe LeBlanc
Nolizwe Nondabula
Erotic coach, educator, and writer. They write the award-winning personal online project Sugarbutch Chronicles, have contributed to more than twenty anthologies, and edited Say Please: Lesbian BDSM Erotica. They travel frequently to teach workshops on gender and sexuality.
A trans identified butch and spoken word artist focusing on social justice and spiritual liberation. They are the Communications Directorat Inner Light Ministries, Coordinator at Santa Cruz County Trans Teen Project, and Coordinator at Queer Youth Leadership Awards.
Meg McEachin Member at Large, Registration Co-Chair
Volunteer
Chair,
A born-and-bred Southerner who enjoys kayaking, shooting things, and having intense arguments. S/he graduated magna cum laude from Temple University, with a BA in Political Science. Meg works in politics.
Mary Stockton
Redwolf Painter
Lex
Meg McEachin
Sinclair Sexsmith
WHO WE ARE
ADVISORY BOARD Bridgforth
Cole
Chueh-Mejia
D’Lo
Freeman
Hill-Meyer
Holmes
Q-Roc
Neogy
Sharon Bridgforth is a resident playwright at New Dramatists and recipient of The Theater Offensive 2012 Out On The Edge Award.
Tobi Hill-Meyer won the 2010 Award for Emerging Filmmaker of the year and was among Velvet Park Media’s 25 Most Significant Queer Women of 2010
B. Cole holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and launched the Brown Boi Project.
Q-Roc is the driving force behind Orange Moon Media, a multi-function media production company.
Jun-Fung Chueh-Mejia is a Los Angeles based creative spiritual. D’Lo has performed and facilitated performance and writing workshops in US, Canada, UK, Germany, Sri Lanka and India. Krys Freeman is the Co-Founder at Khafra Company, a lifestyle brand with personal styling and wardrobe enhancement at it’s core.
Ryann Makenzi Holmes is co-founder of bklyn boihood. She is an entrepreneur, consultant, and media-based organizer. Rajkumari Neogy, MA is a leadership consultant, facilitator, and social entrepreneur. .
STEERING COMMITTEE Walls
Wysinger
Robinson
Cayenne
J. Hill
Chance
Buford
Whitham
Bullock
Phelps
Programming Chair- Jay Walls Outreach Co-Chair - Carolyn Wysinger Performance Co-Chair - Lea Robinson Registration Co-Chair - Adrienne M. Thomas Registration Co-Chair - Michelle “Mac” Mapp Logistics Chair - Debra Guy Logistics Coordinator - Cayenne Accessibility/Awareness Co-Chair Kawana Bullock
McCrae
Reiff
Thomas
Mapp
Guy
Alexander
Hayes
Bender
Youth Outreach Co-Chair - Jay-Marie Hill Youth Outreach Co-Chair - Rev. L.A. McCrae Art Show Curator - Ty Chance Film Night Curator - Des Buford Assistant Film Curator - Alexis Whitham Media Coordinator - Amber Phelps Media Team - Mel Reiff Hill, Broch Bender, Kaye Hayes, Roma Mafia, Tootie Albano, B Alexander, Miriam Fliegner
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT LEADERSHIP? For full bios, use your smartphone to scan this code or visit www.butchvoices.com/who-we-are
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Cherríe L. Moraga
Jay Toole
Cherríe L. Moraga Playwright, poet, and essayist. Moraga is the author or editor of a dozen books, including co-editor of This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color, which won the Before Columbus American Book Award in 1986, A Xicana Codex of Changing Consciousness: Writings 2000-2010 (Duke University Press, 2011), and many others. She is presently completing a memoir on the subject of Mexican American cultural amnesia entitled Send Them Flying Home: A Geography of Remembrance. In Fall 2012, West End will publish a new volume of Moraga’s plays, including: Digging Up the Dirt and New Fire: To Put Things Right Again. Moraga plays have received numerous awards, and her most recent play, NEW FIRE—To Put Things Right Again, a collaboration with visual artist Celia Herrera Rodríguez, had its world premiere at Brava Theater Center in San Francisco in January 2012. For fifteen years, Moraga has served as an Artist in Residence in the Department of Drama at Stanford University and currently also shares a joint appointment with Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity. She is a founder and associate artist with cihuatl productions, a cultural arts organization centered in queer and Xicana-Indigenous aesthetics and social justice values. She is also an active member of La Red Xicana Indígena, an advocacy network of Xicanas working in education, the arts, and international organizing. www.cherriemoraga.com
Jay Toole a.k.a. Super Butch Born in 1948, Jay Toole grew up in an Irish Catholic home in the South Bronx. At 13, Jay returned home with the classic butch haircut of the day: a flat top. Her father threw her out, and Jay remained homeless, navigating through the shelter system, beatings from the NYPD, drug and alcohol abuse, and more, until getting an apartment to call her own in November 2000. Jay identifies the one reason she made her way out of the shelter system being the assistance of a few supportive queer individuals from the outside. In 2002, Jay Co-Founded Queers for Economic Justice (QEJ), a progressive non-profit organization committed to promoting economic justice in a context of sexual and gender liberation, where she was the Shelter Director for 10 years. In 2012, Jay began building Jay's House, www.Jayshouseandresourcecenter.org, the very first LGBTQ adult shelter in the country, featuring a resource center, support and services, housing, follow up care, skill shares, mentorships and hold hands as people move through difficult systems, such as health care. Jay has presented at colleges and universities across the country on issues of queer homelessness, including Columbia University, Swarthmore, NYU, and more, and has received The Richard L. Schiegel National Legion of Honor Award for Emerging Activist in 2006 and queer community service honor from The Sylvia Rivera Law Project in 2011. BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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CONFERENCE INFO
ACCESSIBILITY & AWARENESS
BUTCH Voices is firmly committed to providing a full conference experience and inclusive environment to all its attendees. We pledge to be equally welcoming, inviting and user-friendly. While many steps and strategies to ensure safeness and inclusivity have been built into the programming and physical design of the 3rd Biennial National BUTCH Voices Conference; the organization recognizes that there are attendees who may require specific accommodations to be arranged to secure their full and equal participation. BUTCH Voices is committed to offering the following during the conference:
All-Accessible Conference Venues for Workshops, Shows, Film Night and After-Parties Financial Assistance/Scholarships (aid to Military/Veterans, Seniors & Students, People of Color (POC) & Those Living below Federal Poverty Guidelines)
Gender-Neutral Bathroom & Signage Policy Large Print Programs & Workshop Materials On-Site Scent-Aware Policy (at BUTCH Voices Conference & All Associated Events) Sign Language Interpretation at Keynote Presentations Smoke-Free Policy (at BUTCH Voices Conference & All Associated Events) Transgender Inclusivity (Promotion of Preferred Pronoun Usage) Universal Access to Information & Environmental Responsibility (all conference & workshop materials will be available on-line)
We look forward to welcoming everyone to the 3rd Biennial National BUTCH Voices Conference! For other questions regarding accessibility at the host hotel, conference workshops and associated events, please contact Kawana S. Bullock, BUTCH Voices Accessibility & Awareness Co-Chair at accessibility@butchvoices.com
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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Scent-Aware Policy The space will be a scent/ fragrance free environment. This means all conference participants need to refrain from wearing products with scent and fragrance including: soap, body wash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair product, cologne and perfume. You can check the ingredient list for the word 'fragrance' if you are unsure if your products are scented. See the links below for lists of products that are inscribed and contain no fragrance. This will make our conference space more accessible for people with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) and/or environmental illness (EI). People with MCS can have a variety of symptoms from being exposed to scents including seizures, headaches (ranging from mild to severe migraine), respiratory symptoms such as asthma attacks, increase in chronic pain symptoms (these symptoms can last for weeks after an exposure). MCS is a cumulative, progressive disorder with no cure, so the more someone is exposed, the worse their symptoms become. During the conference, you may be asked politely by a BUTCH Voices volunteer at the start of workshops and keynote addresses; to wash off a scent or use baking soda/unscented wipes to neutralize a scent (for hair, adding water will make a scent worse). We kindly ask that all conference attendees do not enter the space while wearing a scented product. Smoking-Free: California law states one must be 25 feet away from all public buildings, restrooms, conference spaces, restaurants and other public entities when smoking. Please remember to smoke away windows and doors of a building. When returning from the conference after smoking, we kindly ask all smoking attendees to please wash hands and face with scent -free soap (provided) and when possible remove outer layer of clothing that may absorb smoke residue. Thank you.
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of BUTCH Voices is to enhance and sustain the well-being of all women, female-bodied, and trans-identified individuals who are Masculine of Center.* We achieve this by providing programs that build community, positive visibility and empower us to advocate for our whole selves inclusive of and beyond our gender identity and sexual orientation. Our community is vast and growing and we have many identifications that resemble what the world knows as our “butchness.” We recognize our diversity as having a foundation rooted in butch heritage. We welcome the on-going development of movements intentionally and critically inclusive of our gender variant community. BUTCH Voices is a social justice organization that is race and gender inclusive, pro-womanist and feminist.
Who We Are We are woman-identified Butches. We are trans-masculine Studs. We are faggot-identified Aggressives. We are noun Butches, adjective Studs and pronoun-shunning Aggressives. We are she, he, hy, ze, zie and hir. We are you, and we are me. The point is, we don’t decide who is Butch, Stud or Aggressive. You get to decide for yourself. BUTCH Voices is a grassroots organization dedicated to all self-identified Masculine of Center* people and our Allies. We, at BUTCH Voices, feel it is important to bring together our diverse communities, build bridges, make connections. We use our collective voices to gain better understanding of each other and promote positive visibility with intention, integrity and transparency.
Core Initiatives Community Building | Economic/Social Justice | Physical/Mental Health *Masculine of center (MoC) is a term, coined by B. Cole of the Brown Boi Project, that recognizes the breadth and depth of identity for lesbian/queer/ womyn who tilt toward the masculine side of the gender scale and includes a wide range of identities such as butch, stud, aggressive/AG, dom, macha, tomboi, trans-masculine etc.
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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WORKSHOPS AT-A-GLANCE
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS A Discussion for MoC Survivors of DV and Sexual Assault Saturday 9am-10:15am Jack, Kristopher Oakland Have you ever been asked to leave a women's support group because your masculinity was viewed as "triggering"? As MoC individuals it can be difficult to find safe spaces to discuss experiences with sexual assault or DV. This workshop is designed for survivors who want to discuss their experiences with sexual and domestic violence, navigating exclusion from sexual and domestic violence support groups, and the possibility of creating inclusive spaces for transmasculine and MoC people. Jack is pursuing an MA at Dartmouth College and previously served as an Assistant to the Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator of Washington State University. Kristopher is pursuing a master's degree at Dartmouth College focusing on issues of LGBTQI youth homelessness. He is a grassroots organizer and activist. Being Butch 24/7 Saturday 1:30pm-2:45pm Dr. Fortunata Oakland In this workshop, I would like to explore the experience of being butch, with other butches. I am particularly interested in the ways in which we are different (class, age, ethnicity, spiritual practices, cultural, geographic locations, etc.) and the methods we use to forge relationships, build bonds and build community. This workshop will also examine the ways in which we can learn to validate ourselves and each other in the larger community, a community that is not always "butch friendly". Dr. Fortunata has spent many years in New York and Oakland, and currently lives in Cape Cod, MA, with her wife. BDSM From Top to Bottom Saturday 1:30pm-2:45pm Val, Marilyn, Allison Grand Ballroom #1 This workshop is an introduction to kink, presented as a series of skits, following two friends to a BDSM play party. It's based on The Exiles' new member orientation. We believe successful kink depends on being able to clearly state one's needs, wants, and boundaries. In this session we will model both good and poor communication. We will also present basic kink terminology, show some toys, describe the physics of thud vs. sting, and provide links to local and national kink resources. Val is 50ish and it's OK to call Val a butch dyke. Val has ID'd as queer since age 15 and got involved in queer activism right after coming out. Marilyn is a 50-year-old lesbian feminist kinky dominant femme, partner to Val, mom to 2 teenage daughters, computer professional, tuba player. Allison is a high femme babygirl who is active in multiple BDSM organizations throughout the Bay Area. She enjoys leather, volunteerism, and being used for your amusement. Butches Define Class Friday 1:30pm-2:45pm Bo Brown Grand Ballroom #2 This forum will discuss the intersections of class and race, gender, immigration, religion, family histories, poverty, upward mobility, etc. This conversation is important in our community to create solidarity and healing. It is necessary for us to admit and discuss divisions in our community or else the issues that divide us will continue to separate and isolate us and keep us imprisoned. We must define ourselves! Bo Brown, born working class butch, in 1947, in a lumber town in Southern Oregon. Class was and continues to be an issue that is present in all facets of her life, including the butch community.
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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BUTCH Fashion Friday 10:45am-12pm Mary Going Grand Ballroom #1 Mary Going, founder of Saint Harridan, will lead an informal discussion on the connection between self esteem, confidence, and clothing. She says that she used to have the attitude that fashion is superficial and a waste of money, but through personal experience, she began to make an association between the way we treat our outer selves- including the way we dress- and the way we feel about ourselves on the inside. Mary Going is an entrepreneur and social activist. She holds an MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business at Mills College where she was a recipient of the Goldman Sachs Business Leadership scholarship. She has founded, led and sold two businesses prior to Saint Harridan. Butch Misogyny, Butch Rehab: REAL TALK Friday 9am-10:15am Raquel GutiĂŠrrez Grand Ballroom #1 The Butch Misogynist. Chances are you know someone or have been that someone. But how do you know for sure? This space is set up to create and agree on collective definitions of butch misogyny and critically discuss the roots of trauma surrounding it. I aim to facilitate an open ended approach in creating a space for intimately interactive dialogues around queer forms of misogyny, their causes and effects and strategies for catalyzing change and healing. Raquel GutiĂŠrrez is a West Coast literary performance artist and cultural organizer who's written on queerness, music, film, performance and community building
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS Butch Parenting Values Friday 10:45am-12pm Jaron Oakland This discussion/workshop will create space for butches of all sorts to talk with each other about our personal journeys towards or through parenthood. Topics might include: butch pregnancy, butch/butch parenting couples, single-parenthood, butch parent names and roles, gender and our kids, the challenges to our body images and/or gender identities pregnancy, fertility issues and/or parenthood can bring, Does Butch signify separate/ stoic/tough/sexual? What about warm/nurturing/connected/loving? I'm a butch parent through pregnancy. Jaron say my journey there, has certainly changed me. I believe butch parents, who may not neatly fit into "Mom" or "Dad", can also re-define parenthood. Buff Butch: Empowerment Through Strength Training Saturday 9am-10:15am Pat Manuel Grand Ballroom #2 Participants in this session will learn the importance of strength training. Masculinity has long been associated with physical power, but having the knowledge to cultivate one's strength has been withheld from many individuals. It is my intention to discuss why strength potential has been skewed for certain populations and grant the audience access to insights how they may take control of developing physical strength. By doing so, it is the goal to create a fitness narrative that reflects us. Pat Manuel is a 5x national amateur boxing champion and trainer. Dedicating their life to the sport of boxing and fitness in general, it is Pat's goal to share this knowledge with members of the MoC. Drag 101: Don't Be a Drag, Just Be a King! Sunday 10am-11:15am Gender Queer Society Grand Ballroom #2 Join Gender Queer Society in an interactive workshop on the in's and out's of gender performance as a Drag King. Drag has to the power to transform people but also to disenfranchise people if we are not careful to examine the images we are presenting. Therefore it is important to continually have discussions with audiences and artists to ensure we are being as socially just as possible in our performances. Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to pack, bind, and put on facial hair! Gender Queer Society is gender-bending performance troupe based in San Jose. Our mission: to entertain and educate and blur the gender lines. Doing Relationships with Emotional Armor Saturday 10:45am-12pm Corey Alexander Oakland Stones are often expected to be tough, to gut it out, protect our butch hearts. Emotional armor is often valued; at the same time, we are often criticized for our armor, for not opening up to our partners. This workshop focuses on honoring our armor, however thick it may be, even if we are also exploring ways to open up. We will talk about how we do relationships and intimacy, how we take care of ourselves and our partners, how we take risks, and what we need when we do. Corey Alexander is an Oakland-based transgender stone butch, and an educator/writer/activist living with chronic pain. He publishes queer and trans* BDSM erotica under the nom de plume Xan West. Female Identified Butch - A Panel Discussion Saturday 10:45am-12pm Facilitated by Rajkumari Neogy Grand Ballroom #1 Panelists: Adrienne M. Thomas, Carolyn Wysinger, Bev Jo Blaise Fortunata, Lea Arellano, B. Cole Come join this discussion panel about female identified butches. Butches might identify as female, male, both, neither, or a different gender altogether - and like other identities, BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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this may change over time. This panel will be made up of butches who identify as female, who will discuss their own unique identities, challenges, histories, experiences and ideas. Rajkumari Neogy, MA is a leadership consultant, facilitator, and social entrepreneur. Faggot Desire Friday 10:45am-12pm Sade Huron Grand Ballroom #2 What is faggot desire? In this workshop we’ll investigate what butch on butch love and lust mean to the individual and the community, exploring the language we use to describe our selves, our relationships and our sexual desires. The workshop looks to build community through visibility, shared stories, and common experiences. It is intended as a celebration of faggot desire, and is open to all masculine of center people who are turned on by masculinity. Sade Huron is a queer experimental filmmaker/writer/ performer and photographer, whose work has been published and exhibited internationally.
Flirt Like You Mean It! Saturday 1:30pm-2:45pm Q California The goal of this light-hearted and humorous workshop is to demonstrate/enhance flirting skills of participants including listening and responding, body awareness and non-verbal communication. Q is a self-identified queer, polyamorous leather boi. FROM BOIS TO MEN Friday 1:30pm-2:45pm Dr. Evil BOI California Think back in your “his-story” to the first moment you thought that a male person was cooler than your female personage, when a male-identified object was much better than what you had in hand. Did your dad sit you down and teach you how to properly tie a tie or polish your shoes? Do you remember your brother showing you how to bind and present? Think of this class a serious but hilarious bit of history and lessons for upping your dating calendar! Dr. Evil BOI has been a teacher in the vanilla and leather communities for over 25 years and married his fire spinning grrl, Bella, this past year at Burning Man. Get involved with BUTCH Voices! Sunday 10am-11:15am Carolyn Wysinger, Meg McEachin, Grand Ballroom #1 & the staff of BUTCH Voices Are you inspired? Has BUTCH Voices made a difference for you this weekend? Want to work on the creating this conference that has supported you? We need you! Come hear the board and steering committees talk about what it's like to create this work, see what kind of talent we need, and offer up some of your own mad skillz and ideas. Facilitated by Meg McEachin, Board Member at Large and Conference Volunteer Chair, and Carolyn Wysinger, Conference Outreach Co-Chair, and featuring members of the Executive Board and Steering Committee.
Inside-Out/What's in a Haircut? Friday 9am-10:15am K.C. Lutes Grand Ballroom #2 Participants will hear licensed stylist K.C.'s journey to making genderbending hair art, participate in a community-building exercise on struggles with self-image, hear from a panel of MoC haircut recipients, including Redwolf Painter, sharing experiences with self-expression, be introduced to styling tools and products, given an industryinsider demonstration of DIY hairstyling techniques, and explore ways to communicate with stylists that facilitate successful collaboration. K.C. is a MoC hairstylist. Her biggest joys are androgynous and masculine expressive haircuts, and avant guard cut/color. Inter-generational Panel Friday 1:30pm-2:45pm Facilitated by Lex & Jay Grand Ballroom #1 Jay-Marie, Lex, Jesse Benet, Karen Haberman Trusty, Sharon Bridgforth Come and join this discussion panel of individuals from different generations. In these tough times, we need new strategies for meeting the challenges facing individuals of all ages and the communities in which they live. Now more than ever we need to strengthen the interdependence across generations, so that our community can turn toward one another for support. Come and connect the generations to strengthen our communities. The Multiple ____ of Identity Friday 9am-10:15am Sir Jay-Renee, Jesse Benet, Axil Cricchio California Systemic Allyship. Attendees will be invited to dialogue about the "social justice industrial complex" to consider systemic oppression in a way that moves beyond one-dimensional gender identity. We encourage a critical dialogue about intersections of capitalism, heterosexism, heteropatriarchy, and heteronormativity across societal conditions and systems. We will then co-create space with attendees to examine how these concepts perpetuate industrial complexes and mainstream social movements. Jesse Benet, MA, is a queer & trans systems boundary spanner of mental health/criminal justice. Jesse is also a co-founder/co-host of Gendercast, and has a passion for activism at the intersections. Axil Cricchio, MA, ABD is a scholar, community & social activist/advocate, and professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies who actively pursues equality for the LGBTQI community. Sir Jay-Renee is a social justice activist/artist, proud Oakland native, and student at CIIS, where Sir is currently developing a more inclusive curriculum for trans/gender-variant youth. Old Butches Saturday 10:45am-12pm Elana Dykewomon, Diane Sabin Grand Ballroom #2 Butches face all the challenges of lesbian old age as well as butch-specific problems (and pleasures!). We often experience ageism within lesbian communities, and sometimes perpetrate it. How will we deal with hospitals, nursing homes, biological families? What kinds of communities & conversations can we create to affirm, encourage, support us? A workshop/discussion/sharing of resources for those coming into "retirement" – an exploration of the problems and possibilities of butch life after 60. Elana Dykewomon, a social justice and dyke activist since the 70s, has published seven award-winning books. Diane Sabin, DC, current Exec. Dir. of the Lesbian Health & Research Center at UCSF. Photographing Butches - A Panel Discussion Saturday 1:30pm-2:45pm Moderated by Sade Huron, Grand Ballroom #2 featuring photographers Syd London, Wendi Kali, Meg Allen, Miki Vargas Capturing butch. Is the butch/masculine of center persona so inherent that it is apparent whoever controls the lens? Or can the camera, in the hands of those oblivious, mute or make invisible our gender presentation? We’ll be posing these questions and more to our BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
expert panel of photographers, whose own work is responsible for showing the world what butch looks like. Come meet the artists and hear the secrets behind capturing butch on camera. Sade Huron is a queer experimental filmmaker/ writer/ performer/ and photographer, whose work has been published and exhibited internationally. Queer Porn: a Brown Perspective "Brown images in Porn especially Queer Porn" Friday 1:30pm-2:45pm Nenna Joiner, Jay Walls Grand Ballroom #2 As a Producer, Director, and Retail Store owner (Feelmore510 Adult Gallery), I have created something from my mind that many have wanted to see. How does one go about creating content with images that are absent from the industry and are held in the highest regard? A group discussion on taking ideas from concept to screen and having a powerful intent behind the product enough to not only sell but to inspire. This dialogue will begin with a short 15 min montage of films I have created from Tight Places, Hella Brown as well as other pieces currently in the works. Nenna Joiner owner of Feelmore510 Adult Gallery & Feelmore Entertainment, learned everything about the Adult Industry on her own. “It takes a great deal of work to get exactly what you want in life.�
Radical Self Care for Gender Outlaws Sunday 10am-11:15am Lea California Thrive not survive is the goal for our lives as butches, femmes, and gender queers! This precious life is yours to enjoy, celebrate and the messages from internalized oppression get in the way of being all we are meant to be. Come deepen your awareness and release the shackles of self imposed slavery to a world that targets us with false messages of hatred. Get out of jail free now, the one you have created with your mind, imagination and false limitations. I promise to blow open your mind and help dismantle your personal slavery! As a fierce feminist dyke love warrior Lea has been obliterating queer-gender oppression, racism, sexism and more for decades! Lea is a performance artist, educator, writer, singer and has found freedom through creative expression.
WORKSHOP PRESENTERS
Nazbah Tom
Parke Ballentine
Gr Keer
Lea
Pat Manuel
Corey Alexander
KC
Elana Dykewoman
Diane Sabin
Jack
Se Sullivan
Raquel Gutierrez
Broch Bender
Val
Marilyn
Self Preservation for Everyday Oppression Friday 10:45am-12pm Fabian Romero California Self Preservation is a self-reflective workshop meant to address daily struggles that accumulate and result in burn out. Fabian Romero is a skilled facilitator that uses popular education knowledge, performance art experience and strong presence to engage participants in a transformative learning workshop. The goals of this workshop are to expand on understandings of anti-oppression, privilege, build community, self-care practices and skills to be an ally with a focus on masculine privilege. Fabian Romero is a Queer Indigenous poet and community organizer. Since 2007 they have performed throughout North America.
Standing up for Yourself and Others (Civil Rights Today) Sunday 10am-11:15am Karen Haberman Trusty Oakland As a member of The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) - the most militant kick ass young organization in the 60's Southern civil rights movement - I found my own voice and learned to stand up for myself and others. Seeing so many people come to their own true selves and empowerment changed my life forever. In this workshop, I will share some of these stories and then open to the group for a discussion of the participants' issues and struggles to find their own way to standing up for themselves and others. Karen Haberman Trusty was lucky enough to be part of the civil rights movement in the 60's. At the age of 19, she was arrested and jailed and was violently attacked at a segregationist rally. Since then, her passion has been to communicate the marvels of the movement and activism in general.
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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Sade Huron
Bo Brown
Sir Jay-Renee
Jesse Benet
Axil Cricchio
Q
Dr. Evil BOI
Fabian Romero
Mary Going
Dr. Blaise Fortunata
INFO
Bev Jo
Jaron
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS? For full bios and info on all conference presenters, visit www.BUTCHVoices.com/2013presenter-bios or use this code:
Telling (y)our story Friday 1:30pm-2:45pm Broch Bender Oakland Each one of us has a story to tell. In this workshop we will explore story-telling by writing, reading and listening to our stories of self-identity, history and/or individual expression in the world. Participants will come away with a written piece and gain practice in hearing and coaching others to tell a good story. This session speaks to the theme by encouraging participants to locate and nurture their source of inspiration, share it out loud and listen to others who are doing the same. Broch Bender writes stories and produces video and variety shows for and about queers in Seattle. He’s involved with the Seattle Storyteller’s Guild, and his writing is published in print and online.
Two Spirit Identity and Becoming Saturday 10:45am-12pm Nazbah Tom, Parke Ballantine California This presentation will follow a didactic, experiential component, viewings of digital stories, and discussion to facilitate a process of learning about Two Spirit Identity within the urban area. The facilitator(s) will offer background of historical trauma within Indigenous communities specific to North America and tie that in to the emergence of Two Spirit identity and politics. This politicized trauma analysis will offer a grounded context for the digital stories presented with discussion. Nazbah Tom, Dine, is a trained drama therapist currently in an administrative role at a Native non-profit. She builds community through her work as a somatic practitioner, poet, and collaborator. Parke Ballantine is a filmmaker and producer and works as Video Production Manager for the Native American Health Center (NAHC) in Oakland, CA.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS Whiteness and Masculinity Saturday 9am-10:15am SĂŠ Sullivan Grand Ballroom #1 While it is important to work in community to seek better understanding about how racism functions to re-center whiteness, this specific workshop focus is for us as White folks to talk about our part. Affinity space often provides room for the needed vulnerability to push through and become stronger at identifying our part as white folks in the three levels of racism at work, Individual, Structural, and Institutional. This will be a 101 plus workshop, definitions will be explored and conversations had to help us come to understand the trap of "white guilt and shame" and how that keeps us in the cycle of "progressive racism" and "mico aggressions". SĂŠ Sullivan is a white masculine activist scholar pursuing a PhD and has been active in seeking the rights of marginalized individuals and communities for over 30 years. Whole From Parts: Writing Our Experience Saturday 9am-10:15am Gr Keer & Crystal Azul California Butch, genderqueer, & transmasculine bodies are misread & rendered unreadable by our binary-fixated culture. Our gender variant experience can be disorienting physically, emotionally & spiritually. This workshop will explore grounding, mapping & celebrating our bodies & our psychic geography through poetry, prose, & experimental ways of using language to communicate the incommunicable. In this liminal space & respecting the fluidity of ourselves, we will support each other's creative process. Gr Keer is a poet librarian whose work appears in Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics. Crystal Azul is a participant in this year's VONA writers workshop & a visual artist.
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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FRIDAY AT 5:30 PM
THURSDAY NIGHT
Behold the splendor and FAT-tasticness that is CHUBB! These bay area chunks are ready to punch your clocks and work it overtime with flabulously sexy royal-sized faggotry. Dominika Bednarska holds a PhD in English and Disability Studies from U.C. Berkeley, and her new book of poetry, Smothered Breath, is forthcoming.
Jezebel Delilah X is a queer, Black femme performance artist, writer, filmmaker, teacher, and Faerie Princess Mermaid Gangsta for the revolution. From the flatlands of the Southern Delta, Lola Dean comes to the stage with sassy, nasty, trashy spirit. She is a founding member of the Baconettes, a former group of NYC burlesque performers.
Heaven Mousalem is a Lebanese- The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins has been American bellydancer and the Executive gracing stages across the world with her Director of Ooh La La Bellydance. traditional burlesque. An ecdysiast exemplar, her style is reminiscent classic glitz and glamour.
AN EVENING OF ARTISTS AND ALLIES
Thursday Aug 15th from 6pm to 9pm at Club 21, 2111 Franklin St in Oakland FREE to conference attendees $9 suggested donation for nonconference attendees. Tickets: http://butchvoices2013.eventbrite.com/
The founder of Peacock Rebellion, Manish V. tells stories, cracks jokes, and bleeds poems for social justice. Miss Amazing Grace (aka Ingrid Elizabeth) is an Ohio gone Seattle gone California queer femme artist, activist, educator, and performer of many mediums who has been gracing the stage for over 20 years.
Please note: This event, as with the entire BUTCH Voices conference, is scent aware. Please read our entire scent-aware policy here: http://www.butchvoices.com/scent-aware-policy . Please keep it scent-free so everybody can show up and not have to leave due to chemical injury! Leave off perfume, cologne, essential oils and use fragrance-free detergent on your clothes. If you have a strong scent on your body, you may be asked to move or leave.
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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ART SHOWCASE
Irene Fubara-Manuel is a Nigerian immigrant who moved to Canada in her formative teen years. Having no direct role Meg Allen was born in 1978 in San models for gender performance, she traces Francisco and has always identified as a African roots into a hybrid expression. butch and seen it evolve over the years. BUTCH is a series to document and Cole Thomas aka Daddi Cole uses art to showcase the butch landscape as it stands raise awareness in the African American in 2013. Community about consensual Dominance/ submission and about other non- Jessica Lipton: These photos explore conventional dynamics in healthy ideas that combine words, images, and relationships. performance. They represent a queer intellectual household with a contemporary Morningstar Vancil: I have been a feel of gender reversal and near People of Color (POC) activist in the areas nullification. of Immigration, Human Rights, Domestic Partnership and Tribal Alliance-building. Wendi Kali is a self identified Butch with a passion for photography. The Butch/ Mel Reiff Hill (www.rowdyferret.com) Femme Photo Project is a journey through makes pictures (among other things). They the individual and unique identities of have a studio art degree from Rice Femme and Butch captured in a photoUniversity, and do all design, graphics, and journalistic style of photography. art for The GENDER Book Project. J.S. Walls: I create art using photography, graphite, conte, maker, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. My work includes both realistic and abstract styles using various methods of application in the creation.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS? Go to www.BUTCHVoices.com/2013-artshowcase , www.BUTCHVoices.com/kickoff-party or scan the codes above.
FRIDAY AT 7PM
BUTCH Briefs
Among the short films are:
7 pm
Curated by Des Buford Hella handsome artists rocking tight rhythms and tight fades, “too butch” or “not too butch” dugout banter, dyke dreams of love and mermaids, housemate hunting collides with missed connections, and the beautifully complex intersecting relationships of family of origin and chosen family are all a part of this stellar offering of masculine of center short films!
Feature Film: Stud Life Campbell X, Director
Boi Revolution Lex Kennedy & M. Benton For You, The Spring Chris J. Russo F To 7TH: Tweener Ingrid Jungermann The Fiction of the Fix Cathy Sitzes The Devotion Project Antony Osso Dyke Central Pilot Florencia Manovil Genderfreak Rebecca Louisell Performing Girl Crescent Diamond . full descriptions online at www.butchvoices.com/21013-film-night
9:30 pm
Presented courtesy of Wolfe Video WINNER — Independent Spirit Award, Screen Nation Awards This exciting feature debut from veteran British TV director Campbell X unfolds a terrifically entertaining look at the lives and loves of black butch lesbian JJ (charismatic British star T’nia Miller) and her white gay best friend Seb (Kyle Treslove). Wedding photographers by day, the dynamic duo navigate London queer street life all the while looking for love. But when JJ falls for femme diva Elle (the beautiful Robyn Kerr), JJ and Seb’s friendship is tested for the first time as JJ has to choose between spending more time with her hot new lover and being loyal to her best friend. Stud Life is a provocative, edgy, colorful and sexy British film that takes on gender, sexuality and urban street life as it also portrays a wonderful tale of love and friendship. BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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PERFORMANCE & GALA
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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SATURDAY
7-9pm BUTCH Nation Performance 9-10pm VIP Reception w/ Mary Going of Saint Harridan 9pm-2am Saint Harridan Gala! Location: Geoffrey’s Inner Circle 410 14th St Oakland, CA 2 blocks from 12th Street Bart and the BUCTH Voices Conference
Photo: Syd London 2010
BUTCH NATION EVENING OF PERFORMANCE Immediately followed by the Saint Harridan Gala
Purchase individual tickets to either event or an All-In One Pass for the entire evening. Attendees get free entry to the BUTCH Nation Performance and $5 off Saint Harridan Gala
This year’s BUTCH Nation is going to be HOT! Join us for a super sexy and talented performance line-up! Keynote Jay Toole will take to the stage to tell you a story or two as this show sizzles with music, performance, and cool raffles. Later, Saint Harridan Suits will be there strutting about and representing in the BUTCH Nation Fashion Show! Join us, show starts at 7pm… be there early!
Performers include Raquel Gutiérrez is a writer, live performer, film actor, curator, playwright, arts administrator and cultural organizer. Tylan Greenstein is a founding member, singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist in the gender- bending acoustic pop quartet Girlyman. Des Buford, aka Delicio Del Toro, this round, brown, and handsome café con leche heartthrob shakes his wellendowed bon-bon throughout the Trans Francisco Gay Area with the chunky hunks of CHUBB.
Joann Cathleen Roberts, known as simply "Jo" or by her stage alias “Paradigm”, started playing such instruments as drums, bass, and guitar at the age of 10 and by 13. Lady Zen is a fusion poet and visionary force who possesses the powerful vocal agility of a mezzo-soprano and the prowess of a vibrant storyteller. Sapphic Lasers is a queer-as-fuck, dapper punk long-haired butch/boi with country roots and a citified mouth and is one half of queer electro band, GAYmous.
SUNDAY NOON
Verbatim: Our Bodies, Our Stories Spoken word showcase at BUTCH Voices
Sunday August 18, 2013, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom
Seven-Kelee Boult (fka Lucky 7) is a well known poet from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has represented several Bay Area slam teams over the past 10 years. Sinclair Sexsmith (mrsexsmith.com) is an erotic coach, educator, and writer. They write the award-winning personal online project “Sugarbutch Chronicles at sugarbutch.net,
Cassandra Davies grew up in San Jose, the home of Silicon Valley. Her experiences growing up in the sixties, along with her contemplative nature have given her a unique approach to her writing.
Darlene is a Black two-spirit lesbian psychologist with strong social justice values. She began journaling and writing poetry at 20. In 2010, Darlene selfpublished a poetry book, and in 2012, she Emotions The P.O.E.T. is a spoken word self-published Two-Spirit in Black Face: A artist, activist, writer and healer from Los Gender Odyssey. Angeles, CA. Emotions is one of the founders of Theta Xi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Jovi Radtke is a Texas born, bleeding and a member of the Brown Boi Project. heart, Christian, Republican, Queer… confusing? Probably, but then again, so is Xequina came out during early most poetry. On her road to self-discovery, middlessence and now makes up for lost Jovi has found that Spoken Word is the gay time through her creative endeavors: only avenue that suits her ‘confusing’ short stories, comic strips and paintings. lifestyle. Elana Dykewomon, a social justice and dyke activist since the 70s, has published seven award-winning books, including Beyond the Pale (now an ebook!) and 2009′ s Risk. See: www.dykewomon.org Day Walker is a long haired hippy butch writer and philosopher who believes in the praising of kool-aid and can also be found at SirDaywalker.com where hy blogs hys random thoughts, experiences, and writings from Sacremento.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE PERFORMERS AND POETS? www.butchvoices.com/spoken-word-performance/ BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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MAC TUTORING AVAILABLE FREE
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BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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Photography in the BUTCH Voices program is by Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People from the 2011 BUTCH Voices National Conference, unless otherwise noted. All performer, presenter, and organizer headshots were provided by the individuals pictured.
VENDOR INFORMATION Stop by the vendor tables anytime during the 2013 Conference to check out some of our favorite businesses. Whether you fancy dirty books or the latest in dapper fashion, we’re sure to have something for you.
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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THANK YOU BUTCH Voices is thankful for all of the support we've received. It would take pages upon pages to list each person who sent along positive messages to us via email and the various social networks, as well as all those who participated in the online photo project, and those who are here with us in person and only able to attend in spirit. Please know that we are so grateful to all who donated: time, money, items, their words, resources, and themselves to help make this collective effort come to fruition. Thank you to all of our Keynote speakers, presenters, performers, artists, filmmakers, volunteers and participants of all kinds, for adding your voices, your work and yourselves to create the foundation for building and connecting this Butch Voices community and this conference. Thank you to everyone who kept us sane, forwarded our information and links to others, and gave of themselves in so many ways. We especially want to thank our partners, lovers, significant others, friends, and family. Thank you to all those who volunteered before and during the conference! Without you, this conference would NOT be possible! Cherríe Moraga Jay Toole Brown Boi Project Christine De La Rosa Syd London Miki Vargas Krista Smith The Den The Awesome Staff of the Oakland Marriott City Center DJ Olga T of Good Times DJ Lady Ryan Hungry Minds Mera Kelley-Yurdin Sherry Hicks Frameline Marisa Hackett Mary Going of Saint Harridan 510 Events Council President Pro Tempore Rebecca Kaplan B. Allinger and Grey Wolf of Hella Gay Oakland Nenna Joiner Feelmore510 Ent. Charles Bisbee and Valentino of Club 21 Leslie Feinberg Femme Collective Members Past and Present Patrick Clendenen and Alex Jenney of Kaiser Center Tiffany Choi, Marriott Brendan Reiss, Audio Visual Manager - AVMS Lily Divine Productions Liz Cruz Sparrowhawk Panty Raid Productions Lillith Grey CD Kirven Karama Blackhorn Office of Multicultural Affairs, Seattle University Queer Club at Portland Community College Butch Boi Life Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism, Boston University
Queers for Economic Justice Carrie Gray ASLAN Leather Queer Resource Center, CCSF Willy Wilkinson Erica Woodland Beth Schuurmans Kin Folkz Terry De Grace- Morris Debbie Carlsen Hilltop Urban Gardens Bowen Dean Chris Bulmer Adrianna Batista Alison McManus Queen Cougar Angela Brooks Artists J.S. Walls Cole Thomas Meg Allen Mel Reiff Hill Jessica Lipton Wendi Kali Irene Fubara-Manuel Morningstar Vancil Film Makers Cambell X Lex Kennedy Megan Benton Chris J Russo Ingrid Jungermann Cathy Sitzes Antony Osso Florencia Manovil Rebecca Louisell Crescent Diamond Wolfe Video Donations Affirmative Acts Co-Active Coaching Good Vibration Darlene Angela Salacious Distinguished Cravat Saint Harridan
Crash Pad Café Gabriele Fearless Press RodeoH Autostraddle Matthais Rand Conference Presenters Sharon Bridgforth Jay-Marie Hill Rajkumari Neogy Nazbah Tom Parke Ballantine Gr Keer Crystal Azu Lea Arellano Jay Crane Drew Eberhardt Tanja Turner Pat Manuel Corey Alexander K.C. Lutes Elana Dykewomon Diane Sabin Jaron Kanegson Jack Shultz Kristopher Shultz Sé Sullivan Raquel Gutiérrez Broch Bender Val Langmuir Marilyn Hollinger allison brett Sade Huron Wendi Kali Miki Vargas Syd London Meg Allen Bo Brown Q Wilson Jesse Benet Axil Cricchio Sir Jay-Renee Block DR. EVIL BOI Fabian Romero Mary Going Blaise Fortunata Karen Haberman Trusty B. Cole
Bev Jo Nenna Joiner Karen Roberts Zel Anders Ally Performers The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins Heaven Mousalem CHUBB Dominika Bednarska Jezebel Delilah X Lola Dean Manish V. Miss Amazing Grace BUTCH Nation Performers Lee-Anne Poole Des Buford Noelle Duncan Damnyo Lee Alzenira Quezada Tylan Greenstein Jay Toole Melanie DeMore The Saint Harridan models Vendors Modern Times Books Saint Harridan Transgender Law Center Cleis Press KC Ms. Handsome Good Vibrations Miki Vargas Photography Sponsors Stockton Financial STUD Life Wolfe Video Rowdy Ferret Design Saint Harridan Hella Gay Oakland Feelmore510 Club21 Early2Bed Courtney Trouble QueerPorn.tv
BUTCH VOICES NATIONAL CONFERENCE | AUGUST 15-18, 2013 | OAKLAND, CA
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