The sentiment of a protester at Friday’s strong anti-discrimination rally in the Castro, calling attention to problems of racism that linger in the queer community. Photo by Rink

As the immigration debate escalates to the headlines, the immigrant community across the nation has been out voicing their opposition to the proposed “Immigrant Reform.” But many may not be aware that queer men and women of color and of immigrant communities say they are now being verbally attacked by some within the LGBT community.

“Many have called us ‘wetbacks’ and we have been told to ‘go back to where we came from,’” said Miguel Bustos, deputy district director for Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Bustos said that this racist sentiment is hardly anything new. “Racism, sexism, ageism, and elitism in our LGBTQ community are alive and well. This is evident in the recent struggle against our black sisters and brothers in the Castro. It can be seen in the lack of support that many ‘minority agencies’, like AGUILAS, gets from the mainstream LGBTQ community.”

He added, “We feel it when others stand in silence as LGBTQ immigrants or people of color are told to ‘go home’ or that ‘you don’t belong here.’” Bustos stated that in many ways this has become very much a segregated community and that policy should not be tolerated. He therefore co-organized an evening of protest and education around these latest anti-immigrant acts. 

Harvey Milk Plaza was packed with demonstrators on April 21. They held handmade signs stating: “Another queer for equality;” “Immigrants built this country;” “No human being is illegal;” and “Dykes against borders.” Some signs asked rhetorical questions: “Rainbows cross borders; why can’t we?” and “Who is NOT an immigrant?” Some were in Spanish: “Sin imigrantes, no tienes nada: Without immigrants, you got nothin’” and “Todos tenemos el mismo corazon: We all have the same heart.” This reporter’s personal favorite was a huge green placard simply stating, “This is my green card! Amnesty now!”

“We know what has been going on with immigration, where Latinos all over this country have stood up against discrimination,” shouted Bustos through a bullhorn. “It’s time for us to stand up here in the Castro against our own brothers and sisters who look down upon Latinos and other people of color.”

He said that the recent struggle against prejudice against African-Americans in certain Castro bars is only the tip of the iceberg, and that discrimination does not stop there. Bustos brought Supervisor Tom Ammiano to speak. “I think it’s easy for us to take our own community for granted,” he said, “but with George Bush in the White House, we cannot take anything for granted.” Ammiano said, “One of the things the administration is really good at is in dividing communities. We have to say to them, ‘We’re smarter than you, and our queer community is NOT going to be divided!’”

He pointed out that when he taught at Buena Vista School years ago, there was a lot of racism in the Mission District. He said there were principals there who would not allow notes home in Spanish, even though 98 percent of the students were Latino. They would not allow undocumented students free lunch. “That was not only mean-spirited, but it was reflective of what the school system stood for in those days,” said Ammiano. He was told his Spanish students were developmentally disabled; whereas in truth they were monolingual and given intelligence tests in English. But the community rose up and put a stop to these discriminatory practices.

Ammiano encouraged the queer community to follow suit and put an end to discrimination in the Castro and elsewhere. He introduced Police Commissioner David Campos, a gay Latino man with an immigrant background. “We as LGBT people know firsthand what it means to be discriminated against,” he said. “And discrimination in whatever form—because of race, gender, orientation, or immigration status—at the end of the day is still discrimination, and we cannot tolerate that.” He assured the crowd, “Whatever happens in Washington D.C., the San Francisco police department will play no role in enforcing any law that targets people simply because of their immigration status.”

City Treasurer Jose Cisneros said he is the proud, openly gay son of Mexican immigrants. “No matter what anybody says and no matter what laws may be passed, being an immigrant does not make you illegal,” he said. “We have to make sure people know that.”

Valerie Tulier, who works as a straight ally supporting the LGBT community with Senator Carole Migden as her district representative, said, “Who is the illegal alien, pilgrim?” She said the vocabulary needs to be changed in the media and on the streets, calling people not illegal but undocumented. She said the senator could not be there that night but that Migden is very clear that we have to build a bridge between civil rights for the LGBT community and human rights for communities of color. “Otherwise no one will have any rights—the way the Bush administration is going,” said Tulier.

Robert Ortega, the mayor’s liaison to district 9 and the Latino community, reassured everyone, “Mayor Gavin Newsom is in full support of you and has again signed our asylum policy that we have in San Francisco, has opposed HR 4437 [making it illegal to assist any undocumented immigrant], and says that everyone in San Francisco, regardless of immigrant status, will continue to receive services and will not be denied healthcare or social welfare.”

Cecilia Chung of Transgender Law Center pointed out that there are many city and state officials who are immigrants. “I myself am an immigrant, sitting on the Human Rights Commission,” said Chung. “When there is an attack on anyone coming to this country looking for freedom, it’s an attack on all of us.” She said, “We cannot say we want equality—except for these certain people. We cannot say we should have more rights than other people, because that makes us [queers] just as guilty of discrimination. It’s about equality for all. It’s about humanity and dignity.”

John Mendoza gave his personal account of Castro gay people calling him a wetback and other derogatory names. “I am taking a stand and saying we cannot put up with this shit anymore!”

Bustos spoke about the many levels of discrimination among the queer community, including the lack of respect for elder gay people. “Those elders don’t feel comfortable in the Castro; yet it was those elders who worked their asses off so we could be here.” He said, “We need to watch how we treat people in our community.” Antonio Perales handed out a five-page Xeroxed account of his experiences with racism. “I am Mestizo,” he wrote. “I believe racism is a pathology. The United States was founded on racism, violence, theft of land, lies, and broken treaties.” Roberto Ordenana, director of community programs at the LGBT Center, said his parents moved from Nicaragua in the late 1960s in search of realizing their dreams. “It frightens me to know that so many stories like the ones of my familiy can be erased by the incredible injustices that can happen at the federal level.” He said, “This neighborhood and the LGBT community must be united with the immigrant community. At the Community Center, we vow to continue this conversation and work with all our communities to make us stronger.”

John Newsome personally knows the struggle against racism in the queer community, as one of the complainants with And Castro for All, the group formed to stop racism in the Castro and elsewhere. He said the group knew there were skeptics in the queer community regarding racism, but they gathered lots of data over a six-month period, and spoke with the Human Rights Commission, and filed lawsuits.

Still some people didn’t believe there was racism in the Castro. “We picketed in front of Badlands and encouraged many to come around. But still some didn’t believe,” said Newsome. “It leads me to conclude there are going to be those who simply don’t believe, so we’re going to have to keep speaking the truth. That is activism.”
Trans activist Robert Haaland said, “An injury to the immigrants is an injury to all of us, and a victory around true immigration reform is a victory for all of us.” He reminded everyone that on May 1 there is a national movement to stay home from work and schools in protest against the discriminatory treatment toward undocumented immigrants. “We need to show the administration that we will not let them ruin our country,” he said.