This is what occurs when we fail to ensure that Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices are part of our leadership structure and have an equal voice. This is what happens when we fail to tell the history of our movement, including who was involved from the very beginning. Today, as I stand in Minneapolis, I ask, where is the groundswell of LGBTQ+ community warriors now when my Black community is under attack? Peaceful Black Lives Matter protests occurred at Pride parades across the country have been met with boos, jeers, and social media rants. Stonewall, like every riot in our country’s history was sparked by a push back against police violence and brutality. Today, the country celebrates their contributions, even though none of them were celebrated at the time. There were both peaceful protestors and defiant rioters. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march, which began as a commemoration of the events of June 28, 1969, when, empowered by the Black Power, women’s liberation, and anti-war movements, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn said “enough is enough!” Black, brown, transgender, and gender non-binary people spearheaded the resistance. The Black community, my community, is being snuffed out and nobody cares. And yet, we are here, still unable to breathe. George Floyd said, “I can’t breathe” too.
Our eyes were glued to the video of Eric Garner in New York gasping for his last breath crying out, “I can’t breathe.”
We followed the trial of Trayvon Martin’s murderer as the state let him walk free. We’ve seen this story before: We watched Ahmaud Arbery murdered by vigilantes. The Black community is crippled with grief and anger, but not disbelief. I am a Black man in Minneapolis and my world stopped on Memorial Day. However, my plans were hit with a one-two punch: First Covid-19, and then the murder of George Floyd. I had a goal to get 1,725 of books donated to LGBTQ+ youth-focused learning centers across the country, especially in conservative states and counties, so that kids there know that they are seen, valued and part of a rich community that has contributed so much to this country.
I envisioned myself demanding more states join the ranks of California, Colorado, New Jersey, Illinois, and Oregon in requiring the teaching of LGBTQ+ history in schools. I published my first book, Our Gay History in Fifty States, and planned an amazing whirlwind book tour, advocating for the inclusion of a more diverse rendition of our community’s history. I had some damn high hopes for Pride in the year 2020. “Happy Pride!” is a phrase I would have uttered thousands of times starting June 1, the first day of Pride month.