Note: The following has been taken from Ember Swift's website, located at http://www.emberswift.com/. It was copied here instead of simply linked, because there was no way to link specific to this article.

My thoughts on MWMF (April, 2004)

We have accepted an offer to play at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in August of 2004. I am aware of the womyn-born-women policy and I stand in firm opposition to this policy. I am choosing to express my opposition from the inside rather than the outside. Here are my reasons for accepting this performance offer despite my position against the policy:

My Activism

As a long-time political activist, I feel my strongest political platform is the stage -- with a microphone and through my lyrics. I have more of an effect when I perform than when I don't perform. I definitely intend to speak out against the policy and express my stance loudly and proudly. I support my trans siblings and I believe in trans inclusion.

Respecting our History

This festival is the cornerstone of womyn's festivals in the U.S., if not the world. It is perched on immense history of feminist development that has built and fought for a world in which my generation of women can have the incredible opportunities that we have. These opportunities include expressing trans identities openly and with (at least) reduced fear for the first time in history. It's ironic that the very freedoms the previous generations of feminists fought for (feminists of all genders) are the same freedoms eliciting such fear, exclusion and subsequent oppression from the women's (i.e. the non-trans aware and/or pro-policy) community. I am interested in being among these women who are experiencing this fear for the sake of offering a bridge of dialogue, compassion and community.

Approaching with Love

I approach this festival with a mixture of immense gratitude to the generations of women who came before me and an earnest desire to see change occur for the next generation of women. This is our task and I am happy to join the fight for change! I can envision a festival environment in which ALL women are respected and offered safe space (inclusive of transwomen, of course) in a respectful way to all involved. At this point, I can't see why it would be difficult. Compassion, love and inclusion are never difficult when the walls of fear are dismantled.

I firmly believe that change can only occur through love. I will be in attendance at the festival for six days and only have one performance scheduled. You can be sure that I will be engaging in many discussions, workshops, casual dinner conversations and heated debates about this topic. I can't wait. I also intend to visit Camp Trans.

Boycotting

Many trans activists have decided to boycott the festival. Others have extended their boycotts to include all engagements outside of the festival by artists who choose to perform at the festival. I can fully perceive the purity of intention that lies behind the decision to boycott. Still, I believe that boycotts are necessary in conjunction with alternative approaches like the one that I am advocating above. Together we can make change. Let's not villainize those who are working from different angles. Let's celebrate our mutual intention and diversity of approach. Diversity is, after all, the key to survival and it is exactly the essence of our desire for trans inclusion!

Boycotting the Festival

I believe that boycotting is a fantastic technique for expressing dissatisfaction with products produced by large corporations whose CEOs and presidents are wholly inaccessible. Many have described the decision maker(s) of this festival in the same light - inaccessible - and so believe that only their economic statement will be heard. While the leadership of MWMF may be inaccessible (I cannot comment on this point), the stance is unarguably supported by a large faction of women who attend this festival. As a result, many activists have decided to work on changing perspectives from the inside on this grander scale. Same focus, different angle. Please consider their work as equally valid. The boycott is being heard and so, too, are those who are busy on the inside. Change happens slowly sometimes, but it is inevitable. Together we can make it happen.

Boycotting the Artists

In terms of boycotting artists who have or will be performing at the festival, I believe this further divides us rather than acknowledges our common desires for change. Of course I am biased. Of course I want you to continue attending our shows. But more than this, I want to be seen for who I am - one who opposes this policy and is taking a different approach - and not one who is transphobic or exclusionary in my definition of womanhood.

That being said, we all have a lot to learn and I am not exempt. While artists can make official statements like this one and record albums with their momentary views that are then trapped on plastic forever, it does not mean that we are not people in process like everyone else. Please don't lock us in - we are growing too. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to my growth and continue to challenge me as a person and an activist. I have no doubt that August will be yet another huge learning experience.

In general, I must repeat that I believe that boycotting is a fantastic technique for expressing dissatisfaction with products produced by large corporations whose CEOs and presidents are wholly inaccessible. Money talks. But, I am not a product. We artists are not products; we are people. This artist is accessible. Like money, I talk. I plan to do so in August of 2004.

Here's to a future of trans inclusion everywhere.