Top Ten GLBT News Stories | Year in the Life of Gay San Antonio

Travis Peterson (seated at right) with his longtime partner Charles Cuneo at the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio's Annual Awards banquet in September.

Community Leadership -- Travis Peterson
Travis Peterson, the chair of the Peace Officers Training Committee, tendered his resignation this year citing declining health. For the past four years, the committee has offered GLBT awareness training to cadets at the San Antonio Police Academy. The program was initially developed by Peterson after he approached Police Chief William McManus with the idea at a meeting of the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio in 2006. Today, thanks to Peterson and to the committee's efforts, every class of cadets now gets this important training.

Peterson was also the first openly gay social worker in Texas and has been very active politically. In 1984, he was the first openly gay social work lobbyist sent to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco and was an openly gay delegate to the 2006 Texas Democratic Convention.

In 2008 Peterson was recognized by the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign when they presented him with the Chuck Jordan Award for lifetime advocacy. In 2011, the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio honored him with an award for Community Leadership.

We salute Travis Peterson for his achievements and advocacy. He is a true role model for all of us. Click here for related story.

Civil Service -- City Councilman Diego Bernal
Since his election last June, District 1 City Councilman Diego Bernal, a former civil rights attorney, has proven to be a true ally to our community.

In an interview with QSanAntonio prior to his election, Bernal said, "I recognize the strong presence of the GLBT community in District 1 and want the community to know that our vision for the district includes them. As a civil rights attorney I know how important inclusion and opportunity are. If we are to be among the great cities in the country we need communities and policies that reflect that stature, and we must move in the right direction. I want to be a part of, if not lead, that effort."

Bernal has made good on that campaign statement and has been supportive of issues affecting gays in San Antonio including domestic partner benefits for city employees and the creation of a new GLBT community center.

Speaking at the Christmas party for the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Bernal told the group that he is often thanked for his support and advocacy of gay issues. Yet, he said, he does not see this as an extraordinary effort but something that should have been done a long time ago.

We thank the Councilman for his efforts on behalf of our community and wish him a long tenure in city government.

Click here for related stories.

Community Activism -- GetEqual Texas / DANSA
The young activists of GetEqual Texas and the Direct Action Network of San Antonio are to be praised for their aggressive pursuit of equality over a variety of GLBT issues. Members of these groups, who use public protests to bring attention to their cause, have distinguished themselves for their pluck and perseverance.

Whether its confronting former Bexar County Democratic Chair Dan Ramos for his homophobic statements to holding an all-night vigil at City Hall to highlight the plight of transsexuals, GetEqual Texas and DANSA have brought back a brand of activism and protest that has not been seen since the 1960s.

The two groups have also proven adept at co-opting public events into their protests like on Valentine's Day when they infiltrated a mass wedding ceremony for straight couples at the County Courthouse or unfurling a pro-gay banner at an anti-gay protest of the play "Corpus Christi."

We are fortunate to have these groups working to make our city and our state a better place for our community. Click here for related story.

Unbridled Bigotry -- Dan Ramos

In an March 11 interview with the San Antonio Current, Bexar County Democratic Chair Dan Ramos had some choice words about the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio. “I liken them to the Tea Party — the Tea Party and the fucking Nazi Party — because they’re 90 percent white, blue-eyed, and Anglo, and I don’t give a fuck who knows that. Just like the blacks … they’re American, but you can’t get your way just because you’re black.”

Aside from making bigoted remarks about gays, blacks and whites, Ramos alienated local Democratic politicians who had offered to help pay off a $200,000 debt that came about when a former party treasurer embezzled the funds.

In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, County Judge Nelson Wolfe said, “I get the feeling that no one is going to be writing checks until there is a damned good sense of where (the incoming chairman) wants to take the party. I know I won't be writing any.”

Even when given a chance to recant his statements Ramos persisted saying he believed gays were like "white termites who have infiltrated the party much like termites infiltrate your house," and that they were co-conspirators with direct involvement in the theft of the $200,000.

Calls for Ramos' resignation came from all corners of the state including the State Party Chair and the Mayor of San Antonio. He was eventually ousted from office using an obscure regulation found in Robert's Rules of Order. In May, Democratic stalwart Choco Meza became the new party chair. Click here for complete coverage.

Photo: QSanAntonio

Inciting Anti-Gay Zealotry -- San Antonio Community of Congregations

Priests, reverends, a Muslim imam and a rabbi from the San Antonio Community of Congregations, representing the largest religious organizations in the city, held a press conference in Main Plaza in May to denounce the production of "Corpus Christi" which was staged at the San Pedro Playhouse in June and depicts Jesus as a gay man.

Rev. Oscar Canu, Auxilliary Bishop of San Antonio read a statement sent to the San Pedro Playhouse. However, prior to reading the statement, the bishop said that "art must not only imitate life it must elevate it." "Corpus Christi," he added, "is just vulgar."

In the weeks that followed, Christian extremists pressed for the city and the Office of Cultural Affairs to defund the Playhouse and staged demonstrations outside the theater throughout the play's month-long, sold-out run. The situation escalated to the point that death threats were made against the cast and crew of the production.

It's concerning when the 'holy men' of San Antonio stand in the public square and denounce a gay play and, by implication, give religious homophobes permission to speak out against gay people, energizing a type of zealotry that could lead to bullying, violence or worse. Click here complete coverage

Screen capture: MySA.com (San Antonio Express-News)

Homophobic Demon Mongering -- Pastor Gerald Ripley

In the hours leading up to the City Council's budget meeting on August 31, Pastor Gerald Ripley, the man who's spearheaded the campaign against domestic partnership benefits for city employees, posted on his web site that "Demonic forces are converging over S.A. for the purpose of establishing immorality as a right at the government level."

Ripley's followers were abetted by unemployed Christian radio host Adam McManus and Rev. Charles Flowers who was once arrested for dragging a teenager behind a truck at his Christian boot camp. They came to the City Council meeting and used their religious beliefs as an excuse to unleash a torrent of hate speech, misinformation and unabashed homophobia.

In an online diatribe on his web site, McManus labeled as "traitors" the City Council members who voted for the benefits and mulled over what strategies Ripley and other Christian leaders might use to extract revenge on those who voted to approve the benefits. Click here for complete coverage.

2011 Year in Review

Top Ten GLBT News Stories | Year in the Life of Gay San Antonio

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