The Catfish Club, one of San Diego’s oldest forums where people discuss the many diversity issues facing the city, invited LGBT leaders to address their group on July 15. This was the first time LGBT leaders have been asked to address the prestigious organization in its 41 year history. City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, City Commissioner Stampp Corbin, Schoolboard Member Kevin Beiser and The Center’s Carolina Ramos spoke about a variety of subjects about the LGBT community.
The event was organized by the Rev. George Smith, the founder of the club, and was attended by such notables as state Assemblywoman Toni Atkins and Leon Williams, the first African American city councilman and the only African American to ever serve on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
Murray Ramirez covered the long history of political alignment of African American and LGBT interests in San Diego. Ramos discussed LGBT culture and Beiser talked about issues facing LGBT youth. Corbin discussed the importance of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, who was also gay, and how Rustin’s work led to Obama’s presidency.
