[Pink&Black Helsinki]

In Finnish / Suomeksi

Trans Week of Action 19th to 25th of March

Events, workshops and meetings every day! Demonstration Sat 24th of March.

Pink&Black Helsinki organises from 19th to 25th of March a Trans Week of Action on the theme: how to survive in a transphobic world?

Events, workshops and meetings every day! Demonstration Sat 24th of March.



Pink&Black Helsinki organises a Trans Week of Action on the theme: How to survive in a transphobic world?



During the week there will be workshops, meetings and other daily program. The week builds up to a demonstration on Saturday 24th of March. The demonstration will start in Narkinkkatori at Kamppi at 2 pm. Stay tuned! More info soon to follow!



Program (will be fully translated before the action week):



★MONDAY 19.3.★



Action Week kick off at Museum of Impossible Forms 6 pm



Welcome to hear more about the weeks program and to watch a movie! Week kick off also includes the opening of Voimaminä exhibition (Exhibition event https://www.facebook.com/ events/157152478330344/)

Movie shown is "Transgender life in Slovenia" (37 min, subtitled in english). Action week info starts at 6 pm, movie starts at 7 pm.



★TUESDAY 20.3.★



Sign, zine & banner workshop at Happi Youth center 4-8 pm,



Queer sexuality evening & discussion

at Museum of Impossible forms 5-9 pm



For one evening we will create a safer space for trans people to talk about sexuality and read and watch books, brochures and other material about sexuality. Many sexuality events are cis/heteronormative and genital centric, so we want to create a queer space from an another point of view, a space where we can give and recieve peer support. Let's destroy cis/heteronormativity!



Programme:

17-18 Possibility to get to know the material, voimaminä exhibition, getting to know the space.



6-7 pm discussion safe sex, consent and boundries



break: socialising, getting to know the material, possibility to get advice how to use different toys/equipment/ how to make diy toys safely.



8-9 pm experiences of embodiment, bdsm



There will possibly be some toys (diy whips, flogger etc.) on view but the space is meant only for discussion, not for playing.



Event is for transpeople and allys.



Welcome! :)





★WEDNESDAY 21.3.★



Help on surviving the application jungle and how to deal with bureocracy workshop

(Maunula-talo, 3:30-6 pm)



In our everyday lives we have to deal with kela, TE-toimisto and other bureocratic institutions which is sometimes hard in this transphobic world we are living in. That's why we decided to organize this event. You are welcome if you need help or advice with something, if you want to help other people and/or share experiences and information or for example if you find it hard to fill applications on your own.



The event takes place in Maunulan nuorisotalo's computer class so you don't have to bring your own compurer with you. Because the classroom is in the youth center (nuorisotalo) there will be some people and noise outside during our event, but our classroom is well soundproofed.





Non-binary people in comics - discussion at 3 pm to 4.30 pm at Sarjakuvakeskuksella (Porthaninkatu 9, Helsinki)

DISCUSSION IN FINNISH (possible translation tbc)



Comic artists Pii Anttonen, Apila Pepita ja Kimmo Lust talk about their comics, which often deal with their non-binary gender identities. https://www.facebook.com/ events/960143930815661/



★THURSDAY 22.3.★



Zine work shop 5-9 pm (Museum of Impossible forms)

Come make your own queer-feminist-trans revolutionary zines. Materials provided in the workshops. Drop-by basis.



Bike workshop 6-9 pm (Pyöräpaja)



General information about bikes and also possible to fix your bike independently with possibility to get help/advice and we will ask people in the beginning what they want to learn. So a safer space for transpeople and allys.



Workshop will be in English and Finnish.



★FRIDAY 23.3.★



Support in transitioning

at 4.30 pm (Museum of Impossible Forms)



A peer supportive group meeting for people who are considering transitioning or who are currently going to transpoli and/or transitioning. Also people who have already transitioned but who are want to give support and advice about transpoli and transitioning are welcome.



We can talk for example about problems and difficulties in juridical and medical procedures and share information based on our own experience.





Non-binary meeting at 7 pm



Possibility to talk of different subjects, hangout, do your own work etc. in a peer environment. We will offer some snacks, coffee\tea\juice. Otherswise vegan potluck if you want or can.



Discussion can be for instance:





(Museum of Impossible Forms),





Sign, zine & banner workshop at Happi Youth center continues 4-8 pm





★SATURDAY 24.3.★



Demonstration at 2 pm starting from Kiasma

Demonstration event with latest info:

https://www.facebook.com/ events/209938569560177/



Action week party at 6pm at Museum of Impossible Forms

Trans Revolution Now! -demonstration after-party. Music, poetry and stand-up (in Finnish). Performers include: Varjova, Talvikki Lehtinen, Susi Nousiainen and Susinukke Kosola.

Program begins already at 6.30 pm

Free entrance. Event is substance free.

Party event here:

https://www.facebook.com/ events/777111395813376/



★SUNDAY 25.3.★



Benefit dinner + solidarity for trans prisoners 5-8 at Lymy

https://www.facebook.com/ events/2139859009634130/



Come, eat & write letters of support to trans prisoners! Writingequipment like pens and stationary provided. Food 3-7e. All donations willgo to support trans prisoners. There will be a short presentation on Marius' and Diren's situations.

Marius Mason is an imprisoned transgender anarchist, serving 22years for acts of eco-sabotage. Marius is incarcerated at Carswell in FortWorth, Texas, a small, high–security facility; he receives few visits, his mail is monitored, and he is intensely socially isolated. Sincehe came out as transgender, he has engaged in a painfully slow process of medical screenings to see if he will be permitted to have access to theWPATH standards of care for transgendered people (hormones, surgery, andthe right to legally change his name to a gender-appropriate one of hischoosing).



Diren Coşkun is an lgbti+ activist and anarchist who was arrested during an IDcheck at the Diyarbakır Courthouse in Turkey, on August 14. She was told that there was a judgement on her for charges of "being a member of an illegalorganization" and "propagandizing for an illegal organization". Because she refuses to be in the same ward with men, she has been put in solitary confinement. She demands access to healthcare and trans-specific healthcare as well as to be removed from solitary confinement. Diren has beendiscriminated and harassed by prison authorities. On January 25th she began ahunger strike/death fast in her struggle for these demands. She finished hunger strike after 27 days on February 21st after she started to get vegan food and promised improvements concerning the health care issues. (Organised by: Helsinki Anarchist Black Cross and Anarchist Black Cross Vantaa)







Description of event places:



Museum of Impossible Forms

Address: Keinulaudankuja 4 E at Kontula shopping mall, 2nd floor

Map here: https:// www.museumofimpossibleforms .com/gettingthere/

Accessibility: the space is wheelchair accessible, doorsteps max. 4 cm. Space has no accessible toilet, it has no steps, yet small. Nearest accessible toilet is located at Kontula metro station.



Happi youth centre

Address: Sörnäisten rantatie 31

Accessibility information: The space is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilet.



Pyorapaja (bicycle garage)

Address: Pasilan Puistotie 12

Accessibility information: Accessible entrance, yet limited possibilities to move inside the space, due to many tables. No accessible toilet.



Sarjakuvakeskus

Address: Porthaninkatu 9, Helsinki

Sarjakuvakeskus is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible.

More specific info on the accessibility of the space: http:// www.sarjakuvakeskus.fi/ kurssit/ saavutettavuustiedot



Maunula-talo

Address: Metsäpurontie 4

Map here: http://maunulatalo.fi/ ?page_id=3033

Accessibility: Main entrance and the computer class are wheelchair accessible. The entrance of the youth center has no automatic doors but it is otherwise wheelchair accesible. All the floors are accessible by lift. Wheelchair accessible toilets are located on the second and third floor and they are also gender neutral. Gender neutral toilets also in the youth center. Guide dogs are welcome.



Lymy

Address: Pengerkatu 6

Accessibility info: Unfortunately the space is not wheelchair accessible, there are steps

leading (downwards) into the space and three steps up to the toilet. The toilet is quite small, the door to the space and to the toilet are quite narrow.

SAFER SPACE POLICY



Check your privileges



There are hierarchies and oppressive norms built into the texture of our society. No community or person is beyond them, no matter how radical or alternative they are. However, cultural change is not only possible but happening every day, and challenging these norms will take us closer to a more just society. To make our event an anti-authoritarian and conscious space, we must work against discrimination, including but not limited to homo&transphobia, sexism, racism, ableism, ageism and classism.



Check your prejudice



Consider how your possible assumptions about people’s appearance, gender, skin colour, verbal or physical abilities and class or migrant background might affect your behaviour towards others. Instead of making assumptions about people’s bodies, personalities, identities, backgrounds or “where they come from”, let everybody represent themselves. Everyone has the right and sole autonomy to define their own identities, including their sexual and gender identity. Use only such gendered terms of other people they use themselves, and do not curiously ask about their background. Bare in mind that everyone should be able to control who knows that they are trans. Hence, do not ”out” anyone!



No means no



Respect everyone’s boundaries – both physical and emotional. Asking is the only way to find out what other people’s boundaries are. Always get verbal/explicit consent before touching someone.



Take responsibility



Remember that being drunk or high is never an excuse for bad behaviour. Keep in mind that something you enjoy or are comfortable with might cause others discomfort and distress. If somebody experiences something hurtful, they have the right to feel hurt and express it without their experience being questioned or their tone being policed. Making boundaries clear and heard is a question of safety to be considered, and communicated, by everyone. There is no reason to be defensive in these situations since it’s not a critique or attack towards your personality.



Respect



We don’t want to judge, push down or compete with anybody.

Let’s respect everyone’s potential for change and communicate in a constructive way. Judging one’s personal qualities or background is not a good way to intervene in oppressive behaviour. Instead, point out the unwanted actions. Here is one way to confront hurtful behaviour, divided into three steps.



Name the unwanted behaviour: “Saying _______ can be hurtful towards…”



Criticize: “Saying things come off racist/transphobic/…/. It contributes to these ____ stigmas.”



Demand /propose change: “Words like _______ are respectful, you should use them instead…”



Together we are strong



Ask for support if you need it. We are here for each other!

We are not asking anyone to pretend being someone older, younger, stronger, healthier, cooler, smarter, more trans or more queer than they are, to compromise their mental or physical well-being in order to look more productive or to meet society’s other absurd expectations. Instead we encourage everyone to challenge themselves every day to acknowledge their own privileges, stand up against injustices and work for better communities that are safer, more aware, sustainable and inclusive.