Mural in Mission showing two LGBT couples and a trans man hit by arson; community rally planned 6pm-7pm
By Marke B.Â
JUNE 30, 2015 — Galeria de la Raza‘s “digital mural,” showing two gay couples and trans man in a Chicano cultural context, has twice been defaced by vandals since it went up for Pride month — and last night at 11pm, an act of arson defaced it yet again.
In response, a Unity Rally for the mural has been set for 6pm-7pm at Galeria de la Raza (2857 24th Street, SF), with support coming in from local businesses like El Rio and El Tecolote, and a plea for funds from the community to keep this symbol of queer visibility in the Mission in place for all.
The mural, by Manuel Paul of the Los Angeles-based Maricón Collective, was installed June 5 and “timed in honor of San Francsico Pride Month and inspired by the dedicated work of Queer People of Color … celebrating achievement and strength in the LBGT community.” The mural was defaced with spray paint twice and restored twice; the last restoration unveiled on June 26 during a candlelight vigil.
Galeria de la Raza issued the following statement:
GalerÃa de la Raza strongly condemns last night’s act of terrorism to try to yet again silence Chican@/Latin@ LGBTQ visibility.
On Monday, June 29 at about 11pm, the Por Vida digital mural by Manuel Paul was set on fire. Thankfully no one was physically hurt; however, the emotional trauma our neighbors and local communities have suffered is unacceptable and we must find ways to heal. The level of anger and hate expressed by the perpetrator(s) has moved beyond the dislike of a piece of art and into endangering the lives of families who live in the building and could have displaced families that have lived in the building for more than 20 years.
We have the perpetrator(s) for the last two incidents on video and this is an active investigation with SFPD and we will be cooperating with SFPD in their investigation.
In midst of all the hatred and violence we have experienced, we maintain a strong dedication to GalerÃa de la Raza’s mission to help give voice to all relevant issues within the larger Chican@/Latin@ communities including LGBTQ Latin@’s.Â
We will be hosting a community conversation on Saturday, July 18th, details to come.
The issue is not whether it is a factor or not, rather whether there has been a subtle subtext of homophobia on the part of those who are now urging us to show love to our oppressors when they do not show love to their oppressors, preferring condemnation of whole classes of people as evil based on one characteristic.
“How many times have anti-displacement and housing activists bemoaned the rise in double income no children queer households as a gentrifying factor?”
It is a factor. One of the first signs that a neighborhood is gentrifying is when gay white male DINKies show up with their U-Haul full of Pottery Barn furniture.
It happened in the Castro and now it’s happening in the Mission.
The tone of the event was predictable. The usual suspects of the Mission “leadership” trotted out, called for unity and promoted their agenda. Of course it is all “unity” and “love” when the target of violent threats are queer, and all knives and retribution when the target of threats are people of color or poor.
The tone was defensive, defending the left unsaid assumption that Latinos were behind the attack on queers and by the commutative properties of cooties, Latino “leaders” had to defend “their” group from charges of homophobia.
Poor folks and people of color get to cultivate their rage and bash back, while queers are expected to assume our subordinate role and go all Christian on our oppressors and turn the other cheek. We are to adopt the ideology of our oppressors as the solution to oppression!
The best part was when Campos remarked that the Mission had been in crisis for the past few months. Yep, since Campos lost the election and his rolling over for developers did not make the cut, now, all of a sudden given that his political career has hit a brick wall, there is a problem.
He’s hiding in the panic room in his $1.5 million mansion.
Have people like you given them any evidence?
Maybe vandalism of ideologically-biased art isn’t a top priority for a police force dealing with murders, rapes, thefts? You think?
Are the people “outraged” by this vandalism these the same people who believe that vandalism is a legitimate protest tactic when they are demonstrating against gentrification?
Lol
How many homeless queer youth have you “cleaned up” in the Haight?
And why would that not be more homophobic than defacing queer art?
I hope people remember this come election time. The Mission has gotten away with this homophobic bullshit for far too long.
Has the SFPD caught the perp yet?
Has Campos the impotent said anything about this yet?