Why activism is needed, by everyone!
"Looking the other way, being silent and doing nothing are not neutral. Not intervening has the consequence that discrimination is normalized and trivialized and thus assumed to be 'natural'."
Very few people want to consciously exclude or discriminate against others. Yet we all carry discrimination within us. Nobody is to blame for this. As children, we are socialized in a society that is strongly interwoven with discriminatory ideas, which also anchors discrimination in our minds. This body of thought exists unconsciously in us and is embodied in our everyday language or in our actions. As a result, we accept the exclusion, carry on the discrimination and pass on the ideas to our children, which we consciously don't really want. This exclusion leads to much suffering among discriminated people.
Therefore we recognize in all people the responsibility to prevent this suffering and to create a life-enriching system that enables the satisfaction of the needs of all people. This is currently not the case. This task requires listening, acceptance, charity and taking action. Anyone who does not want to look, acknowledge or act makes themselves responsible for carrying on a system that excludes people and causes suffering. Looking away, being silent and doing nothing are not neutral. Not intervening has the consequence that discrimination is normalized and trivialized and thus assumed to be “natural”.
It is important to recognize the suffering of those affected and to take it seriously, to become aware of one's own position in society, what privileges one has, and to fulfill one's responsibility to minimize and reduce the inflicted suffering. It needs you and your activist commitment!
Our community is currently intended primarily as a safer space for queer people. If you identify as queer and would like to exchange ideas or actively implement projects, please become a member of PAQT!