To The Editors:

We are writing in response to the comments made in Sunday’s article, “Skeletons in Gay’s Closets.” We would like to stress that, with regard to the issue of the boycott of Badlands, the GAPA board is firm in its support of this action. The issue at stake in Badlands is not an issue of “personal preference” or “sexual interest” based on race. The issue at stake in Badlands is whether someone can deny access to a place of public accommodation on the basis of race. This issue is a fundamental civil right.

There are disagreements within the LGBT API community and larger LGBT community over what occurred at Badlands, whether the evidence presented is sufficient, or whether a boycott is the proper course of action. But we would like GAPA’s stand on the issue to be clear: There is no conflict about racism itself. If what is alleged at Badlands occurred, then Badlands violated the civil rights of its patrons. The GAPA Board, after extensive discussion, has chosen to accept the findings of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and stand by the boycott sponsored by Castro for All.

We, as members of the API and LGBT communities, have experienced racism and LGBT discrimination first-hand. Often, the ethnic communities we have grown up in no longer welcome us after we come out. We turn to places like the Castro that affirm our LGBT identity. To have a public place like Badlands purport to say to anyone, “you are not welcome here,” simply on the basis of one’s race is a horrible injustice. GAPA is proud of its long legacy of fighting racism in the LGBT community. We will continue to support all efforts to ensure that the LGBT community is a welcoming place for all.

Signed:

The GAPA Board of Directors
Joe Mendoza, Co-Chair
Felix Tsai, Political Awareness Chair
Richard Lung, Treasurer
Sheening Lin, Member-At-Large
Vincent Baduel, Board Advisory
Wilson Fang, Media Coordinator
Milo Santos, Social Committee Chair