GUEST OPINION
Mayor Menchaca and Vice Mayor Chen (Photo – City of San Gabriel)
Empty gestures and social media feeds with photos of politicians waving rainbow flags and wearing wide grins are flaunted as evidence of allyship.
By Chasity Jennings Nunez
Selective amnesia seems to be contagious as members of the San Gabriel City Council attempt to distance themselves from the fact that a little over a year ago, in a move spearheaded by Denise Menchaca and enthusiastically supported by Eric Chan and John Harrington, the city dissolved the first and only commission dedicated to uplifting diversity, championing equity and fostering inclusion in San Gabriel. Harrington appeared victorious at the time when he declared, “If you remember, I never supported it [the HEAR commission].” It was one of the few times when the San Gabriel City Council could be considered ahead of its time.
Who knew that Menchaca, Harrington and Chan were leading the way, in front of the Trump administration, down a path to dismantle all programs, initiatives, and government funded organizations dedicated to DEI? The Human Equity, Access, and Relations (HEAR) commission was a vibrant and active group of dedicated volunteers, San Gabriel residents appointed to assist the city in realizing the goals of making our city a more perfectly diverse and inclusive union.
The commission pushed for language translations, utilizing more of the budget for social services and accountability in the police department. The HEAR Commission developed a successful mental health resource fair that was recognized by state and national leaders. Calls for its dissolution came from Menchaca after commissioners proposed an All Are Welcome sticker program to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and protections.
Accountability over optics
Pride Month is dedicated to acknowledging the injustices and violence directed at a group of people solely because they dare to want to live a life of authenticity. It also recognizes the resilience and unapologetic joy that the LGBTQ+ community displays and shares with other groups the current administration seeks to exclude and marginalize.
We can no longer accept rhetoric as action and promises as unity. We can’t afford to have politicians in office who show up at the parades while signing legislation that is harmful. Words have meaning, but only when they are supported by meaningful action. It is time that we hold our representatives accountable. Accountability over optics should dictate our actions when we enter the voting booth.
As we close out June and consider the meaning of July 4th, Independence Day, many of us feel that we are in a fight for the very soul of our nation. The sucker punches are coming from those who profess their allyship, while voting with a Republican party that is using everything at its disposal to undo decades of progress.
In the next election, the ballot box will be our last defense. I urge everyone who is eligible to register, investigate the candidates, and be a changemaker at the ballot box.
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