My purpose: For all mission-driven, social justice-oriented people and organizations to have the confidence and skills to learn, use and love data & technology as part of achieving their missions.
Did you watch Eurovision this year?
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Dear Friend, Did you catch any of the Eurovision song contest this year? I’ve been raving about it so much around my house that my wife asked me if somehow in 13 years of being together she hadn’t realized that I was into this thing. She hadn’t missed something - this was really my first year of watching any of it. I actually only tuned in after it was all over, watching the semi-final performances on YouTube. Excuse me - but why hadn’t anyone told me that Eurovision is also referred to as “Gay Christmas”? This year was one of the queerest with a handful of LGBTQIA+ contestants, including 3 non-binary identifying singers and a 10-year anniversary performance by drag queen Conchita Wurst. The two performances that I can’t stop singing and playing on repeat from this year were Ireland’s Bambi Thug and Switzerland’s Nemo, whose song The Code went on to win the whole thing. Maybe I’m just an old queer, but it was absolutely incredible for me to see such gender-bending, trans-positive, genre-mixing artists take to the biggest European stage with their art. Olly Alexander’s performance was so freaking gay I almost fell out of my seat. I can’t overstate how this queer representation made me feel more part of a safe, loved, celebrated community. This is coming on the heels of some American footballer’s commencement speech at Benedictine College which struck utter terror and sadness into my heart, and a Missouri GOP candidate’s TikTok video saying that you can be anything in America, and then denigrating that entire ethos by telling people not to be “weak and gay" (this same person also burns LGBTQIA+ books with a flamethrower and puts that video on the internet). Being part of many loving and loved communities is part of being human. It is something we all want, and something we all should have. I’m grateful that my queer community has so much amazing representation in places like Eurovision. It can really help to manage the fear, stress, and isolation that comes when a person or group try to take that safety of community away, or tell you that you don’t deserve to have it. With a lot of spiritual, mental, and emotional support, therapy, and self-reflection, I choose to see the haters as the same as me - human. We share the same emotions, we want the best for our families, we want to live in safety and in love. So I forgive them for the hatred they show me and my communities, and I wish them love, safety, security, and happiness. Love is such a tricky thing to talk about. It means different things to different people in different situations. But it is the most important thing, no matter what. That is why it is one of the things I won’t take out of my work. Is nonprofit data & tech one of your communities? Is it a community for someone you know? If yes, I would love to have you join us at the Learn, Use, Love Gathering in NYC on August 9th. Let me know what questions you’ve got about this full-day, in-person experience and if it is the right fit for you or someone in your life. Peace, Emily |
Emily Hicks-Rotella
My purpose: For all mission-driven, social justice-oriented people and organizations to have the confidence and skills to learn, use and love data & technology as part of achieving their missions.
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