2011: San Antonio’s LGBTQ Year in Review
From Chick-Fil-A protests to images of gay Jesus on stage, it’s been an interesting year for the gay community in San Antonio.
Despite being located in the heart of one of the most conservative states in the country, San Antonio has formed a political, cultural, and social identity all its own. And throughout the past year, we saw the city make significant inroads toward change within the LGBTQ community at a time when all anyone wanted was change they could believe in (because that’s what they were promised). As we at ignite reflect on the year that was, we remember that change is rarely met without challenge.
That challenge first reared its head in early January, when word spread that Chick-Fil-A planned to sponsor two marriage seminars tied to the conservative and extremely anti-gay Pennsylvania Family Institute. San Antonio’s LGBTQ community organized a protest of the popular restaurant chain and headed to Luther’s in an effort to redirect their economic impact. Their efforts did not go unnoticed – Chick-Fil-A quickly disassociated with the seminars.
Later that month, a study completed at the University of California at Los Angeles found that nearly thirty-four percent of San Antonio’s cohabiting same-sex couples are raising children – followed by Jacksonville, Raleigh, and Las Vegas – giving evidence to this city’s increasingly progressive social climate.
It’s no wonder, then, that so many gay and lesbian couples showed up at the courthouse on Valentine’s Day to take vows alongside 150 heterosexual couples. Even if their nuptials weren’t recognized by the law, the two dozen same-sex couples who participated in the mass wedding proved their commitments transcended the political forces that prevent making gay marriage a reality in Texas.
The same political forces that affect the gay community tend to be aligned with those that deter the political and social efforts of women and minorities. In early March, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center hosted the 21st annual International Woman’s Day March, uniting self-identified queer Latinas, students, immigrants, and gay and lesbian allies from across the city as they marched in solidarity.
But mobilizing en masse doesn’t always need to be so political. In April, many Fiesta events helped to raise money for various charities throughout the city, including San Antonio AIDS Foundation’s annual WEBB Party, which has become its single largest fundraiser. Along with Cornyation, which helped to raise over $120,000 for charity, the WEBB Party is one of the signature LGBTQ Fiesta events, attracting a veritable who’s-who of the community in and around San Antonio. Later that month, UTSA’s GLBTQ Club hosted a “Second Chance Prom,” where judgment was checked at the door and celebrants were given a chance to re-live a night they might have missed in high school. These are the types of events that build hope, increase resolve, and forge bonds within the community – especially at a time when so many gay and lesbian youth feel out of place in their own skin.
Enter San Antonio Pride 2011.
June brought an onslaught of Pride events to the Alamo City, all of which were dedicated to celebrating what it means to live according to your own rules. In the haze of so much tragedy related to bullying, hate crimes, and the sometimes separate but equal nature of gay rights (or lack thereof) in this country, Pride reminded us that change is rooted in foresight and the ability to see that something different is possible, even if it’s still out of reach.
Still, visualizing something different can also bring with it its own challenges, as it did when the San Pedro Playhouse produced Corpus Christi later that month. Directed by Greg Hinojosa, the play – which essentially depicted Jesus as a gay man with issues – spoke to the idea that divinity exists within us all. That idea didn’t translate so well to the conservative activists who protested the play for the duration of its run. Believing the play was sacrilegious, they greeted patrons at the entrance to The Cellar Theater armed with poster boards tagged with Bible verses and faces filled with rage and frustration at the sight of a sold out show.
Rick Perry held his own proverbial poster board in response to liberal and progressive movements everywhere with his National Day of Prayer rally in August. That month, he also signed a pledge to support an amendment to the Constitution that would outlaw gay marriage. But considering his recent political flubs, Perry doesn’t need any help from the LGBTQ community or its allies to make sure he loses the presidential race in 2012.
Luckily, there are still a few politicos out there on our side. San Antonio’s City Council approved domestic partner benefits for city employees in September, albeit by a thin margin. That same week, we saw the historical repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” celebrated all over the country. Gay men and women in all branches of the military would now be able to serve openly and freely, at no risk of being persecuted for it. September also saw the first Community Leadership Summit, where members of the press, educators, and volunteers gathered to discuss opening the San Antonio Pride Center.
Change, it seemed, was inching closer to San Antonio.
When local colleges and universities sponsored events on campus in support of National Coming Out Day in October, the feelings of outreach were palpable. Students gathered with their peers, families, and professors as they came out and fearlessly proclaimed their identities. A few days later, the San Antonio chapter of the Human Rights Campaign hosted its Annual Gala and Silent Auction, an event that promotes equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community through fundraising and advocacy.
Just when you think change is inevitable, you’re reminded that there’s still work to do. Unfortunately, ignorance is still prevalent in the world. In November, the story of a gay UTSA student who was assaulted by two men after a party was picked up by national news outlets. No matter how often these types of stories make headlines, the LGBTQ community never succumbs to them. The organizations, politicians, and activists who strive toward change on our behalf cannot continue to work without the help of the community. Whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer, or an ally, you play a part in the history of this community. This year may nearly be over, but next year will be whatever you make of it. Be the change you want to see in San Antonio.
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