Statement of Solidarity

Tuesday, June 9th, 2020

Dear LavenderCal community members,

The LavenderCal leadership team and active volunteers stand in full support and solidarity with the Black Staff & Faculty Organization (BSFO), the Black Lives Matter Movement, Black LavenderCal community members, and the Black community at large.

George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Tony McDade. These are the names of Black people who are recent victims of racially motivated murder. Three of these deaths were at the hands of police officers. These are names that have captured national attention, but this isn’t new and it isn’t uncommon. Institutional and structural racism are intrinsically woven into the fabric of American society. Unchecked police brutality is an undeniable example of this wrenching truth.

On campus, LGBTQ+ folks often refer to each other as “family”. Tony McDade was a Black trans man. A family member died violently on May 27th. His death follows that of Monika Diamond and Nina Pop, two other Black trans people whose lives have been cut short this year. Their lives were not lost. They were taken. This must be acknowledged.

This Pride month, we recognize the work of Black activists who have been organizing in the contemporary LGBTQ+ civil rights movement since the inception. Among other revolutionary events in LGBTQ+ history, Black leaders and organizers were key players in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, and the 1979 White Night Riot which also took place in San Francisco. These were not peaceful protests. The need for radical action is a part of the queer heritage that we all share.

To Black LavenderCal members: The leaders of LavenderCal are holding ourselves accountable for our silence thus far. We support the right to protest and condemn racially-motivated crimes perpetrated by police officers. We will engage and uplift the work of Black activists. We stand with you.

To Non-Black people of color and white colleagues: Let us commit to upholding the dignity of Black Lives in daily life on campus and in our wider world, not just during times of particular crisis. It’s time to speak out. It’s time to listen. It’s time to learn.

It is our role as a staff organization to foster the inclusive and supportive environment that we want to see on campus. Let us honor the lived experiences and multiple identities of each community member. Stand up for Black lives. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Tony McDade. Monika Diamond. Nina Pop. Say their names. Black Lives Matter.

In Solidarity,

The LavenderCal Leadership & Volunteer Team

Cat Ming Hubbard, Volunteer Coordinator

Colin Gerker, Finance Coordinator

Marlon Maus, Communications Coordinator

Ebrahim Nasher, Group Officer

Max Vanderwarker, Technology Coordinator

Sydney Ji

Adrianne Johnson

Alisha Klatt

Victoria K. Williams

Jonathan Winters

Resources For Countering Anti-Black Racism: (not an exhaustive list and suggestions welcomed)

Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources - Document created by Anna Stamborski, M. Div Candidate (2022), Nikki Zimmermann, M. Div candidate (2021) and Bailie Gregory, M. Div, M.S. Ed.

Resources for Accountability and Action for Black Lives - Document created by Carlisa Johnson (Instagram @girlwithafro)

Ways to Help Carrd - List created by Twitter @dehyedration

Anti-Racism Actionables Compiled - Google Drive folder Owner, Jiaman Peng (jiaman.maggie.peng@gmail.com)

26 Ways to be in the Struggle Beyond the Streets - List created by Piper Anderson, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Ejeris Dixon, Ro Garrido, Emi Kane, Bhavana Nancherla, Deesha Narichania, Sabelo Narasimhan, Amir Rabiyah, and Meejin Richart; designed by Alana Yu-lan Price

Ways You Can Support the Black LGBTQ+ Community - Article by Andrew Nguyen

Some Black-led LGBTQ+ Organizations: (not exhaustive, and some are from this post by Instagram @spencerfreak)

• Solutions Not Punishment Co.
• Black AIDS Institute
• Transgender Cultural District of SF
• LGBTQ+ Freedom Fund
• House of GG
• Trans Justice Funding Project
• The Okra Project
• BreakOUT!
• The Audre Lorde Project
• TGI Justice Project
• Oakland LGBTQ Community Center

Reclaim the Block’s suggestions for Minneapolis organizations to donate to - Reclaim the Block, Black Visions Collective, Minneapolis Freedom Fund were already flooded by donations and are asking people to fund the broader movement.

Bay Area bail funds:

• Anti-Police Terror Project
• People's Breakfast Oakland
• Bay Area Anti-Repression Bail Fund
• Black Earth Farms: donate via Cash App $blackearth or Venmo @blackearthfarms
• Silicon Valley DSA Bail Fund

Bay Area BlackLivesMatter Protests (list maintained/updated by Sitara Bellam)

National Lawyers Guild (SF bay area chapter): provides resources and legal help to protesters, among other movement-support projects. You can also volunteer to become a legal observer, no background in law required.