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Dear Neighbor,
One year ago, I had the deeply moving honor of being at the Stonewall Inn to help inaugurate the LGBTQ Wall of Honor as part of the 50th anniversary of the riots that put LGBTQ rights in the spotlight. One of the first names on the wall was Marsha P. Johnson, the Black Transgender activist who led the fight at Stonewall and at many other protests as well. Seeing all the names on the wall, our "fierce forebears" as I called them, was an important reminder of how far we had come, the struggles we have faced, and how far we have to go.
This weekend, we all would have gathered together, lining the jammed 1.5 mile parade route in Hillcrest, from University Avenue, down 6th Avenue, and into Balboa Park, to celebrate San Diego Pride, the largest single-day civic event in the region. But this is a very different time, and while I will miss seeing everybody and celebrating in person, I commend Pride's organizers for creating a new way for us to celebrate virtually.
This year's theme is "Together We Rise." As I watched thousands and thousands of people walking under the Georgia Street Bridge in Hillcrest last month, protesting the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and too many others, taking action and marching for change, I thought, this is what Democracy looks like.
Fueled by righteous grief and anger, this movement is about real, thorough and lasting change after 400 years of systemic racism in America. That change only comes to be if we come together, work together, and rise together.
For many of us, this a time when listening and learning is extremely critical. I know that my experience as a woman and a Lesbian, and the LGBTQ community's diverse experiences have commonalities and similarities with others struggles, but they are not the same and that doesn't qualify me to speak for them. What I am qualified to speak on, though, is the California State Legislature, and the role we can play at this crucial moment in time.
When I returned from Stonewall last year, I jumped right back in to one of the most important issues facing the Legislature in the 2019 session, Assemblymember Shirley Weber's bill, AB 392, reforming the use of force by law enforcement. AB 392 had been introduced the previous year, but there was not enough support for it to pass. I pledged to Dr. Weber that if we could keep the coalition going and keep working on the bill, the Senate would pass it. There were many difficult meetings and candid conversations with family members, justice advocates, law enforcement and community leaders. And thanks to the work of that coalition, AB 392 became law.
As leader of the State Senate I will work with Dr. Weber and the Legislative Black Caucus, the Women's Caucus, the LGBTQ Caucus - and with all our colleagues - to ensure the momentum we're seeing right now results in real change and better outcomes.
It is also more important than ever for us to support our Black LGBTQ community. I see you. I hear you and I stand with you. There must be justice for our siblings who have lost their lives, including the Black trans members of our community who have been killed across the country.
As a woman and as a Lesbian I know that others who came before me lifted me up and helped me rise. We have the duty to do that for others.
So much has happened in the past year. "Happy Pride" even sounds a little different this year. But I know every time someone says "Happy Pride," this is what I hear: Stay proud, stay safe, and stay together. And then, together, we will rise.
San Diego Pride 2020 Livestream Schedule:
- Friday, July 17: Spirit of Stonewall Rally, 6pm - 7pm
- Saturday, July 18: Virtual Pride 5k Run/Walk: 8am
- Saturday, July 18: San Diego Pride Live!, 10am – 6pm
San Diego Pride: https://sdpride.org/live/
Toni Atkins
Senator, 39th District
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