On January 17, in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter, a group of Queer and Trans People of Color held an action holding space in bars and the streets to mourn Black Queer and Trans lives taken by state sanctioned violence. This action was organized in response to the silence of the mainstream gay community in the BlackLivesMatter movement. The Castro was targeted because of its privileging of white gay men, and historic exclusion and disregard for Black queer and trans people.
We took over two bars: Badlands and Toad Hall, both historically black spaces bought out by a white owner with reputations of anti-black sentiment. In both bars, we occupied the dance floors stating our purpose for fighting for Black liberation and mourning black queer and trans lives, calling names and holding moments of silence. We called for support of the gay community and the Castro district. While the crowd and management at Badlands was largely supportive even turning on the lights and turning down the music giving space for our voices and joining in on moments of silence, the management and patrons of Toad Hall were hostile and violent towards the mourning ceremony. The management offered no support and even after being told that we would only hold space for a few minutes, a patron smashed a beer bottle and threw a trash can at the the mourners. Although angered and disheartened by the response of Toad Hall, it only furthered confirmation of purpose of shutting down the Castro and calling attention to the racism and disregard for black lives in mainstream gay community.
Following the action in the bars, was a procession to 18th and Castro where a crowd that grew to 300 QTPOCs and allies took over the intersection. An altar was built while speakers and danza azteca dancers held ceremony. After an hour, we peacfully dispersed in song asking the Castro "which side are you on, my people? which side are you on..."
Sign the petition demanding support from mainstream LGBTQ organizations:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/mourning-fighting-for-black-lives-in-the-lgbt-movement
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/18/18767097.php
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/QTPOCLiberation and #SHUTDOWNCASTRO
