UPDATED: MUMC will fly the flag!
I recently reported the following on another blog I write for about the neighborhood I live in, SF’s Castro district.
The iconic flag pole at Market and Castro in Harvey Milk Plaza that flies the rainbow Pride flag, the Bear Flag and the Leather Pride flag is administered by our local business association, the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro. It is a private membership organization that holds it’s monthly meetings in private.
In early September, a local, black, trans, HIV-positive woman named Veronika Fimbres submitted written and verbal requests to the MUMC to fly the Transgender Pride flag for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th.
TDOR is a day to honor and pay respect to all of the transgender victims of violence, harassment and prejudice around the world. The MUMC responded to her request on Monday in writing saying,
“The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done. The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.”
The full email correspondence between Veronika and the MUMC is at the end of this post and was signed by Cliff’s Variety Store owner Terry Bennett, President of the MUMC.
The MUMC stated they do not make exceptions to the rainbow Pride Flag, however, in the past, they have made exceptions for Bear 2.0 flying the Bear Pride Flag and also for the Leather Pride flag during Folsom Week events.
If we can make room for these flags, we can surely make room for our transgender brothers and sisters on our flag pole. They have been a vocal supporter of the GLBT community dating back before the Stonewall days as “street queens” in New York, yet are still victims of murder, trans bashing and harassment.
I encourage all of you to sign the petition that Veronika has put together so that it can be taken to MUMC and presented as evidence that the broader community, the same community that erected that flag pole as a beacon of equality, does support raising the Transgender Pride flag for Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Ms. Veronika Fimbres,
Thank you again for contacting MUMC with a request regarding the Rainbow Flag maintained by MUMC at Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro at Market Streets in San Francisco. Our previous email correspondence is copied below.
The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done.The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.
We again urge you to review MUMC’s publicly-posted Rainbow Flag policy on MUMC’s website – the direct link is http://castromerchants.com/
castro-merchants-flag-policy We especially call your attention to the Policy’s 4th and 5th paragraphs. They strictly limit replacement or modified displays of the Rainbow Flag. The display you request does not fall within the established policy.We also have recently reviewed the Rainbow Flag policy regarding flag display at lowered or half-mast. We have determined that to do so would jeopardize public safety for pedestrians and passing vehicles, due in part to nearby overhead electric and other utility and transit service wires and to other conditions at the site. We are preparing and soon will publish at the website page, a clarification of MUMC’s published Rainbow Flag policy on this issue.
Nothing in this response to your request should be interpreted as any disrespect for the Transgender Flag, the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance, or similar issues. We hope that consistently administering MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy, in fact, re-enforces the strength, pride and unity of all parts of our community.
MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy and this decision in no way prevent any group from gathering at Harvey Milk Plaza (subject to City and County of San Francisco and any other applicable rules and regulations) for commemorations and other purposes.Please also note that we have allowed you to attend the past two monthly MUMC Member Meetings (September 6 and October 4), although you did not make advance arrangements to do so, and your attending did not conform with our policies.
MUMC is a private business and merchants organization. MUMC Meetings are private and open only to current Members and other pre-arranged guests. Our policy regarding Meeting attendance always is published with each monthly Meeting Agenda on the home page of MUMC’s website at www.CastroMerchants.com.
Please note also that issues regarding the Rainbow Flag generally are handled by MUMC’s Board, not at Member Meetings.
We respectfully ask that you do not attend future private MUMC Meetings (unless requested and mutually agreed in advance), and that you and colleagues follow and respect our attendance policy published with Agendas.We wish you and your colleagues the very best for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and thank you for understanding, respecting and supporting MUMC’s Rainbow Flag and other policies.
Terry Asten Bennett, President
Merchants of Upper Market & Castro – MUMC
584 Castro Street #333; San Francisco CA 94114-2512
MUMC-SF@earthlink.net
www.CastroMerchahts.com
10/5/2012 10:40pdtDate: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:11:58 -0700To: “Veronika Fimbres” <vfdiva@gmail.com>From: MUMC-SF <mumc-sf@earthlink.net>Subject: MUMC Rainbow Flag request – re Transgender FlagBcc: TerryAsten@cs.comMs. FimbresThanks for contacting MUMC on September 7.Your request regarding use of the Rainbow Flag Pole at Harvey Milk Plaza will be considered by MUMC’s Board as soon as possible. Please note that this may take several days, as those volunteer Board Members have busy schedules. MUMC will respond as soon as we can.Meanwhile, and if you have not already done so, please review MUMC’s published Policy regarding the Rainbow Flag and requests such as yours, posted on MUMC’s website at http://castromerchants.com/
castro-merchants-flag-policy Richard Magary, MUMC AdministratorMUMC-SF@earthlink.net9/8/2012 9:10pdtAt 04:09 PM 9/7/2012, Veronika Fimbres wrote:I wish to be put on your next agenda to discuss the flag lowering and placement of the Transgender Flag on the Transgender Day of Rememberance on November 20, 2012
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This email has been sent on behalf of the [[OrgName]].
If our community cannot show encouragement and respect for people in one of our own categories – the worst one in terms of social consciousness and acceptance, then we’ve turned LGBT into yet another chickenshit organization with its in-group and its out-group and its own particular form of bigotry and discrimination.
There is not another group in our community that goes through more, is more discriminated against and more outcast that transgendered people.
Gay white men of MUMC, get over yourselves and support EVERYONE in the LGBT community.
Shame on the MUMC
Unacceptable !!
As a former program director of Shanti Project,
I honor the memory of our transgender clients,
many living in substandard SROs who succumed to AIDS.
And the too many victims of lethal violence against Transgender people in our City.
If the Castro Business Association cannot honor them through raising a sinple Trans Flag, who are we fooling by contending that we are the “Liberal Capital of the World ??” .
Capital of Greed, Gentirificationn and Police State indeed.
WE NEED A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS TRANS FOLKS, NOW !!
Very few of us give a rat about the “Kill the Gays” Bill on Uganda, the hanging of LGBTQs in foreign countries….
and would likely have difficulties pointing at these country on a world map… Right, my liberal gay caucasoid “comrades” ?
At least pay attention and honor and trans Sisters & Brothers UNDER YOUR VERY NOSE !!
Disgruntled in Bayview,
Mesha Irizarrry,
CO_Chair, SF MOOC Coty Commission
Is there any way to sign this petition without allowing facebook access for their app? That is crazy.
I can’t even sign the petition WITH facebook access. Or rather, I can fill out the form, but neither clicking to sign nor clicking the facebook sign-in at the top does anything for me. I’ve tried twice now, on different days from different sources, and nothing. No wonder it has only 322 signatures so far….
SF City pretends to be LGBTQQI supportive but the reality is that SF City only supports LGB. Supervisors of SF, Senators of SF, Democratic Party of SF, The Golden Gate Business Association, LGBT Center of SF, Castro business owners, landlords and banks do not act upon what you state you do. You ask for our votes, investments, participation… and not support the entire rainbow. Wow!!!
Picket and boycott Cliff’s, he’ll get the message
Our community should behave better! I understand that they can’t entertain every single proposal, but this rude response exposes and obvious and needless bigotry on behalf of the MUMC. Some compromise could have been made. I’m not shopping at Cliffs until this matter is settled and the owner apologizes to Veronika and the transgender community.
I don’t get it. What was rude about the response? You may not agree with it but it’s not rude.
The response is rude because Mr. Bennett chastised Ms. Fimbres for attending their bureaucratic meetings even though it’s clear from his letter that they neglected to inform her of their private nature during either of her visits. He didn’t adequately explain the decision to marginalize the transgender community even though the MUMC flies the leather and bear fetish flags every year. This is a cowardly response. He vaguely denied her request told her to go away and then hid behind the bureaucracy. This is not how SF’s LGBT community is supposed to behave. Maybe the MUMC shouldn’t control the flagpole anymore.
I think we’d all agree that homophobia is pretty rude and hateful; transphobia is equally rude and hateful, doubly so coming from within the queer community.
I am disappointed by this decision. I support and honor our transgendered brothers and sisters, and I respectfully request that this decision be reconsidered and that we fly the transgender flag on the transgender day of remembrance!
It is NOT about the Flag. It is about punishing Ms. V. Fimbre’s unauthorized present at TWO merchant’s meeting. The board’s mightily “rules” were ignored. As The Queen Of Hearts said, “Off With Her HEAD! Shame on Mr. BENNETT for your childless immature attitude. These are YOUR TRUE COLOURS. You are an enemy within the ranks of the Gay Castro Community. Half measure will avail Cliffs NOTHING! I will NOT shop there anymore. And I loved that store. I truly hope ALL GLBT will comply.
As a transgender woman an female illusionist performer at a very well know nightclub in the Castro neighborhood I feel ashamed and disgust, knowing that the real meaning of equality in our community seems lost in hands of greedy and disrespectful merchants which I think are neglecting the integrity of our community.
Until the trans flag is hoisted high, the MUMC has made a serious mockery of the rainbow flag. I’d rather have it down than have it continue to mock. But this is just a bump in the road, and the MUMC will be forced to come about which is sad the MUMC has to be this way. MUMC=WTF?
“Nothing in this response to your request should be interpreted as any disrespect for the Transgender Flag, the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance, or similar issues.”
what are Trans people supposed to think when MUMC essentially says “we considered it, and we don’t want to” and not citing a reason other than “The display you request does not fall within the established policy.” How so? Why so vague? If it’s the cost, and it simply isn’t in the budget… fine, but say so. If they are simply concerned that there isn’t enough community support, and feel they need to hear from more people first… fine, but say so. What they have given is a patronizing non-answer, so one is left to assume that they are either actively anti-trans or simply don’t care about that part of our community. I’d prefer to assume the latter, but both are shitty.
“We hope that consistently administering MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy, in fact, re-enforces the strength, pride and unity of all parts of our community.”
oh, except when it comes to OTHER parts of the community, like the Bears and the Leather folks (neither of those flags represent the entire LGBT community). It isn’t lost on me that both of those groups are well-represented on the MUMC board. I would love to own a business and be able to buy my way into equal representation and all, but most trans folks are just struggling to survive because we meet prejudice from so many people; our families, supposed “friends”, employers, doctors, complete strangers… and to me, one of the more heartbreaking… people who should be our allies. When the LGB forgets about the T, or actively oppresses us (which happens WAY more than people think), it’s so much more hurtful.
If it is the cost, I’m sure we can supply a flag, and there are plenty of volunteers to hoist it. We shouldn’t neglect the T part of LGBT!
The leather flag and the bear flag, yet not one 24 hour period in deference to the very thing that gay community has always asked for-acceptance and respect. Sad.
this is what I think:
LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) I guess the MUMC doesn’t understand the meaning of this… which if the Rainbow flag (as stated in paragraph #2 of the MUMC policies) quote “Rainbow Flag would be flown at full-staff at all times, in a neighborhood which has become internationally recognized as a center of LGBT culture and freedom.” so the MUMC should also honor the Transgender flag as well as the “bear” or Leather” flag or even more so , as I don’t see an L in LGBT for Leather or a B for Bear…. but I DO SEE A “T” for Transgender…. WTF MUMC… let boycott their business for the next weeks until they agree to do so….
I wonder if the BEAR flag is paid several hundred dollar in donations to be up there… as it’s merely two business men taking advantage of a trend and stereotype of men culture as well as the Leather community.
I’m on for the BOYCOTT, but I will def like to help to organize this and make it big …
The rejection letter is polite enough, but it’s still unfounded.
It’s worth reading their Policy (esp the 4th and 5th) paragraphs which offer NO CLEAR GUIDELINES. They essentially say that decisions to fly another flag or to fly a flag at half mast are entirely at MUMC’s (highly qualified and representative [cough]) discretion.
Don’t reply here– reply at MUMC’s form, or show up, or call!!!
http://castromerchants.com/Contact.html
Also it would be helpful to read Ms. Fimbres’ original request letter; I wonder if there’s more to this rejection than we know.
Sadly, a minority must fight tooth and nail for recognition, yet again. I’m not suprised that a group of gay men see no hypocrisy in allowing the bear and leather flag, but not the trans* flag. #Diversity matters. I hope the backlash helps them see the right thing to do.
I do not know or suppose to guess what the MUMC’s true reasons are for denying the request. I do know that it is unfortunate that a private group gets to make these decisions which shape public expressions of support or exclusion. I hope “the Castro” finds a way to honor the November 20th event.
LGBT stands for lesbian gay bisexual AND TRANSGENDER! if you biggots at MUMC can’t get that through you sick heads then you shouldn’t showing support for anyone at least in that sence you would be allowing us to still be a unit – A concerned trans-woman
MUMC Rainbow Flag request – re Transgender FlagInbox
9 days ago
Show details
MUMC-SF
to me
Ms. Veronika Fimbres,
Thank you again for contacting MUMC with a request regarding the Rainbow Flag maintained by MUMC at Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro at Market Streets in San Francisco. Our previous email correspondence is copied below.
The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done.
The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.
We again urge you to review MUMC’s publicly-posted Rainbow Flag policy on MUMC’s website – the direct link is http://castromerchants.com/castro-merchants-flag-policy We especially call your attention to the Policy’s 4th and 5th paragraphs. They strictly limit replacement or modified displays of the Rainbow Flag. The display you request does not fall within the established policy.
We also have recently reviewed the Rainbow Flag policy regarding flag display at lowered or half-mast. We have determined that to do so would jeopardize public safety for pedestrians and passing vehicles, due in part to nearby overhead electric and other utility and transit service wires and to other conditions at the site. We are preparing and soon will publish at the website page, a clarification of MUMC’s published Rainbow Flag policy on this issue.
Nothing in this response to your request should be interpreted as any disrespect for the Transgender Flag, the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance, or similar issues. We hope that consistently administering MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy, in fact, re-enforces the strength, pride and unity of all parts of our community.
MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy and this decision in no way prevent any group from gathering at Harvey Milk Plaza (subject to City and County of San Francisco and any other applicable rules and regulations) for commemorations and other purposes.
Please also note that we have allowed you to attend the past two monthly MUMC Member Meetings (September 6 and October 4), although you did not make advance arrangements to do so, and your attending did not conform with our policies.
MUMC is a private business and merchants organization. MUMC Meetings are private and open only to current Members and other pre-arranged guests. Our policy regarding Meeting attendance always is published with each monthly Meeting Agenda on the home page of MUMC’s website at http://www.CastroMerchants.com.
Please note also that issues regarding the Rainbow Flag generally are handled by MUMC’s Board, not at Member Meetings.
We respectfully ask that you do not attend future private MUMC Meetings (unless requested and mutually agreed in advance), and that you and colleagues follow and respect our attendance policy published with Agendas.
We wish you and your colleagues the very best for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and thank you for understanding, respecting and supporting MUMC’s Rainbow Flag and other policies.
Terry Asten Bennett, President
Merchants of Upper Market & Castro – MUMC
584 Castro Street #333; San Francisco CA 94114-2512
MUMC-SF@earthlink.net
http://www.CastroMerchahts.com
10/5/2012 10:40pdt
Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:11:58 -0700
To: “Veronika Fimbres”
From: MUMC-SF
Subject: MUMC Rainbow Flag request – re Transgender Flag
Bcc: TerryAsten@cs.com
Ms. Fimbres
Thanks for contacting MUMC on September 7.
Your request regarding use of the Rainbow Flag Pole at Harvey Milk Plaza will be considered by MUMC’s Board as soon as possible. Please note that this may take several days, as those volunteer Board Members have busy schedules. MUMC will respond as soon as we can.
Meanwhile, and if you have not already done so, please review MUMC’s published Policy regarding the Rainbow Flag and requests such as yours, posted on MUMC’s website at http://castromerchants.com/castro-merchants-flag-policy
Richard Magary, MUMC Administrator
MUMC-SF@earthlink.net
9/8/2012 9:10pdt
At 04:09 PM 9/7/2012, Veronika Fimbres wrote:
I wish to be put on your next agenda to discuss the flag lowering and placement of the Transgender Flag on the Transgender Day of Rememberance on November 20, 2012
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This email has been sent on behalf of the [[OrgName]].
8 days ago
Show details
Veronika Fimbres
to Veronika
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: MUMC-SF
Date: Friday, October 5, 2012
Subject: MUMC Rainbow Flag request – re Transgender Flag
– Hide quoted text –
To: vfdiva@gmail.com
Ms. Veronika Fimbres,
Thank you again for contacting MUMC with a request regarding the Rainbow Flag maintained by MUMC at Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro at Market Streets in San Francisco. Our previous email correspondence is copied below.
The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done.
The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.
We again urge you to review MUMC’s publicly-posted Rainbow Flag policy on MUMC’s website – the direct link is http://castromerchants.com/castro-merchants-flag-policy We especially call your attention to the Policy’s 4th and 5th paragraphs. They strictly limit replacement or modified displays of the Rainbow Flag. The display you request does not fall within the established policy.
We also have recently reviewed the Rainbow Flag policy regarding flag display at lowered or half-mast. We have determined that to do so would jeopardize public safety for pedestrians and passing vehicles, due in part to nearby overhead electric and other utility and transit service wires and to other conditions at the site. We are preparing and soon will publish at the website page, a clarification of MUMC’s published Rainbow Flag policy on this issue.
Nothing in this response to your request should be interpreted as any disrespect for the Transgender Flag, the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance, or similar issues. We hope that consistently administering MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy, in fact, re-enforces the strength, pride and unity of all parts of our community.
MUMC’s Rainbow Flag policy and this decision in no way prevent any group from gathering at Harvey Milk Plaza (subject to City and County of San Francisco and any other applicable rules and regulations) for commemorations and other purposes.
Please also note that we have allowed you to attend the past two monthly MUMC Member Meetings (September 6 and October 4), although you did not make advance arrangements to do so, and your attending did not conform with our policies.
MUMC is a private business and merchants organization. MUMC Meetings are private and open only to current Members and other pre-arranged guests. Our policy regarding Meeting attendance always is published with each monthly Meeting Agenda on the home page of MUMC’s website at http://www.CastroMerchants.com.
Please note also that issues regarding the Rainbow Flag generally are handled by MUMC’s Board, not at Member Meetings.
We respectfully ask that you do not attend future private MUMC Meetings (unless requested and mutually agreed in advance), and that you and colleagues follow and respect our attendance policy published with Agendas.
We wish you and your colleagues the very best for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and thank you for understanding, respecting and supporting MUMC’s Rainbow Flag and other policies.
Terry Asten Bennett, President
Merchants of Upper Market & Castro – MUMC
584 Castro Street #333; San Francisco CA 94114-2512
MUMC-SF@earthlink.net
http://www.CastroMerchahts.com
10/5/2012 10:40pdt
Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:11:58 -0700
To: “Veronika Fimbres”
From: MUMC-SF
Subject: MUMC Rainbow Flag request – re Transgender Flag
Bcc: TerryAsten@cs.com
Ms. Fimbres
Thanks for contacting MUMC on September 7.
Your request regarding use of the Rainbow Flag Pole at Harvey Milk Plaza will be considered by MUMC’s Board as soon as possible. Please note that this may take several days, as those volunteer Board Members have busy schedules. MUMC will respond as soon as we can.
Meanwhile, and if you have not already done so, please review MUMC’s published Policy regarding the Rainbow Flag and requests such as yours, posted on MUMC’s website at http://castromerchants.com/castro-merchants-flag-policy
Richard Magary, MUMC Administrator
MUMC-SF@earthlink.net
9/8/2012 9:10pdt
At 04:09 PM 9/7/2012, Veronika Fimbres wrote:
I wish to be put on your next agenda to discuss the flag lowering and placement of the Transgender Flag on the Transgender Day of Rememberance on November 20, 2012
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This email has been sent on behalf of the [[OrgName]].
—
Veronika Fimbres
Cell: 415/524-9880
Home & Fax: 415/586-4346
Transgender people more than any other category of gay people DESERVES
an awareness day for all the violence and prejudice against them . The gay flag and the castro will never be complete without their inclusion to our statements and visions of a equal world. SHAME ON YOU CASTRO REPUBLICAN COMERCIAL ASSOCIATION . YOU SUCK !
This is completely ridiculous! The flag is not a decoration that should be changed for every different day. It’s a symbol and landmark in the Castro. The very few times it has been substituted for another flag (Leather & Bear) is after YEARS of negotiation. People shouldn’t be getting their panties in a bunch over a first time, non-member’s request getting struck down. The fact that the meeting rules were brought up, as well as pointing out that she was not properly invited, is to show that she is not taking the correct steps to fulfill her goal. If she wants to request something, she has to follow their rules, no matter if she agrees with them.
What part of LGB T don’t you understand?
A “non-member”?? Are you serious? Thank you perfectly highlighting WHY a private business group should not be deliberating on this matter in secret and not be in charge of the matter at all..
It shouldn’t take years for the T in LGBT to get a flag up ONE DAY on the goddamn year. It should be a no-brainer.
The MUMC should have replied and worked with her to get the flag up and helped her to do it. No dismiss her out of hand.
The transgender community has and is still on the receiving end of extreme violence and should be commemorated MUCH more then a couple of weeks of parties celebrating life choices. I love those choices, but if they are deserving then the T in LGBT should be even more so.
This group is not deciding in secret, anyone who has read the full and complete article and email knows where and when their meetings are, as well as how to request attendance to the meetings. I don’t agree with the changing of the flag period. For Trans* events, Leather/Fetish events, or anything else. The intent was that this Rainbow Flag would be flown at full-staff at all times, in a neighborhood which has become internationally recognized as a center of LGBT culture and freedom. It was dedicated on November 7, 1997 in Harvey Milk Plaza to commemorate the election of Harvey Milk to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The Rainbow Flag itself is a beacon of hope and symbol of liberation, showing the community’s pride, unity, strength, and diversity. To have a fight and nit-pick over which flag is flown at which time, does not demonstrate the traits this flag was intended to be.
Chris – What is ridiculous is that an important piece of public queer space is ruled by a private merchants group. You seem to think it’s ok for public space to be controlled by MUMC, which does not allow public attendance or public comment at their meetings.
How can you endorse YEARS of negotiations to simply fly a leather or bear flag, as a good thing for the Castro? We need weeks of transparent communication about modifications to the rainbow flag and use of the pole. The fact that it took years for the kink and bear flag to fly is a mark of shame on MUMC.
Down in San Diego, they built a rainbow flag on public land in July of this year. In August, trans leaders submitted a request to fly the trans flag on Nov 20.
The Hillcrest Biz Association didn’t have any rules on such requests, so at a public meeting they discussed with trans leaders how to create rules guiding lowerings or flying other flags. Within weeks, it was agreed that only rainbow flags – and they define rainbow flags as the traditional one, the bear flag, the leather flag AND the trans flag as rainbow flags – would be allowed at the SD pole.
The rules, created in full public transparency, were adopted and it was agreed to raise the trans flag on Nov 20 in SD.
Compare that situation with the b.s. of the Castro merchants who act as though the Milk Plaza flag requires rock scientists to maintain, and that SF would slide into the Pacific ocean if the public had public control of public property.
If MUMC can raise the bear and kink flags, they can raise the trans flag.
Again, I reiterate, I fully support the origin of the Milk Plaza Rainbow Flag, and do not agree with any other flag taking its place at any time, for any reason. Most people are stuck on who controls what, and what’s fair and not fair. Newsflash to anyone who might not have already figured this out: life. is. not. fair. But yelling and shouting isn’t a way to make it better. Instead, we should be understanding why, and the rhymes and reasons. WHY do they allow the Bear and Leather Flags to fly, but currently not others? WHY is this organization even controlling the flag pole? WHY do people steal other’s bikes? There’s an answer to all the questions, instead of getting up-in-arms and taking to your comment section, take the typing to find the answers.
Mike- I don’t believe I endorsed anything, just stated facts. Also, please don’t tell me “what I seem to think” because I eluded nothing of the sort. I’m glad to hear that SD has added that flagpole for the communities. However, again, the flag on the Castro, is to commemorate Harvey Milk. Not to decorate for an event.
Chris, I don’t think a closed mind like yours is also a solution to all this.
You clearly state that the purpose of MilK plaza and the flag original purpose are to be respected… but as I mentioned earlier and quote on paragraph 2 or the MUMC flag’s policies “” Rainbow Flag would be flown at full-staff at all times, in a neighborhood which has become internationally recognized as a center of LGBT culture and freedom””
and considering that (even if you don’t like it) they have diverted from the original purpose of what you state was to show the rainbow flag all the time…. into Leather and Bear flags….. again,,, LGBTransgender ….. should be a matter of priority to add this flag before any other flag that reflects ONLY a fetish (gay men and women) or a stereotype of GAY men (bears).
You probably don’t like change, but I have learn in my 52yrs of life, that the majority of us who don’t like change is because we cannot keep and open mind to what things have evolved into, in this case the freedom for Transgender men and women to come out strong and be freely and fearlessly part of the community they always were but were segregated or afraid to voice themselves cause it was still a taboo within it…. so stop bragging about what it was originally intended for, as it has already being changed for the leather and bear flags and open your mind. It reminds me of many political causes run by a political party i don’t want to mention right now but it’s scary to think that a candidate like they have for president might be elected… that’s what your position reminds me of, close minds like the republicans, OOOPS, sorry I said it.
Excuse me Enrique?! How dare you begin to personally attack me, and spout off what you THINK about my life, my beliefs, and my viewpoint. I have no problem with change, and I am an activist for LGBTQQIA rights. However, if you would like to talk about “Closed Minded” people you said, “ONLY a fetish (gay men and women)?!” The Leather Flag is flown during Folsom Street Fair, which is a celebration of sexuality, for anyone and everyone. Not limited to the two groups you defined. And a “Stereotype of GAY men (Bears)” Bears are NOT a stereotype, they are another group under the amazing and diverse umbrella of the community.
You point out that you are in your early 50’s, and that the Trans* community has been fighting for many years to have an equal voice in the community. I am in my early 20’s, and have embraced the Trans* community for the get go. I am not bragging about anything, just stating facts. To say this discussion or my views in any way resemble the political race for the Presidency is absolutely ridiculous.
Your reply confuses me, other then the disrespectful attacks on me, and the immature Two-wrongs-will-make-a-right. (Since they’ve already changed it, they can keep changing it.) There really isn’t anything there. Just words of anger, with no logic.
I hope someone will organize a petition via Change.org or another more widely accessible platform – I’d like to sign but I don’t authorize apps on Facebook. This is a terrible decision and the business association should feel the push-back from the trans community and their allies.
This is disappointing beyond measure – fly the flag, Castro.
MUMC has reversed their decision and will fly the flag in the Castro at Harvey Milk Plaza for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th !
http://castrobiscuit.com/2012/10/15/mumc-we-will-fly-the-transgender-flag-on-transgender-day-of-awareness-november-20th/
CONGRATULATIONS!
The last time I checked The Compton Cafeteria Trans Riot happened before Stonewall and Happened in San Francisco. When we sell our fellow community members history in print please remember the true starting point of said people involved. This Organization has had a long history of social bigotry and it is time for people to wake up. We are not a product for sale and if equality is to truly happen every group deserves equal treatment and representation. All GLBT areas of this city matter and should indeed practice what they preach. this area of town has had and become increasingly more dangerous and unwelcoming to diversity. So much that The Sisters have had to bring back the stop the violence campaign. Please wake up people and stand together. the ones who are sterilizing your Castro are repeating a movement that changed the Polk They harass and look down on anyone who looks or seems different then something they can sell as there uncle Tome version of the quote Gay. Are you a product or an individual my dear Castro people? In the past we had to have organizations like the Tavern Guild to fight this type of bigotry in business,Partys are fun but standing up against bigotry does more for our people.