San Diego LGBT Weekly is celebrating national LGBT History Month throughout October, bringing you news and features ranging from the very beginnings of our struggle for basic human and civil rights, which began at a New York watering hole called Stonewall to the coverage of life during the first weeks after the historic repeal of DADT. We’ll look at issues that affect the youngest among us, such as bullying, and even sexting. This week, our Ian Stokell asks some of San Diego’s LGBT leaders and public officials …
Sen. Christine Kehoe
Christine Kehoe represents the 39th Senate District which includes much of San Diego, the cities of Del Mar and Lemon Grove and neighboring communities. She was elected to the state Senate in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. A strong supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians, and a former chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, she is one of few openly LGBT members of the California state Legislature.
For Sen. Kehoe, LGBT History Month is important for many reasons. “It gives us visibility and highlights the fact that LGBT people are everywhere. As Harvey Milk said, ‘The number one enemy of gay people everywhere, anytime, is invisibility.’ Invisibility is the most silencing, and dangerous thing to any culture or group of people. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals are routinely marginalized and muted from popular culture. Invisibility means acquiescing to the notion that LGBT people don’t matter and that we don’t deserve the same rights and equal treatment under the law. Celebrating LGBT History Month opens that closet of invisibility.”
Additionally, she believes a great deal is owed to the people who pioneered the fight for gay rights. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers who fought for our very existence. With LGBT History Month, we can highlight pioneers including Harvey Milk, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, Gloria Anzaldua, Bayard Rustin, Sheila James Kuehl and others who blazed the trails for our generation and future generations. Our responsibility is to ensure that we protect our achievements for equality in all facets of life, not just for the LGBT community, but for all Americans.”
Like many people, LGBT History Month allows Sen. Kehoe to be reflective. “It provides a window of reflection for what we’ve done and where we need to go. Sometimes we forget to recognize and acknowledge our heroes and all the significant events that have transpired. We should learn from our history so that we will have the necessary tools to move forward in achieving full equality.”
And ensuring San Diegans have access to both resources and encouragement is important. Says Sen. Kehoe, “As the old saying goes, ‘Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it.’ This is also an important time given the bullying and the number of suicides that have resulted. It gives us the opportunity to show that life does get better, life is worth living and that suicide is not the answer. And make sure that people have the access to resources such as the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center, PFLAG and the Trevor Project, for example.”
Sen. Kehoe is quick to point out the successes in the fight for gay rights equality.
“We’ve made progress in some states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. We just had DADT repealed. The state of California has also passed laws to prohibit a state agency from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more with businesses that discriminate in providing employment benefits between an employee with a spouse and an employee with a registered domestic partner. We prohibit discrimination in insurance coverage that includes health, homeowners and automobile. And we passed a resolution memorializing Congress and the president of the United States to enact into law the federal Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to mention a few.”
That said, she is just as quick to recognize the long road ahead. “We’ve come far, but recognize that we still have a long way to go. It’s been a fight one state at a time. So far, only 15 states ban discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Six states only cover sexual orientation. We have to pass nondiscrimination laws in 29 other states. We can achieve nationwide employment non-discrimination by passing an inclusive ENDA through Congress.”
Same-sex couples and family issues are also important. Says the senator, “We also have to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act to ensure that all married same-sex couples are legally recognized by the federal government.
And with victories come occasional defeats. “We have had our setbacks such as the passage of Proposition 8, but we persevere. Proposition 8 is being challenged as we speak. We’ve passed landmark laws that cover all aspects of our lives including employment, housing, family law, health and human services and education, for example.”
For the future Sen. Kehoe is understandably positive. “I think that’s where our movement is headed, toward full integration into society where the needs and concerns of our lives are totally recognized and addressed, with no exceptions.”
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican who has held the post since 2003, is recognized as being the first openly gay or lesbian district attorney in the country.
Of the importance of LGBT History Month, District Attorney Dumanis says, “LGBT history is important because of the discrimination and violence that stems from prejudice and fear. It is important to remember and honor those whose shoulders we stand on. They went through so much for all of us.”
