Randi Romo, director of the Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR), is one busy person. Even when trying to relax, her visual art and writing often has a political tone.

We asked Randi where she grew up and how she ended up living in Little Rock.

“ I grew up in Texas and Florida,” Randi said. “I was living in the Tampa Bay area when I first came to Little Rock. I'd been friends with Judy Matsuoka of the Women's Project for many years through my work with grassroots community organizations.

“Judy invited us (my partner and I) to Little Rock to present a community education workshop with the Women's Project on the experience of Mexican and Mexican-American people living in the U.S. (Both my partner and I are Latinas). When we later made the decision to move from Florida we liked what we'd seen in Little Rock so much that we moved here.”

As mentioned above, CAR is very special to Randi and this is how it started: “CAR was actually begun by me and my partner Sabrina Zarco, an artist of some renown, a little over two years ago,” she explained.

“The Women's Project was instrumental in CAR's beginning and currently serves as our fiscal agent. We are currently in the process of applying for own 501(c)(3) status. Before we met, as individuals, we each saw the arts and cultural work as a means to convey important social messages and as a part of the process to create actual change. With both of us being artists and long-time activists, when we came together we brought those ideas along and CAR was born. We chose Little Rock as the organization's base due to its central location to the entire state.

“CAR is a multi-issue, statewide organization working on issues of fairness and equality for ALL Arkansans. CAR uniquely uses a holistic combination of education, advocacy, and community organizing strategies and creativity /cultural work to bring about change.

“We acknowledge the connections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation as being key components in how oppression works and how these things keep oppressed people divided.

“More than 50 percent of our work has continuously focused on issues of fairness regarding the LGBTQ community. We are pleased to say that in the time that the organization has existed that we have continued to grow and move forward.

“We are now preparing to move into our new offices at the 1 st Presbyterian Church, 800 Scott St. in Little Rock. In addition to providing a great home base for our organizing work, this new space will allow us to have a place where we can meet with community members. It will also serve significantly in expanding our creative/cultural work, allowing us to better utilize this aspect in our work. It also gives us the ability to provide a larger space for our LGBTQ and straight ally youth/young adult program called PALS.

“We have been fortunate in securing some foundation funding as we work to build a strong grassroots funding base here in the state. Some of our funders this year include; Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, The Funding Exchange's Out Fund and Saguaro Fund, Resist Inc., United Church of Christ, Neighbor in Need Fund, and the Greensboro Justice Fund.

“We have a web holding page at www.artisticrevolution.org and from there one can link to our Yahoo group site that we use to provide more information about the organization; including pictures, a calendar, updates and as a means to notify members of the group about upcoming organization activities.

“We also produce a regular newsletter called Velocity that has a significant focus on LGBTQ issues and concerns. It's is available through our Yahoo site in PDF format. We are working to increase our capacity to produce larger numbers in hardcopy for distribution around the state. CAR can be reached at (501) 603-2138.

“We look forward to CAR's continued growth and participation in the quest for equality for the state's LGBTQ community. At the same time we will continue to be a part of the bridge building to create new allies among the LGBTQ community itself as well as with non-LGBTQ community groups and members.”

Before starting CAR, Randi had an interesting and at times destructive lifestyle as many of us did in our early years.

“Not having a college education and not subscribing to the societal roles and expectations for women, I have worked in non-traditional jobs for a good part of my life. I was literally thrown out of high school for being a dyke and events from that point were fairly self-destructive for a good long while so that furthering my education seemed a moot point. However, I have always been a voracious reader and deeply concerned about issues of justice. I consider myself to be fairly well educated due to my personal pursuits of knowledge.

“My first work was as a farm worker. Next I was in construction and then in the paint and body industry for about 15 years. I worked my way up through the ranks and eventually became one of the first woman managers of a large chain.

“After leaving this field I worked in the pressroom of a large newspaper, becoming only the fourth woman to have ever worked on this paper's presses. An injury required me to leave the job and to explore less physical employment.

“A series of events during this time led me to working for a farm worker based organization in Florida. While there I directed the organization's HIV/AIDS outreach education and testing team as well as the case management program for people living with HIV or AIDS. During this time I became an accomplished grant writer and community organizer as well.

“For the past 11 years I have only worked for grassroots, non-profit, social justice organizations that have covered a variety of topics and justice issues; women and children, workers, people of color, LGBTQ, youth/young adults, immigrants, healthcare, etc.

We asked Randi about her thoughts for the future of gay rights in Arkansas.

“Here in Arkansas the systemic, well funded and well organized opposition being exerted by the opponents of LGBTQ rights and the inability of diverse groups of LGBTQ people to work together makes winning significant victories for the LGBTQ community a daunting prospect.

“Efforts for LGBTQ equality also suffer significantly from the elements of fear, apathy and quite frankly, laziness, all of which contributes to keeping talented people from being a part of the voice for justice.

“Many of the closets of Arkansas are so deep you need a taxi to get to the back of them. Too often there is the sentiment that someone else will do the work. When LGBTQ people are silent and non-participatory it is a disservice to those who are taking a public stand for LGBTQ rights, worse still they are aiding and abetting the opposition with their silence.

“If one cannot be on the front lines, there is much to be done behind the scenes. Even if it is only with a small donation, Do Something! Those of us doing this work do not have the luxury of large institutions and supporters with deep pockets sustaining our efforts. Every volunteer and every single penny counts in keeping this work for fairness and equality moving forward.

“Issues of class, ethnocentrism, race, age and gender figure prominently in the equation of why there is such a divide between LGBTQ people who are all facing similar oppressions in regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. When we are unable to hear or work respectfully with one another we greatly diminish our capacity and the ability to present a unified voice in the quest for equality.

“We must also take into the consideration that the elements of race, ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation are being utilized very well by the opposition to keep us divided from potential allies not only among ourselves, but the community at large. Just because a person is LGBTQ and is enduring a form of oppression, does not mean that they come pre-packaged with an analysis that allows them to understand the connection of oppressions.

“We are products of our upbringing and oftentimes that means that the racism, classism, gender roles, etc. — that many of us learn in our family homes stays with us into adulthood and remains a barrier to our understanding ways to see beyond our immediate selves. Not only does it prevent us from creating powerful relationships among the diversity of the LGBTQ community, it keeps us from forming alliances and standing in solidarity with those suffering other forms of oppression.

“Given that the LGBTQ population of Arkansas is probably around 5 percent or so of the total population, this lack of understanding and relationship building is of a considerable detriment to work that will create equality for the LGBTQ community. We absolutely cannot win alone!

“The lack of an analysis of the connections of race, class, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation by many non-LGBTQ community members also serves to keep them from forming relationships with the LGBTQ community that will foster inclusive movement building work that can benefit both sides exponentially.

“All too often LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ community members find themselves locked in the position that justice is for ‘just us' rather than understanding that it's about justice for all. In the meantime, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity, we ALL need living wage jobs, safe and affordable housing, healthcare, and access to quality education. 

“Ultimately, we must figure out ways for the existing LGBTQ groups in the state to work cohesively together toward established goals. We must further our understanding of the ways that we are divided from potential allies among our own as well as non-LGBTQ communities. We must then take significant steps to build bridges between communities and stand in solidarity with one another. We must also engage in the considerable work of dismantling the myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ people in communities throughout the state in order to create the necessary shift that will allow us to win at the city council, county forum and/or legislative level. We cannot win at the capital if there is no cry for justice from the streets and communities across the state of Arkansas." 

What advice would you give others about coming out?

“Coming out is a very personal thing,” Randi said. “For some it can have the potential to cause others to inflict physical and psychological harm. For me, it was very hard; my family committed me to a state mental institution at the age of 14 in order to ‘cure' me. After two years there, the cure didn't take and so then it was off to a Christian girl's school in Texas for another year of my life.

“And yet after taking away my freedom for three years, forcing medication and psychiatry on me, topped off with enforced scripture memorization accompanied with very liberal does of corporal punishment in the name of Jesus; I was still a dyke.

“I wholeheartedly encourage those who are not out to come out if it is safe for them. I don't advocate putting oneself in the line of fire to be physically harmed. But remember, by hiding and remaining silent we give power to those who strive diligently to keep us from equality and use us as pawns in political skirmishes to gain power.

“I also know that in many cases one's family probably already knows and oftentimes is willing to be supportive; they are just waiting for you to say something. My youngest daughter is a dyke and even though I could see it fairly early, I had to respect her process and wait for her to tell me. It was hard for us both and quite a relief when she did come out. But it was hers to do; it wasn't for me to tell her that I thought she might be a lesbian.

“Ultimately for me it was about being true to myself. What people often don't get when we come out is that it isn't about choosing to be homosexual; it's really about choosing to no longer live a lie.

“The act of coming out is an incredible act of bravery. It is being honest in the face of the fact that we may not be accepted, that we may lose family members and friends. It is when we live in the closet that we live a lie. I wish that my family hadn't taken the path they did in regard to my sexual orientation.

“And in retrospect I might have done better if I had waited until I was no longer in the family home before I told them. But the call to be true to myself was so powerful and overwhelming that it was either be who I am or check out from this life. I chose to be me, it was a bit of a high price that I paid for that truth, but in the end it was right for me.

Randi does find time to do things that don't necessarily relate to equal rights and work.

“I have an eclectic array of interests. I'm a visual artist, a writer and poet. I recently had a piece in the Toys by Artists show that was just at the Arkansas Art Center. While the process is great fun, a lot of my artwork and writing is very political. I like to play golf and to go camping and trout fish.. I'm an avid reader and a huge movie buff.

Profiles in Pride Questions:

Date and place of birth?
May 19, 1956 in Dallas, Texas

What is your favorite food?
I don't really have a favorite. I like a lot of different types of cuisine and so it just depends on what I'm in the mood for.

What food will you not eat?
Liver

What is the best job you've ever had?
It's a tie between program coordinator for a community HIV/AIDS outreach, education and case management program and program coordinator for a youth program

What is your dream job?
I'm doing it, guess the dream part comes in on raising our funding to get my salary up to the budget line.

If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time?
I'd write, make art and rail against injustice…oh wait, that's what I do now!

Who do you admire most (living or dead)?
My mother and my partner.

Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)?
I'm not really enamored of people in such a way as to be thrilled to have lunch with any particular person. Any person that I sit down with brings some element of value in that moment.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
My mother.

What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time?
I would have not sacrificed so many years to addiction to deal with the pain of my parent's methodologies to try and make me straight.

What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time?
I would be a better parent

What is your favorite word?
Possibilities

Least favorite word?
Can't

Favorite curse word?
F**k

What turns you on?
Intelligence

What turns you off?
Deceit

What word would others use to describe you?
Intense

What word sums you up?
Passionate