California for all
I recently read in the Bay Area Reporter about the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people of color. Sadly, since LGBTQ individuals aren't counted by government, the impact on this marginalized community can't be measured. It appears gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) recently wrote Governor Gavin Newsom about counting LGBTQ and collecting data.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that it has always taken screaming queens to "drag" inequality out into the open. Examples of such effective communication include the Compton's Cafeteria riot, the Stonewall uprising, the White Night riot, and ACT UP to overcome heterosexism and heterosexualcisgender privilege and to secure equality and civil rights. If the state of California is going to embrace "diversity, equity, and inclusion" then LGBTQ individuals must be fully accounted for in regard to government services and resources. June is fast approaching; keep in mind that Pride isn't just about rainbows and parades, it's about standing up, speaking up, demanding and securing LGBTQ equality and civil rights in the face of getting beaten down. LGBTQ rights have been hard-won and are reliant upon when we rise.
As a member of the LGBTQ community it has been excruciatingly painful to listen to the state of California's talk of "diversity, equity, and inclusion" while LGBTQs continue time and time again to be marginalized by government. The unfortunate reality is that diversity, equity, and inclusion still elude LGBTQ Californians. I am hopeful that our "nation state," as Governor Newsom often refers to California, sets an example for other states to follow.
Paul Langley
San Francisco
How I'm spending my government check
I'm waiting for my government stimulus check with mixed feelings, including revulsion that the brand name Trump was reportedly imprinted on the check's memo line, adding delay and cost.
But since he is not the check signer, making his name 100% superfluous, I've decided to take a Sharpie like the one he used to change the projected path of a hurricane to match his rants (can we even remember his anti-science that far back?) and black out his name before depositing it.
Are you ready, willing, and able to join me with this form of protest?
Since I'm extraordinarily lucky I don't have desperate personal needs for that money, I want to find people, political campaigns, and nonprofits that can use it best, as all are suffering tremendously now.
Back in 2001, when President George W. Bush first sent us $300 to $600 tax rebate checks as stimulus after 9/11, San Francisco's own Our Family Coalition organized a postcard campaign to tell that president what specific LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations we had donated our check proceeds to and why.
The identity of the specifically horribly unqualified Republican who stole the presidency then has changed, but his address has not, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20500.
Perhaps start with donations to political campaigns working to resist and unseat him.
Charlie Spiegel, Esq.
San Francisco
Editor's note: If you liked this article, help out our freelancers and staff, and keep the B.A.R. going in these tough times. For info, visit our IndieGoGo campaign.