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Call to Action!

By Nicole Murray Ramirez

03/03/2022
in Columns, Community Voices, Conversations with Nicole, Feature, Featured, Features
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The following is the response (signed by over 50 community and civic leaders) to the hate speech that “Anti-LGBTQ Advocate” Dennis Hodges made at a commission meeting in November of 2021, first attacking the Transgender Community, then the entire LGBTQ+ Community. As the Co-Founder of this Commission and elected Vice Chair, I join the many civic and community leaders in calling for his resignation and urge people to write and call their County Supervisors and demand that he be removed from this commission which he was appointed to by a conservative right-wing Republican.

“We stand with the LGBTQ community and denounce hate speech at the Human Relations Commission In 2020, the San Diego Board of Supervisors revived the County’s Human Relations Commission, naming it in honor of former Supervisor Leon L. Williams, who worked for inclusion for all San Diegans. The Commission’s reinstatement was led by Chair Nathan Fletcher, who was awarded the Spirit of Stonewall Friend of Pride Award last year. The mission of the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission is to promote positive relations, respect, and the integrity of every individual regardless of gender, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or citizenship status. The Commission brings together a diverse group of commissioners to work together to foster a more inclusive and equitable San Diego County.

On November 9, 2021, the Commission discussed an agenda item regarding a recommitment to end discrimination and transphobia by amplifying the visibility and voices of the San Diego transgender community. Commissioner Dennis Hodges abstained from the vote, and when asked to explain his abstention, said that he believes adamantly that “transgendereds [sic]” are “sinners” and “an abomination to God,” and that he could never and will never support this community. Later that day, Commissioner Hodges wrote a letter to Commission Chair Ellen Nash, stating, “My understanding of a Transgender is a Man dresses and behaves as a Woman and Vice Versa.” In referring to the full LGBTQ community, he stated, “those who commit such acts or should I say Practice such Behaviors in this manner are making immoral and UNGODLY decisions.”

In direct response to Commissioner Hodges’ comments, Commissioner Cara Dessert, CEO of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, called for his immediate resignation during the November 9th meeting. On November 12th, two letters were sent to the Board of Supervisors, one from Chair Ellen Nash and another from seven members of the Commission, calling for the Board of Supervisors to remove Commissioner Hodges. While the Commission does not have the power to remove a commissioner, the Board of Supervisors is empowered to so do under the Commission’s bylaws. Subsequently, in a Commission meeting on December 14th, a majority of commissioners joined in a symbolic vote, calling for his resignation; Commissioner Hodges was present and has, to date, refused to resign. While we believe in Commissioner Hodges’ right to free speech and freedom of religion, his persistent discriminatory and hateful comments are antithetical to the mission of this Commission. Human Relation Commissioners are called to serve our region in furtherance of human rights for all, and because Commissioner Hodges stands vocally and fervently against our LGBTQ community, he is unqualified to serve as a Human Relations Commissioner.

In every community, hate speech leads to hate crimes and other harms, including acts of violence. Hate against one person is an assault against all of us and creates a culture where discrimination, violence, and murder occur, and where those who are treated with disregard towards their human life have a higher risk of suicide, mental health challenges, and face barriers to living a safe and healthy life. Data released by the San Diego County District Attorney’s office this year shows a troubling increase in hate crimes in San Diego motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. 2021 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people; 47 transgender people were known to be killed in the U.S. last year, and most from the Black and Latinx communities.

Transgender people are at a greater risk for suicide; they are twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide than other lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. 1 in 3 transgender youth attempted suicide in the past year. To fight this violence, rooted in transphobia, we must work collectively to combat the discrimination that the transgender community faces, actively support the transgender community’s human and civil rights, stand with the LGBTQ community, and work to build a safe and equitable San Diego for us all. The work of the Human Relations Commission cannot move forward with Commissioner Hodges remaining in his position. Allowing Commissioner Hodges to remain a commissioner will signify to others that outright discrimination and hate speech from an appointed official during a commission meeting will be tolerated in San Diego County. We, a broad coalition signed to this letter, reject this, and call upon the Board of Supervisors to stand with our LGBTQ community, stand up against transphobia and this continuing injustice that has occurred for months, and schedule a vote immediately to right this wrong and remove Commissioner Hodges from his appointed position on the Human Relations Commission”.

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Volume 4, Issue 9, February 2023

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AIDS Memorial Groundbreaking to be Held February 1 AIDS Memorial Groundbreaking to be Held February 10th!. For over 35 years, there has been a campaign for San Diego to join cities across North America to establish an AIDS Memorial honoring and remembering the over 8,500 men, women, and children who have died of AIDS. Read full story on the link below.

http://ow.ly/16rR50ML1EG
The Devil is alive in the United States, and it li The Devil is alive in the United States, and it lives in right wing, Republican driven state legislators. According to an article written by Matt Loffman for PBS, the Human Rights Campaign has identified 30 state legislators who proposed more than 115 bills targeting Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary rights in their states. Everything from participation in sports to accessing medical care has been attacked. According to a poll conducted by PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist fewer than 3 in 10 people support any anti-Trans legislation, yet the Republic legislators continue to introduce and vote for all of them. It is hard to understand why these Republicans are voted into office over and over when they obviously do not reflect the wishes of their constituents. click link to read more

http://ow.ly/smtK50MIEEA
What started as a personal social media project vi What started as a personal social media project via Instagram during the pandemic, Hillcrest San Diego has become a 10K subscriber resource for news, history, memes, and all things Hillcrest. We caught up with Rick Cervantes the force behind the account to get to know more about the motivation behind it, the plans for the Instagram account and the upcoming inaugural #hillcrestsandiego Honors with its reception schedule for Monday February 6 at Uptown tavern to honor local community members and organizations.
Read the full Interview on the link below
http://ow.ly/OJ9k50MIEBZ
Our community has been built on the need for resou Our community has been built on the need for resources and support, and sectors in our community have also been called to create organizations that enrich and serve their own specific needs. One such organization is the San Diego LGBTQ Coalition.  Read full article on the link below
https://lgbtqsd.news/san-diego-black-lgbtq-coalition-a-stronger-front-for-the-betterment-of-the-community/
Read all our February Issue Articles on our websit Read all our February Issue Articles on our website!
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