Two Men and a Blog: New Website About Queer Culture, Nonprofits and Vocation

From Our Perspective is a new blog reflecting on the queer movement, working with and for nonprofits, and vocation. The website was created by Kevin Watson and Alfonso Wenker – two gay, Generation Y men working in the nonprofit sector.

Alfonso Wenker is a gay/queer mixed-race Latino, born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. He made the big move across the river in 2009 and resides in downtown Minneapolis. Alfonso has primarily worked with and for LGBT nonprofits but approaches his work with a social justice framework that recognizes the intersection of justice movements. In 2009 Alfonso graduated from the University of St. Thomas – Minnesota with a B.A. in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in public relations. He currently works as programs manager for PFund Foundation, the only LGBT community foundation working across the Upper Midwest. Alfonso serves on the NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota Foundation board of directors and the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy-Minnesota steering committee.

Kevin Watson is gay, white, and male-identified. His is a member of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis and identifies as a Unitarian-Universalist Humanist theologically. Much of his non-profit work has been in progressive faith communities. A major area of interest is the intersection of LGBT individuals and families and faith communities. In 2007 Kevin graduated from Hamline University and started Aidan Web Services, a marketing and public relations company working primarily with non-profits. Kevin serves on the board of directors of Rainbow Rumpus: the online magazine for youth with LGBT parents and is a past board member of the Minnesota Campus Alliance.

Recent posts include:

Nonprofit Leaders of Color (Alfonso)
What is Vocation, Anyway? (Kevin)

I was really happy to hear about the launch because while my focus on diversity centers around people of color, it’s just as important to showcase the experiences of the LGBT community as well. We’re not yet, as a sector, very good at talking about racial diversity, much less about the intersectionality that comes with race, age and sexual orientation. Kevin and Alfonso answer the question, what does it mean to be young and male and queer and a person of color in the nonprofit field? I believe their blog will be a much-needed voice for the sector, and I hope you’ll check it out. Let’s welcome Kevin and Alfonso to the nonprofit blogosphere!

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Bill

If find your use of the work “queer” offensive. You are not a member of the GLBT community. I would never presume to use nigger to refer to a black and would appreciate the same kind of respect.
http://www.rosettathurman.com/ Rosetta Thurman

If you read their blog, you will see that I was just copying the language that the authors used to describe their blog (in their own words)… I would never presume to be the expert on knowing the right terms to use outside of the LGBT community. That said, you just did use the word “nigger” so I guess we're even.
Lynda

Wow – that's brutal. I am a member of the GLBT community, and am personally not a fan of the term “queer” nor do I identify as such. But it is an increasingly common term, and I can understand why the general public might begin to use it. Bill – sorry, your analogy doesn't work. Rosetta, thanks for being an ally.
Bill

My analogy is directly on point. I have noticed Rosetta's insensitive regarding GLBT issues in other posts as well. Being one minority doesn't give her a pass for others. Further, some of the most virulent homophobia that I have witnessed has been from blacks.
Bill

You just don't get it. I obviously used “nigger” as an example since some blacks use it as a self-identifier. I would NEVER assume to use it for someone who is AA. SIMILARLY, don't assume you can use the word “queer.”
http://www.rosettathurman.com/ Rosetta Thurman

Really? I've highlighted several GLBT community leaders on my blog over the past few years. Why? Because I support the movement and I think there should be equality for everyone. I've never made a homophobic statement on my blog, so I'm not sure what exactly you've been reading.
kstiens

Queer is not a word owned by queer people. Its just a term, and is useful because its an open term. Referring to someone as gay, straight or bi may not be correct. But queer is an umbrella term, which is really useful in a realm where terms are defined by differences. Also, as a part of the GLBTQ community and having a lot of queer friends, I have never, not even once, heard any objection on their part to the general use of the term queer.