What Makes You GENKI?

Genki is the Japanese word that means,

HAPPY, HEALTHY, VITAL, FULL of LIFE.

At this year’s Boston Pride Festival, we asked folks what makes them “genki” (happy, healthy, and full of life). We got responses from, family and friends, hugging, to self-acceptance and pride. Check it out! What makes YOU genki??

 

 

Check out our FACEBOOK ALBUM for more photos.

–Genki Sister Karen

Advertisement

Being an Ally

Last week The Genki Spark held a Skill Share for members on how to be an ally. With PRIDE just around the corner, this space was a perfect opportunity for a member to facilitate an activity, training, lesson on something they are passionate, knowledgeable, or strong in. I led this Skill Share as being an ally is something that I care a lot about, and work very hard to aspire to be.

Those of us at the Skill Share reflected on how privilege and oppression affect our daily lives. We also discussed traits of a good ally and a not so good ally.  Here’s what we came up with.  What do you think makes a good ally?

~Trisha

 

We also completed two phrases to show how we feel about allies to us and how we can be allies to others.  Why do you think allies are important?

ALLIES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE…

I AM AN ALLY BECAUSE…

 

 

 

Come out, come out, wherever you are…allies

Just a quick plug…today is National Coming Out Day.  It is a day where folks come out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer…..AND as an ally.  If you all read my last entry around Pride (in June), I invited you allies to participate in the Boston Pride Festival.  Now it being October and today being National Coming Out Day, I invite you again to be visible as an ally. It is just as important to be a visible ally as it is to be a visible [insert identity] because without us, social change is impossible.  We are here to tell folks that they are not alone, they are not strange, there is nothing wrong with them.  We see them, ALL of them.  And LOVE them unapologetically.   Coming out doesn’t mean you have to wear a sign that says, “I’m an ally.”  Saying, “Hello,” or asking someone how they’re life is going can be one of the biggest contradictions to someone who feels like they don’t belong because of who they are. Whether it be an ally to LGBTQ, youth, people of the global majority, women, labor workers, etc, you matter.  Come out and be proud that you support the fight for all people to be recognized and loved as the wonderful humans they are.

I did a little research to find an inspirational quote about today, but I thought, let’s keep it simple.  Come out as an ally today, because, as a fellow Genki Sister once said, “Why not?”  You won’t regret it, promise.

Happy Coming Out Day!!!

Love and Hugs,

Trisha