on activism, peace 'n love, and White Nights

[Neecy]

I was 19 when the White Night Riots happened in San Francisco.



We used to fight back when we our lives were considered worth less than the lives of straight men.



We also didn't apologize for who we were or what we stood for.

The next morning gay leaders convened in a committee room in the Civic Center. Supervisor Harry Britt, who had replaced Milk, along with the more militant gays of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, made it clear that nobody was to apologize for the riots. Britt informed a press conference, "Harvey Milk's people do not have anything to apologize for. Now the society is going to have to deal with us not as nice little fairies who have hairdressing salons, but as people capable of violence. We're not going to put up with Dan Whites anymore." Reporters were surprised that a public official would condone the violent acts of the previous night, expecting an apology from Britt. Subsequent attempts to find a gay leader who would give an apologetic statement proved unsuccessful,

http://www.kitamaruyuji.com/stillwannasay/White%20Night%20Riot%20protesters%20burned%20police%20cars%20in%20front%20of%20City%20Hall.%20Chronicle%20photo%20by%20John%20Storey,%201979.jpg

What's interesting is that the aftermath wasn't a big scary downer.

With the 1979 municipal elections occurring only months after the riot, prominent gay leaders feared a backlash at the polls. The elections continued without incident, and the gay community fared better than expected, wielding unprecedented influence. Although the virtually unknown gay Mayoral candidate David Scott finished third in the election, his showing was strong enough to force Acting Mayor Feinstein into a runoff election against conservative City Supervisor Quentin Kopp. Her promises to appoint more gay people to public office, and her heavy campaigning in the Castro, ensured that she won enough support from the gay community to give her a full term as Mayor.

One of Mayor Feinstein's first actions upon being elected was to announce the appointment of Cornelius Murphy as the new Chief of Police. Murphy declared that police cars would no longer be colored powder blue, but instead would be repainted as "macho black-and-whites." This pleased the rank and file, and restored confidence in police leadership. Murphy also vowed to maintain the progressive policy towards gays that his predecessor had implemented. By 1980, one in seven new police recruits was either gay or lesbian. In one of his last public appearances, outgoing Police Chief Charles Gain stated that he fully expected to see the day when San Francisco would have both a gay mayor and Chief of Police. By October 1985, an organization for gay law enforcement personnel in California, the Golden State Peace Officers Association, had incorporated as a non-profit organization. It was founded by Art Roth, an Oakland police officer who was present on the night of the riots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Night_riots

In my 20's, activism was centered around ACT-UP. We still considered that our lives were worth as much as our straight counterparts. This was important, because my gay brothers were dying in droves.



The point I'm making is that our activism used to be physical, occasionally brutal courtesy of the SFPD, and when needed we sent a message. Now we post links on our Facebook page and bitch about Barack Obama on DU. We still take to the streets but we've become peaceful flower children with our rainbow flags and snappy slogans. Can't rock the boat or make people even more afraid of us - right?

I'm all for peace 'n love. I've seen enough conflict on our road to civil rights to last several lifetimes, and my days in the streets are over. But god, have the times ever changed. The things we just put up with...

[EFerrari]

1. I was 23. And you know, my friend, I'm LESS willing than I was in those

hands-full-of-two-toddlers years to let anything get run over that I hold dear to my heart. Much less willing to be quiet.

But you're right. WTF has HAPPENED to people that they put up with stolen elections, torture, voting away rights, courts refusing to hear human rights cases. This must be the "river" part in "sold down the river".

[Neecy]

2. I think part of it is the establishment of the police state

I was in a big police brawl in Civic Center during the Gulf War I war protests. The SFPD was absolutely brutal, beating people to the ground with batons and chasing us down the street with horses (just like Napoleon's Grande Armee!).

Today they have much more sophisticated weapons at their disposal. I'll take my chances with a fat cop swinging a police baton - I'm pretty good at ducking, rolling or running - but not with one armed with a taser. That shit can kill you.

We used to be able to fight back. I feel sorry for the next generation. They'll never get the chance.

[EFerrari]

3. I don't remember who pointed this out to me but the leadership in the Civil Rights movment

put kids out front to shame the cops into civility. And know what? Those kids got hosed and beaten.

I don't know why this culture needs to learn everything at the muscular level. It's saddening beyond words.

[imdjh]

4. IS NOM officially a Mormon front group?

[Neecy]

5. Yes, I believe it is.

[Prism]

6. Things are better than what they were

Twenty years ago, who thought gay marriage would not only be on the table, but would garner nearly 50% popular support? Homosexuality is no longer criminalized per Lawrence v. Texas.

We're getting there.

However, we're dealing with a two-headed monster. Not only must we do battle with the Religious Right and the GOP in front of us, we must remain ever vigilant for back-biting, dead weight and bigots in disguise on "our side" as well. We need to wield a sword against conservatives while dragging along a kicking, screaming gay establishment and Democratic Party.

Look at all the posts and people who are bitching about us today, as if we're the problem. And these are our "friends".

It's a long, rough road, but we're getting there because we refuse to give in, refuse to settle, and refuse to show deference to those who think they require constant deferring to.

They hate that, btw.

[mitchtv]

7. I was there , that night

How I love the smell of upended cop cars burning in the chilly SF evening, and I narrowly escaped the police riot at the ensuing "Battle of Elephant Walk"

[PVnRT]

8. Reading that, "White Riot" by the Clash popped into my head

Nothing really to do with SF, but there you go.