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Dear John,
While LGTBQ Pride month has historically been very celebratory, this year’s intersection with the Black Lives Matter uprising evokes memories of the Compton Cafeteria riot of 1966, and Stonewall riots that occurred on this day in 1969. Overdue progress is often prompted by acts of rebellion.
52 years ago, when police raided the Stonewall Inn — an underground hub for the NYC gay community — folks fought back. They followed the lead of gay San Franciscans whose resistance to police abuses included a 1966 riot in the Tenderloin starting at the Compton Cafeteria.
The first gay pride parade was organized a year after the Stonewall Riots. While it would take many more years for LGBTQ communities to gain equal rights— for which I’m proud to have fought before it was popular—these acts of both rebellion and celebration set in motion a movement that continues today.
As we reflect on the history, evolution, and ongoing struggle of LGBTQ communities, we can’t ignore Harry Britt, who passed away last week at the age of 82. Britt was a gay socialist in the 1980s, president of the San Francisco board of supervisors, and the political successor to Harvey Milk. In 1987, he ran for Congress and was narrowly beaten by Nancy Pelosi.
A member of DSA and a committed “progressive” before that word was in the common vernacular, Britt challenged Pelosi from the left and called her out.
“I want to have the most progressive agenda in the Democratic Party — not one for socialites.” - Harry Britt
Harry lost to Pelosi in the primaries by only a few percentage points. It’s painful to imagine what could have been.
Our contemporary progressive movement stands on the shoulders of Harry Britt, and others around the country whose celebration—and resistance—we honor during Pride weekend.
We honor Harry’s ideas, his commitment to peace & justice, and his courage of convictions. On Friday, I joined the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic club for an inspiring memorial honoring Harry outside SF City Hall.
I’m grateful for the chance to stand in Harry’s footsteps, and to promote the same timeless values of inclusion, humanity, and righteous anger towards injustice. With your help, I’m especially looking forward to unseating Nancy Pelosi, and to helping bring the visionary ideals that Harry Britt and San Francisco have long shared to fruition.
Proud to stand alongside you,
Shahid
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