Intersectionality

Our LGBTQ youth live in an increasingly intersectional world.  Intersectionality - post the SCOTUS marriage equality decision, this is the word on everyone’s lips. But what does it really mean?

In part, intersectionality refers to the reality that in San Diego (like other urban coastal areas) 55% of the LGBT community are of color. Friends, family members, colleagues, coworkers, potential partners and spouses – all of different races, gender identities and social classes – that is the world of our youth. That means the majority of our community has had to endure all of the impacts of systemic racism, a broken immigration system, and the propagation of gender stereotypes that work for few - in addition to homophobia. For the transgender community in particular, these intersectional realities are too often deadly.

When youth are asked “What’s next for the LGBTQ movement?” – many are acutely aware that issues of race, gender policing and immigration lie at the heart of their lived experience and those of their friends. They often reply: these are the issues of LGBTQ people; these are the important LGBTQ issues. And our youth want to know what the LGBTQ movement is doing to help address them.

www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/LGBT-community-should-now-turn-to-fight-against-6389419.php

https://thsppl.com/i-racist-538512462265

When Marriage Equality Became Law

What an incredible weekend! In the words of President Obama, "…and then there are days like this, when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt." We are still absorbing the thunderbolt! 

It is in community that we are most hopeful, smarter, stronger, braver and more able to see the full justice vision. From the cradles of our newest members to the last farewells to those who are now behind the sun – from beginning to end – in community we are our best selves.

As we are grateful to so many for this victory and we remember all who led us, helped us, sustained us on the journey. We remember.

• We remember and are grateful for the tremendous bravery of hundreds of early trailblazers who dared to live their lives openly and to love bravely. 
• We remember Stonewall and Trans community friends who stood and fought... and launched a movement. 
• We remember the dark days of the Defense of Marriage Act. 
• We remember the hope born first in Massachusetts and then with the California Supreme Court. 
• We remember the bravery of those who fought the Prop 8 ballot initiative... and the pain and devastation when it passed. 
• We remember the lifting of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. 
• We remember the defeat of DOMA and the reversal of Prop 8.

We remember the hundreds of thousands of people, allied and LGBT, who have given their time, energy, creativity and dollars, and had all of the hard conversations that have fueled and sustained this movement. 

And we remember that there are many vital battles ahead. History and all other justice movements teach us that victories like this are the starting points of the long walk toward justice, not the end. We cannot and will not leave any of our community members behind.

From trans and non-binary gender rights and acceptance, ending new HIV cases, youth protections and school safety & inclusion, Federal Civil Rights protections for LGB and absolutely T, to comprehensive immigration reform and racial justice…  #JusticeistheDream.

Transgender Day of Empowerment

On Friday, April 10, we celebrated Transgender Day of Empowerment. Established as a way to celebrate the growing empowerment of the trans community and the courage, dedication and changes the trans movement has been able to achieve, it is an inspiring evening and a great way to show support for our trans brothers and sisters.

In 2005, The San Diego LGBT Community Center changed its name to specifically acknowledge and include the bisexual and transgender members of our community. Since that time and across the last decade we have begun to see changes that are encouraging – changes in the hearts, minds and attitudes of many within our community and in the larger society. As we all allow ourselves to be educated and grow, our understanding and policies change, often too slowly but change nonetheless.

However, there is much left to address. Our transgender community is still subject to horrifying levels of violence and discrimination. The number of transgender women – particularly women of color – beaten and murdered each year is appalling. There are far too few protections against blatant discrimination in employment, housing and more, and as ludicrous as it is, there are still places trying to pass laws about which bathrooms trans folks are allowed to use.

Yet in spite of all the obstacles, there are trans people accomplishing great things every day nationwide. Transgender Day of Empowerment is a way for us to celebrate their courage and honor the accomplishments of those who do so much locally to educate all and move us forward. As a community we still have much to learn about being helpful allies to our trans brothers and sisters, but joining us at The Center each year to celebrate Transgender Day of Empowerment is a great place to start.

It's Not Over

The LGBT social justice movement has made great progress very quickly, schooled by the courage and hard-won lessons of the civil rights movement, the reproductive rights movement and all others who have worked toward the vision of fairness and justice. We have learned the lessons of mobilizing, the importance of seeking allies and help, of electing the right minded and continuing to build and stand loyal to coalitions. We've seen powerful results and we are optimistic and hopeful as we wait for a Supreme Court judgement on marriage equality.

But we are also beginning to learn the painful next lesson, the one our justice partners know all too well. While thousands have worked hard for this moment in the sun, the vestiges of hate and ignorance are still alive in far too many. Because of them, change comes only unevenly and is not guaranteed. Ignorance survived the battle.

Today the so-called "religious freedom" laws being considered in more than 25 states seek to undermine LGBT equality and non-discrimination laws and policies. Whether these laws can be legally successful is a matter for the lawyers to argue, but the political motivations and animus of those lobbying for them are clear. They represent the stubborn and tantrum-like refusals of those who cannot share a vision of a free and just society. "We don't want to evolve or change," they say. "We want special exemptions to continue to discriminate, especially against gays and trans people." (www.acslaw.org/acsblog/indiana's-rifra-the-law-is-complicated-but-the-anti-gay-politics-are-not). Like a virus, this type of ignorance seeks any mutation of itself to survive.

Our right to be served in the public marketplace without discrimination is one of our most cherished freedoms and one of the highest obligations of our American government. It does not infringe one's right to believe and worship as one chooses.

The lesson is painfully clear - some battles may be won, but the mission is NOT accomplished.

No matter how tired we are, we can't stop fighting. We owe it to all those who came before us. We owe it to our seniors. We owe it to those who will have to fight after us. We owe it to our youth. We are Californians - we owe it to all the LGBT people and their families in all the states to keep leading forward.

We have to fight. And we will have to fight exactly as we began - state by state, city by city, issue by issue, in schools, in the military, in healthcare, in housing, in employment, in benefits like social security and mediCare, in the battle for HIV treatment and care. In the words of Michelangelo Signorile, #itsnotover.

To Fight Effectively for Any, We Must Fight for All

Many pundits and a number of national LGBT leaders have called for increased post-marriage equality focus on cross-movement justice work from LGBTQ organizations. 

Cross-movement work involves us in not only in the direct LGBTQ concerns of the movement, but also the racial justice movement, immigrant justice movement, the environmental justice movement, the HIV justice movement, the worker justice movement and the reproductive justice movement, among others. The Center is and will continue to be, a proud partner with many in the various justice movements and struggles. But more than just cross-movement work, this work involves the explicit recognition of the intersectionality of all of these identities and issues. All of these struggles and communities are interconnected. 

To fight fully and effectively for any of them requires that we work together to fight for all of them.  More than 50% of our LGBTQ community members in San Diego are of color and/or struggle to find the resources to live healthy lives in the most unaffordable area in the nation.  These are the issues of our community.

For example, as we fight against the stigma that exists for those living with HIV and work to ensure equal access to current information, insurance, HIV treatments and new protective treatments like PrEP and PEP – we are instantly faced with the obstacles of anti-LGBT attitudes and discomfort about gay male sexuality, along with the profound issues of poverty and racism. Thirty years after the virus exploded in America these struggles remain. In the age of possibility provided by Truvada, undetectable viral loads and the Affordable Care Act, with the promise of manageable, healthy lives and prevention treatments that can truly protect - epidemic levels of HIV continue. 

The issues and attitudes (poverty, racism, discrimination, bias and anti-LGBT attitudes) impact the lives and hopes of our youth, our black and Latino brothers, our transgender community and all those infected with HIV. 

This is intersectionality. This is the work. Join us. #Bethegeneration that does the work.
#blacklivesmatter
#translivesmatter
#bethegeneration

Protecting Our Youth

2015 begins in much the same way that 2014 ended – bittersweet. The victory in Florida has us celebrating with Florida – equality is now the law in 35 states and Washington DC, with several additional states awaiting the outcome of stayed court rulings. We anticipate the real possibility of legal recognition and protection of our families nationwide. It can’t come soon enough for our families and couples!


But even as we celebrate our tremendous progress toward marriage equality, we are quickly reminded that too many in our community still face tragic circumstances.


Our hearts are broken at the news of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn's death and the circumstances that led to it. Her story highlights the truth that our youth and our transgender sisters and brothers still suffer. LGBT youth continue to make up 40% of the homeless youth population in the United States, many of them rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. More than 50% of transgender youth have attempted suicide at least once before the age of 20. These statistics are horrifying. And they're not just statistics; they are the lives of our youth.


Join us as we fight to protect our youth, fight to put an end to heinous practices such as conversion therapy and help us find ways to overcome familial rejection – these are among The Center’s highest priorities. We are a community. We can't fully celebrate our progress until we are able to ensure all those among us are able to celebrate.


For information on transgender services and youth services at The Center, visit us at www.thecentersd.org/programs/transgender-services, www.thecentersd.org/programs/youth-services and www.thecentersd.org/programs/youth-services/youth-housing-project.html.
 

Supporting and Training New Leaders

Many justice movement pundits write about the need to continue the work of building power with a new, educated, energized leadership dedicated to carrying justice movements forward. Few talk about how to support, educate and provide opportunities for these new leaders. 

The San Diego LGBT Community Center has prioritized some of this work. Hearing clearly the hopes and needs of young leaders in our community, we began to host the Young Professionals Council more than two years ago. Again following their lead, we established the Young Professionals Council Leadership Council this last year. 

The Young Professional Council (YPC) is a diverse group of young LGBT and allied professionals who are dedicated to the growth of The Center. The YPC Academy, an intensive leadership development program, was designed to expand the ranks of young LGBT leaders that are ready to further equality through board service for a variety of agencies, non-profit organizations and government boards and commissions. 

During the Academy, these young professionals covered an impressive array of topics and heard from a veritable Who’s Who of San Diego’s social justice leaders and LGBT elected officials over the course of 42 hours of training and discussion. 

They participated in in-depth sessions covering topics such as leadership development (in elected office and other public service capacities), social justice movements, civic engagement, cross-issue/cross-movement collaborations and coalition building, board governance and fiduciary responsibilities, voter engagement, non-profit finance and fundraising.

I was impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment, and by the end of six weeks with this group I was looking at them with an eye toward my own board development. But this training isn’t just for The Center to benefit from, there are scores of local boards that would be fortunate to have any one of these 20 join in the leadership of their organization.

Congratulations to the 20 incredibly talented and committed graduates of The Center’s Young Professionals Council Academy’s inaugural class -- Abraham De La Cruz, Barbara Moreno, Ben Cartwright, Brian J. Nagle, Georgette Gómez, Gianni M. LaChica, Ian Johnson, Jared Quient, Jason Whitehouse, Jesus Sanchez, John Greenwell, Kimberly Simms, Maricar Camaya, Paul Richardson, Tony Winney, Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, YPC secretary/treasurer Vanessa Cosio, YPC membership chair Jarryd Davis and YPC co-chairs Brandon Tate-McWilliams and Justin Knepper.

You can read more about the YPC, the Academy and the talented graduates at www.thecentersd.org/programs/youth-services/young-professionals-council.html.

You can also join in the celebration of these young leaders at the YPC Champagne Brunch on Sunday, July 1 from 11 am-1 pm at Wang’s North Park, 3029 University Ave. Tickets are just $40 and include fantastic food and bottomless mimosas. Purchase your tickets online today!

Countdown Clocks and Wedding Bells – Celebrating Justice

There’s no doubt that the hours, days, weeks and years of struggle can become enraging, depressing and frustrating. The enormous amounts of time and treasure that we pour out attempting to achieve even basic fair treatment under the law can, on some days, be overwhelming.

But not on this day. Not today.

This day we celebrate two tremendous, historic and game-changing victories. This day we begin to mark the ending of some decades-old struggles.

Friday, President Obama, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs signed and sent to Congress the Certification that our armed forces are ready and able to end decades of discrimination in the armed forces. And the 60-day clock started. On September 20, 2011 the discriminatory law that has forced lesbian and gay servicemembers to hide, struggle and suffer in silence will be repealed.

Done. Over. Now just a shameful chapter of history. As the clock ticks down the days, we’ll all be nervous; anxious that no last-minute, desperate acts of hate interfere. But we will also wait and count down with the growing sense that decades of activism, hope and courage are about to be rewarded with a historic victory. A new gay home decoration will be born: the framed copy of the front page of the New York Times headline that says: Repeal! Discrimination Dead!

And there’s more. Yesterday in the great state of New York, loving, dedicated gay and lesbian couples began to marry. Couples who have waited a lifetime to receive the basic dignity and recognition of their love and families that every human being deserves finally got to feel love win. Years of work, acts of bravery on both sides of the aisle, and thousands who have worked and held the hope can hear the bells ring. We celebrate with New York!

Does it mean all the battles are over? Of course not. Every Californian feels the bittersweet pain as they celebrate New York. It means that for a few short days we all get to remember that these days do come. That the values we represent -- freedom, dignity, compassion, fairness, service to country and to family, and equality -- do win.

Today is a celebration for all of us, not just a few. Today is a day when we remember that every email to an elected official, every Facebook post and re-post, every dollar we gave, every vote we cast for supportive candidates…it all mattered.

The struggles are painful and hard; the celebrations need to be equally intense, passionate, and hope-filled.

Join us at The Center tonight (Monday, July 25) at 6 pm to celebrate the certification of DADT repeal and the Countdown to Justice! In 57 days, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will finally be history. We’ll get the legal update from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and hear from some of our LGBT elected officials. And we’ll savor the moment surrounded by our servicemembers who have served so bravely in silence, our community, friends and allies. It’s a monumental step forward – let’s celebrate it!

In the meantime, SLDN is continuing to caution servicemembers not to come out until the 60 day countdown has passed. For more information on the legal issues, visitwww.sldn.org/legal.

Unbelievably Cruel, Horribly Unjust and Absolutely Unacceptable

By now most of you have seen or read the story of Clay and Harold, and Sonoma County officials. And I know those of you who have read this story share my deep sadness, outrage and disbelief.

As the CEO of one of the nation’s largest LGBT Community Centers, I hear stories every day of the ways LGBT inequality and discrimination impact the lives of ordinary people.

I hear the stories of the youth, some of them just children really, tossed from their homes and rejected by their families because they are L,G,B or T. Too many of these youth will go on to become chronically homeless -- in fact, 20-40% of our nation’s chronically homeless youth are LGBT.

I see the tears of military partners who cannot even safely communicate with the ones they love so far away in Iraq and Afghanistan.


I see the lingering pain of the victims of hate crimes as they re-tell the stories of beatings and taunts. And I hear the too-common, everyday stories of employers, landlords, medical providers, schools and systems that consistently deny LGBT citizens even basic safety and dignity.

The unceasing daily drumbeat of human pain that results from our government's inaction is deafening. I hear the pain and fear, I see the impact. I see the suffering of the many who have come to believe they are helpless, alone, unwanted and without worth.

But this story…  This story is absolutely terrifying in its cruelty. This story captured for me an incomprehensible level of inhumanity.

To forcibly separate a couple of 20 years, to sell their belongings, to create a situation where one of them dies alone, without comfort, without familiarity, without the one he loved for 20 years? All despite the fact they had powers of attorney and other required legal documentation? Unbelievably cruel, horribly unjust and absolutely unacceptable.

They forced him to die alone, without his partner of twenty years, frightened, disoriented, uncertain.

There simply are not words for this. Or perhaps the words of Kate Kendell, executive director of NCLR, capture it best. “In the 33 years of our organization's history, this case is perhaps among the most tragic NCLR has ever been involved in,” she said. “Clay and Harold had taken all of the necessary precautions, including living wills and powers of attorneys, to protect them in a time of crisis. Not only were their relationship and legal documents ignored, Clay and Harold literally lost everything. These appalling events demonstrate how urgently same-sex couples need full equality rather than a patchwork of rights that can be dismissed and ignored in a culture that still treats LGBT people as second-class citizens.”

While our deep thanks go out to Kate Kendell and NCLR, GetEqual and all of the associated counsel now representing Clay, that is not enough.

Sonoma County, all of our elected officials and the President himself must hear our voices. They all must know the story and hear the voices of reason, of compassion, and of outrage. They must hear us say “We have had enough. Pass the legislation that grants equality NOW. Repeal DOMA, Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and pass ENDA. Every day you delay allows another story more horrible than the last.”

Join NCLR and GetEqual. Send at least one letter. Do it today for Harold and Clay.

1) Send a letter to President Obama
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6535/t/9634/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2441

2) Contact the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and let them know what you think of these decisions.
Phone: (707) 565-2241
Email form: http://bit.ly/9w8eRd
Full contact info: http://supervisors.sonoma-county.org/content.aspx?sid=1001&id=1000

3) Contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Email: http://gov.ca.gov/interact
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160

4) Contact Marin and Sonoma County Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
Email form: http://woolsey.house.gov/contactemailform.asp
Washington DC Office: 202-225-5161
Marin Office: (415) 507-9554
Sonoma Office: (415) 507-9601
http://woolsey.house.gov/

5) Contact your legislators
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

6) Ask your friends and family to send a letter.
http://www.nclrights.org/site/TellAFriend?msgId=8801.0&devId=12781