Assorted Projects

Introduction

The gay homeland movement includes not only the goal of a physical homeland for gay refugees, but also efforts to strengthen our collective self-consciousness as a people, from which a kind of national identity needs to be created.

It's true, we all have different national origins, but aren't we — as gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendereds — truly also a people worthy of a nationality of our own?

Let’s briefly examine what constitutes a people. Is it merely the genes, the language and/or the territory alone? Is it merely the possession of a particular passport, the observance of certain folk customs or other practices common only to a particular small ethnic group?

No. What truly makes a people a people is a basis of common shared values as well as cultural commonalities.

We, the gay people, are a truly unique group on this planet, a people with our own specific culture and customs - despite, or rather due to our diversity. We must consider this diversity as something precious to be treasured and embraced, and the essence from which we can learn to give our national identity its form and meaning.

Crucial elements of any national identity are the records of its national history, a national treasury of its art and literature, and social solidarity amongst its nationals. Therefore, if we are serious in our belief and efforts to establish the concept and perception of a gay nationality, we must begin to record our history across all cultures. We must begin to collect, classify and translate works of literature, films, art and creative projects of all manner, and in the process of recording these, also make them available to our people worldwide.

We must also strive to continuously call attention to our achievements as a people and must thus create in the eyes of the non-gay peoples the awareness that we exist and will have our national identity recognized, embraced and accepted as equal with all others on this planet.

To achieve this goal, gay people themselves must first learn to appreciate the greatness and diversity of our own culture.  Our youth is particularly in need of positive role models and needs the assistance of elder gays to gain a sense of self-awareness.

We must also, as part of our quest for national identity, remember our artists and heroes and show our pride in them and never tire of pointing our achievements as a people out to the non-gay world.  Pride in and solidarity amongst our own must be integral parts of our culture, national identity and quest for freedom and global equality.

With a view towards achievement of these goals, our organization will strive to support social projects at the community level worldwide. As part of our initial efforts, we propose to establish at least the following long-term projects, which we pledge to support with our personal engagement and devotion as well as through financial means:

National Archives

Ancient and recent understanding of same-sex love and affection will be gathered and recorded. Our different roles in various societies and other cultural groups must be investigated, documented, preserved and made available to all. The history of modern gay emancipation must be carefully tracked and recorded. Names of those who have lead the way in our quest for acknowledgement, equality and a national identity must be preserved for future generations.

Not only the serious and often deadly political history with its incumbent stories of persecution and oppression must be preserved and recorded, but other historical anecdotes and trivia must also be secured and made available to this and subsequent generations. Several such projects have already been begun in various countries, but our approach to this task will and must necessarily be far more broad and as inclusive as possible, with the ultimate goal of including the contributions of gay peoples of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

National Library

Poesy, prose, filmed and other art shall be collected in one central repository and be made accessible to our people. Translations between various languages shall be facilitated, and an additional goal of this project will be the popularization of gay art work everywhere.

A central online catalogue documenting the contents of our central repository as well as various local collections of gay art work shall be created. Librarians all over the world shall be urged to adopt and include gay literature in their stocks. Donations of gay publications and media to town and school libraries shall be encouraged and supported. Young artists will be motivated to create "queer art" and be assisted in their quests to find a publisher, producer, patron or sponsor.

Social Support Network

Everywhere – in every city, town and settlement around the globe – there are older and sick gay people in need of care and assistance. Ranging from the lonely with only few social contacts to the truly ill and decrepit who cannot secure proper medical care, it must be our collective goal to care for our own.

On a purely social level, the feeling of loneliness can be combated through establishment of more social programs at all levels involving the “cross-pollination” of those young gay people seeking advice, education or occupation with those of us more advanced in age seeking a social environment, contact and a sense of worth.

A second goal of this project will be the reduction and overcoming of the current wide-spread social separation of gay men and lesbian women in our communities. Towards this end, we will also strive to support recognition of lesbians as the "more highly evolved life form” by gay male society.

Other parts of this project will involve the encouraging of self-help organizations for sick and shut-in gays who have no other medical or social networks to rely on in their current homelands, as well as projects specifically aimed at caring for our elderly in a scope beyond the services provided by various states.

Financial aid to selected projects in developing countries shall also be encouraged.

Local Representation

Depending on the specific circumstances prevailing in particular countries, our local representatives shall assist in the political emancipation of gay people. Where needed, they will be called upon to aid in the relocation of our people to secure environments.

This project may include the creation of protected settlements, emigration aid or simple refuge accommodations for gay teens and adults who have been made homeless because of their being gay.

UN Representation

An important step in the establishment and recognition of our national identity is the creation of an official representation at the United Nations. We seek to accomplish this task in harmony and cooperation with other gay organizations.

Only through joint efforts will success on the international stage be achieved. As long as there is no independent, functional gay state, we refuse the all-inclusive claims made by other gay entities as lacking legitimacy. When our goal of creation of a self-administered, independent gay homeland has been achieved, its legitimate government shall assume representation of all gay people at the UN.

Until such time, the Gay Homeland Foundation currently acknowledges and fully supports the leading role of ILGA, the International Lesbian and Gay Association, as single gay organization with the largest representational network and broadest impact.

Patriation Service

Once a gay homeland has been established, we seek to found, fund and operate a Patriation Service for those whose lives may be in mortal danger because of homophobic persecution in their homelands. The overall goal will be to enable such individuals to leave and resettle in the gay homeland, and, if needed, to actively assist them through any available means in their emigration or escape, as the case may be.

Popularization and Fund Raising

Gay stamps, coins and "pink dollars" as well as all other manner of souvenir and support items not only makes the hearts of gay people beat faster, but also serves to popularize our cause and enhance our feelings of national identity and awareness. Additionally, it can effectively help raise crucially needed funds to achieve our many goals and support our many projects.

Wouldn’t it be a source of pride and joy for us all to see a few “famous faggots” decorating a letter or a post card? Wouldn’t the image of a famous gay personality on a coin, a coffee mug, baseball cap or a pithy slogan on a bumper sticker or refrigerator make us feel warm and fuzzy, too?

In many countries it is already possible for organizations to issue stamps with their own design in cooperation with the local postal service.

To popularize important historical gay persons, Gay Homeland Foundation has began issuing commemorative stamps. For this project, we call on gay artists everywhere to submit ideas, proposal and sketches. Surely someone among the millions of us worldwide will be able to assist us in this project and thereby also help us honor our famous citizens – Allen Ginsberg, Sappho, Pjotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, Oscar Wilde, Jacinto Benavente, Lily Thomlin and so many others are all gay individuals who are certainly worthy of such commemoration. Or perhaps something kawaii with Ganymedes? Whatever your particular bent or position, your individual input as artist is welcome, and your design or work, donated to our cause, will help us create important items.

Great Ideas? Something Missing? Tell Us!

 Fresh ideas, new input and off the wall ideas are always welcome. Your input is hereby expressly solicited and welcomed with open arms. If you have found your calling on this page, if you feel that one of these projects or something altogether completely new and different we have not thought of or touched on here is in order, please contact us.

If you would like to lead one of these or a different project under our auspices, please contact us as well.