Cesar Chavez, Harvey Milk and the gay community

This Last week, I went out to see the movie based on the life of Latino icon and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. It was a most moving movie and like the Oscar award-winning movie on Harvey Milk it brought back so many memories for me and had me crying, laughing and leaving the theater full of pride.

I was blessed to have known and worked with both Harvey Milk and Cesar Chavez. Chavez came out for “homosexual rights” in the 1970s and Milk also came out for Chavez’s grape boycott.

I invited Cesar Chavez to march and speak at a March on Washington for Gay Rights and he marched and spoke at the huge rally to almost a million people. I had the honor to introduce him and march with him in Washington.

Later on in years, I presented Cesar Chavez with a gay civil rights award and some years after he died I received the “Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award” from his widow, Mrs. Helen Chavez.

Being a Latino and gay man I have in my life been called everything from a beaner, spick, wetback, brown to queer, sissy, faggot and homo etc.

Truly, I have been so blessed to witness the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s and up to this, the 21st century, the growth and visibility of both my Latino and GLBT community.

But few people remember the relationship and friendship that both Chavez and Milk had and how they were both supportive of each other.

The current Chavez movie, like the recent Milk movie, is so very important because these two movies educate and remind people of the struggles of both communities and the hate and discrimination that both went through. But, look at us now!

As I’ve said so many times “the Golden State is turning brown” and the GLBT community has become the civil rights movement of the 21st century.

The struggles of the African American, Latino and GLBT communities all started in the 1960s and ’70s and God bless me and others to have been a part of this history and live to tell our stories and what we witnessed, and how life was for me – a Latino and homosexual.

A few weeks ago I went to the Union-Tribune’s annual “Latino Champions Awards” ceremony at the Hilton La Jolla. I was honored to be one of the five finalists for the “Civic Leader Award” and hundreds of Latino leaders and activists were present and I felt so good when they also mentioned my GLBT activism and the ballroom gave hearty applause. It touched my heart to have so many Latino leaders congratulate me on being a finalist.

I and others will continue to build bridges and strengthen the ties and bonds between both the Latino and GLBT communities in San Diego, Calif. and the United States because when it comes down to it we want the same thing … basic human rights.

I urge you all to see the movie Cesar Chavez.

Transgender Day event = pride

As a person who lived as a “pre-operative transsexual” many, many decades ago, I have always had a place in my heart and activism for the transgender community. Last Friday was the 11th annual “Transgender Day of Empowerment” and The Center was packed with hundreds of people (standing room only).

I sat with Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and City Council President Todd Gloria, who were both honored, and we agreed that our transgender community in the last decade has become more visible and organized.

While I thought the keynote speaker speech wasn’t that inspiring, all of us fell in love with 6-year-old transgender boy Ryland and his family. Wow! This family’s video story on their child and his remarks I will remember forever – powerful, moving and full of unconditional love.

Later, Todd Gloria and I were talking about this family and we agreed that everyone should know their story. Ryland and his family will be getting the national “Judy Shepard Family Values Award” at the upcoming “Nicky Awards” in August.

By the way, local trans activist Blue Montana was also honored at the event and was recently named in Chicago one of the “100 Trans Activists” in the USA for 2014.

A big hug and thank you to Trans Day Co-Chairs Connor Maddocks and Tracie O’Brien.

Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 45 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last seven mayors of San Diego. He is also a national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation and chairman of the International Court Council of the USA, Canada and Mexico. In 2013 Murray Ramirez was named “Mayor of Hillcrest” by a City proclamation. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com