Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 18:04:39 -0800 From: Ron Buckmire Subject: (San Diego) Racism in gay community discussed From: "(No Name)" The following is reprinted with permission from Update, Southern California's gay and lesbian weekly newspaper. To send a letter to the editor, comment, or request permission to reprint, please e-mail gayeditor@aol.com "Invisibility" Of People Of Color In GLB Community Discussed At QPI Forum By Harry McCann For Update SAN DIEGO-On Thursday October 19 at The Center, Alex Gardner, Tony Valenzuela, Jimmy Lovett Jr. and the Queer Policy Institute held an open forum on racism. Interestingly, more people of color attended than did white people, and the first 45 minutes were devoted solely to people of color to share their opinions. Jimmy Lovett Jr. spoke first, defining racism as "any attitude, belief, behavior or institutional arrangement that tends to favor one race or ethnic group (usually a majority group). Lovett qualified further, listing racial prejudice, racist ideology, racist behavior and institutional racism. He literally pointed to a recent issue of the Gay and Lesbian Times as an example of what he termed "the invisibility, in the Queer community, of people of color." The paper had a collage of pictures to illustrate the issue's central theme: pornography. "It is just white men, again. Also, no women. So there's the personification of the invisibility like we do not matter..." Another black man said he was, just before the meeting started, the victim of racism when a white woman cashier first accused him of not paying for some refreshments, and then mumbled an off- hand apology when told by another cashier he had, indeed, paid. The Gay and Lesbian community, it was agreed was probably no less prejudiced than society at large. This was a great awakening for many upon their arrival in the Gay and Lesbian community. Said one person, "I thought, 'this is finally it, I can relax. Everyone will like me here.' But I felt real sense of betrayal." She expressed more dissatisfaction with the bias that exists in the community. "When you can't walk into a store and buy a postcard to send to your lover, of someone who looks like you or your lover, there's a problem." Many other people of color spoke and offered opinions of how racism could be overcome. The envisioned solutions included, long-term integrated co-existence together with education of all races that "we're all Americans underneath;" education at a more "gut" level, such as putting all people in situations where they are the only one of their own race in an entire community, and forum discussions such as the one taking place. Several though it unlikely that racism would ever be eradicated. The feeling of not being seen or heard by society in general, by the people in the city of San Diego, and by the Gay and Lesbian community in San Diego was widespread among the people of color who spoke. Many said it was just a matter of time before people of color would dominate the population, and shortly thereafter the ballot box, effecting great change through the traditional political methods. Others thought the change might be more abrupt, as all of the "invisible" people of color decided to no longer tolerate being treated as second class citizens. It was generally conceded that white males had dominated for so long in the existing American culture and society, that they had difficulty accepting the cultures of other people as equally important. People of color, while expressing great pride in their culture, and themselves, felt the very culture they lived in and that was a part of them, was understood quite poorly by the "average" white American, and undervalued by them as well. All hope was not abandoned, however. Several people spoke of beginning within one's self to develop confidence and a manner or bearing which expressed that confidence. One man said he even went so far as to "call" people on their "obviously racially motivated attitudes, mannerisms and facial expressions. "If someone looks at me, and I feel like it's racial, I'll say. politely, 'Is there a problem here?' and most of the time they're too shocked to think of what is going on." The reaction of one white member of the group, which was arranged in the form of a circle, was that he had smarted somewhat for not being allowed to speak for the first 45 minutes, but was beginning to realized something important. "As a white male I know I'm privileged," he said. "I wanted to talk, and as a white male I'm used to talking whenever I want, and being paid attention. This was a little frustrating." One woman of color asked that white America, in particular the Gay and Lesbian community, allow black Gays and Lesbians to be angry, and to voice that anger. "We are responsible, we are reasonable people. But there is a lot of anger that has to be dealt with first." Finally, another forum, this time for people of color only, was announced for November 16. One black woman objected to the exclusion of whites, as did one black man, until it was explained that the forums were just beginning, and were, in the mind of the QPI, going to be covering many issues of interest to the Gay and Lesbian community. "The next just happens to be for people of color," Valenzuela said. "We're still in the infant stages as an organization. Our vision is to be a very political, radical organization. One that will organize different events in the community to educate, advocate around Queer political issues that affect all the different communities in San Diego." For information call (619) 267-2549 or, 525-7707.