LGBTQ youth discuss Marxism

Rockford, Ill. — The youth/student organization Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST) sponsored a multinational forum on “LGBTQ Oppression and Liberation” at the Rockford Public Library on July 11. LGBTQ FIST members led the discussion with a historical materialist analysis of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people up to the Stonewall Rebellion. They focused on heroic combatants like Sylvia Rivera and others, including theoretical contributors to this question like Bob McCubbin and the late Leslie Feinberg, both of Workers World Party. Group discussion following the presentations centered on current struggles, such as marriage equality, the specific challenges facing working-class and oppressed LGBTQ people, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The forum was part of an ongoing series of events from a Marxist-Leninist perspective, including discussion on fighting the low-wage police state, sponsored by Rockford FIST. For more information, go to facebook.com/RKFDFIST, fightimperialism.org or call 424-262-FIST (3478).