Dear Sirs, Ma’ams or whatever you identify as,
I am writing you today after reading a very troubling, threatening and inappropriate column written by Nicole Murray-Ramirez in the most recent Conversations with Nicole in the LGBT Weekly (https://lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2017/
07/06/will-lgbt-radicals-shut- down-pride-parade/ ) I have nothing but love and respect for a man I’ve gotten to know in my nearly 20 years in San Diego, but I also know enough to know that oftentimes Nicole does not speak for all of us in the LGBTQQAIP community let alone the majority of us. No one really does. I do know that his taunt against prospective protesters of the 2017 SD LGBT Pride Parade of being arrested is contrary to the very essence of Pride and the history of our community. Whether it was the pre Stonewall Riots of Mel’s Famous Diner, Compton’s Cafeteria, the Black Cat Tavern or the Stonewall Uprising itself it was members of our community mostly made of those with nothing to lose – the young, the black, the Latino, the trans*, the genderqueer, the dykes, the sex workers fighting back against police brutality against us. I think the irony is lost on him that he in his youth as a young Latino transgender sex worker who was often the victim of that police brutality is now advocating for those still fighting that fight he started to be arrested. While I may not agree with some of the recent actions of some of the people planning said possible act of civil disobedience, let’s face it, I am nearing middle age as a white cisgender gay man, I do think some of their points are valid and even are part of my own decade of protests and letter writing campaigns against SD Pride. With that they a part of the LGBT community who most represent the legendary Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P Johnson and Stormé DeLarverie who are credited with started the riot against police brutality at Stonewall that we are honoring 48 years later this upcoming weekend. Please do not follow the misguided advice of Nicole and continue that brutality but find other means. Diverting the parade down Robinson for a block, citing the protesters something other than cementing to them that the Police are not on their side and cannot be trusted.
Eric Hufford aka Sister Iona Dubble-WydeFounder of San Diego Remembers, Blue Dog Democrats of San Diego and Turn Your Back on DemaioFormer member of the SD LGBT Community Leadership CouncilTrue Power Is Service – Pope Francis March 19, 2013
Letters: #NoJusticeNoPride protest San Diego Pride 2017
Eric Hufford aka Sister Iona Dubble-Wyde, founder of San Diego Remembers, Blue Dog Democrats of San Diego and Turn Your Back on Demaio, wrote this Letter to the Editor in response to Nicole Murray Ramirez’s July 6 commentary: “Will LGBT radicals shut down Pride parade?”
Thank you, well said. Why is Nicole encouraging dissension between community members and the police department? I thought he was so proud of the way we get along so far.
Dear Beloved Ones,
I just heard about the LGBTQA… protesters who will be at San Diego LGBT Pride Parade this year. We have had many groups of protesters including abusive fundamentalist religious protesters over the years and I believe we’ve had less then a dozen protest arrests since the late 1970’s.
Police brutality and arresting our LGBTQA… protesters must NOT happen at San Diego LGBTQA… PRIDE!
Many of us have worked over the years since the first San Diego Lesbian and Gay March to educate and dispel the stereotypes that police have had toward LGBTQA… people. (I of course include Nicole in our LGBTQA… educators.) Arresting our protesting family members is the wrong message to send San Diego citizens. We have all worked too hard to erase the progress we’ve made with the S.D. police and Sheriff department since Stonewall Riots.
With the Occupy Movement actions, encampments and protests during the past 6 years, we saw horrible abusive behavior by police officers toward Occupy protesters and those innocent people having to live on the streets. I am very concerned this will happen again to those protesting members of our LGBTQAA… community. I’ve heard other people in our communities demand that they be arrested if any LGBTQA… and allies chose to protest. Pride has always made space for ‘counter protesters’. Why are some people demanding that LGBT Pride not allow the protesting from our own community members?
To our LGBTQA… Protesters for Equal Rights, I am with you in spirit! I ask you to PLEASE remember what we brought to our community through ACT-UP, Queer Nation, Lesbian Avengers, SAME and other Activist LGBTQA… Equal Rights groups.
The teachings of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Quakers etc.
NON-VIOLENT, PEACEFUL, PASSIVE RESISTANCE, POLITICAL PROTEST!
Please be safe, stay hydrated and don’t give the cops a reason to arrest you and or abuse you!
In Solidarity and Love,
Mama Bear
Wendy Sue