In a recent report commissioned by the city of San Diego to create a foundational history for the local LGBT community, I noticed some things were missing: transgender history, and the contributions of people of color.
In October 2015 San Diego’s Department of City Planning received a $25,000 federal grant to write a historical context statement that is the first step toward assessing buildings throughout the city that may have important historical relevance for our LGBT community. The city hired GPA Consultants of Los Angeles to write this report.
Last month, after more than ten months and two drafts, the city made public the third draft of the report titled “San Diego Citywide LGBTQ Historic Context Statement,” and invited comments.
I would have missed the opportunity to comment if Chuck Kaminsky, a board member of Lambda Archives of San Diego, had not brought the report to my attention. Kaminsky recognized that the report did not reflect the diversity of our LGBT community and he encouraged my feedback.
While this 106-page document includes numerous references to San Diego’s white gay men’s history and a fair sampling of local lesbian history, trans participation has been totally overlooked. In addition the breadth of contributions made by local LGBT people of color have been ignored. We have all benefited by the enormous accomplishments white gay men have made throughout our history. Their leadership and courage over the last few decades should be acknowledged and celebrated. But to totally exclude the trans community and marginalize people of color in this report is unacceptable.
At the public meeting Aug. 25, 2016, I presented the city with two pages of local historic events important to our transgender community. I gave them addresses of buildings where trans people quietly congregated and supported each other. I gave them examples of important events and dates in local trans history. Chuck Kaminsky presented nine pages of recommendations outlining what the city missed and how the city could make the report more representative of our community.
City planners have insisted that there is not enough time to make major revisions. They say the grant stipulates that the report be completed by the end of September 2016. City planners argue that this historic context report is a “living document” and could be updated in the future.
But we all know better. Once this report is put to rest it is highly unlikely that the city will find the money or the will to revise this document. Why did the city wait more than ten months and three drafts before going to the public? And why take public comments if it is too late to make major revisions? Is it money, embarrassment or ignorance?
What’s the big deal? As a historian, and someone who has experience in researching and writing these kinds of reports, I can tell you that they will be used as source material by historians in the future. Historians will understand our LGBT community based on this and other documents. Today, for trans folks it’s all about visibility. Tomorrow’s visibility is just as important.
As a trans woman, I feel compelled to speak up for the local transgender community. Local trans history is out there. Primary source documents may not be as abundant as materials focusing on gay and lesbian contributions, but our history is there. And I am sure the same is true for people of color.
It’s very important to uncover and acknowledge the contributions of our people in all their diversity. As with all marginalized groups, we need to see our lives validated. Our young people need to understand that they are an integral part of our greater community. Inclusion is a way of demonstrating to the trans community and people of color that we matter and that our contributions are valued. And inclusion needs to begin at the beginning, not come as an afterthought at some time in the future.
I want to see our trans history incorporated with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer communities. The city still has an opportunity to work with the local LGBT community to revise this report so that it truly reflects the diversity and contributions of all our people.
I can not believe that this was a mistake. We have been marginalized and ignored ever since the cis male gay community threw Marsha and Sylvia out and seized control of the early Pride movement. To expect that any meaningful changes will be done after the official report is filed is absurd.