Some Fil-Ams wary of heightened security at SF Pride

SAN FRANCISCO – Filipino American activists and their allies of the LGBTQ community stood in solidarity during a Wednesday vigil to honor the victims of the Orlando massacre.

They chose the United Nations Plaza to hold this vigil to represent the diverse community of San Francisco and that it will also be adjacent to the many festivities of this weekend’s pride celebration.

Irma Bajar of GABRIELA SF said, “People need to remember that Pride was born through the Stonewall Riots in 1969 that specifically was a riot that was led by trans women of color and folks in the community that basically was fighting against police brutality. What’s really difficult too here, not just in San Francisco but New York City and all across the US, is the reaction for the government because of the Orlando shooting is to have more police presence and that’s actually going to lead to more violence, discrimination and policing of the LGBTQ community.”

People at this vigil question the increased security during pride weekend, saying it deflects from the real issues between the state and the LGBTQ community.

Ms. Peaches of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project said, “I find it to be very terrifying. I think there has been enough guns that have been drawn. I know there will be sharpshooters here.”

Jenabi Pareja of BAYAN USA adds, “I think I would question what their motives are and question what security are they providing for and to whom because this idea of safety isn’t just for a one day event. If people really wanted to know about our safety people would care about our social welfare in the Bay Area.”

Activists say that gun control was not the answer to the Orlando massacre.

Instead, they say that the issues surrounding violence in America stem from a culture of discrimination against immigrant and LGBTQ communities.

“The problem is not the guns,” said Bajar. “The problem is that the United States has a history and breeds this culture of hate and violence and it’s what made other people do the acts that they do.”

The activists say that instead of police, they would rather rely on each other to protect their community.

“We cannot stand in fear,” said Ms. Peaches. “We cannot stand in homophobia or trans-phobia or anything of hate that is targeted toward the trans community and especially the trans community of color.”