Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements and central role of the Black community in the history of the United States. This event grew out of “Negro History Week” which was the brainchild of Black Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent Black leaders and scholars. This month was first recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 with a call to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Every president since has designated February as Black History Month and this year’s theme “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity” explores the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across the United States.
We celebrate the accomplishments of the Black community in this country, including the historic election of Vice President Kamala Harris, and we acknowledge how much further we have to go in our collective fight for justice to combat institutionalized racism, implicit and explicit biases, discrimination, and violence against the Black community. 2020 was a watershed year that showed how anti-Black racism persists in our country. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless other Black people who have lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement, created a collective moment where more and more Americans believe, white supremacy and violence toward the Black community has been both commonplace and abhorrent, and committed to changing that long held truth in America.
The work of combatting anti-Black racism is a shared responsibility. We all have a role, to examine our own history and hearts, and the racism that is rooted in ourselves and in our institutions, before we can build a society where Black lives truly matter. Over the past two years, with the help and partnership of Black-led organizations and Black community leaders, members and trainers, The Center has been actively working to examine and improve our work and internal practices in order to eradicate anti-Black racism in all areas and functions of the organization including:
- Formed The Center’s Black LGBTQ Community Advisory Committee, this group meets monthly and is made up of members and guardians of the Black LGBTQ community to advise and guide The Center's board and staff in our work to better serve the Black community
- Established and dedicated programming for the Black LGBTQ community, including Brave Space and Heal Thy Soul, peer-led discussion and empowerment groups
- Conducting regular trainings and meetings dedicated to anti-Black racism for all Center staff, Board members, and volunteers
- Working in coalition with social justice partner agencies to advocate for police reform and housing policy to prioritize housing insecure and unhoused Black LGBTQ people
- Launched the Volunteer J.E.D.I. Group, a volunteer-centered effort to promote and expand Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within the volunteer program and community.
- Created safer Center facilities where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported. We now require that law enforcement come to community spaces in plain clothes and unarmed so that everyone feels safe, as we continue to reexamine The Center’s relationship with law enforcement
- Writing explicit priorities and goals for engaging the Black LGBTQ community into The Center’s Strategic Plan
- Reexamining and adjusting The Center’s operational and communications practices, including a revision of The Center’s recruitment and interview practices for Center jobs to reduce barriers and bias
While Black History Month was founded to celebrate the achievements of the Black community in U.S. history, The Center would also like to take a moment to uplift the tremendous work by Black LGBTQ organizations taking place right now in our own region. The following are all San Diego based, Black-led LGBTQ organizations and we encourage you to learn about, work alongside, and give to them in whatever ways you are able.
The Center encourages everyone to take time this month, and all year long, to explore ways they can uplift the Black community, actively demonstrate that Black Lives Matter, and combat anti-Black racism.
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-Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
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This past Monday, President Biden repealed, by executive order, a Trump-era ban on transgender people serving in the United States military. The executive order fully repeals the two orders that former President Trump signed barring transgender individuals from military service, immediately bars service members from being discharged or denied reenlistment for their gender identity, and will order both Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security to begin the process of allowing transgender service members to serve openly.
While The Center wholeheartedly celebrates President Biden’s repeal, the ban was a vivid illustration of the discrimination that many transgender Americans experience all too often. Despite this step forward, LGBTQ servicemembers, veterans, and everyday LGBTQ individuals remain vulnerable to discrimination in other areas of life because of insufficient federal nondiscrimination protections. It’s time for members of Congress to come together to pass federal legislation providing commonsense protections for all LGBTQ people in our County, like the Equality Act. The Center has long supported the Equality Act, and we strongly urge Congress to not delay any further in passing this important legislation.
If you are interested in learning more about, or engaging in, The Center’s ongoing advocacy efforts, please sign up to receive updates or calls to action from our Advocacy Team.
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IN THE NEWS: THE CENTER'S PAMUELA HALLIWELL
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“I want transgender women, Black transgender women, Black women, to live. I want us to be able to dream. I want us to be free to foster the dreams that we have set forth and be able to watch them grow to fruition. I want to live to be able to reach motherhood without the fear that one day I will leave my house and not come back. Our current administration has taken big steps to affirming and protecting trans identities by nominating Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, as assistant health secretary, and overturning the transgender military ban. There is more that we need to do.”
The Center is proud to have Pamuela Halliwell on staff as a licensed therapist, and grateful for her advocacy for Black and transgender rights. Read her Opinion piece in The San Diego Union-Tribune titled "I am a transgender woman. I shouldn't have to prove it is OK for me to be who I am."
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NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD BANK TOMORROW
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Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2 from 7:30am - 10:30am is the next Neighborhood Food Distribution, part of the Community Cares Project of the San Diego Food Bank in The Center's parking lot at 3909 Centre Street. For more information, visit the San Diego Food Bank website or contact Sarah Merk-Benitez at smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org or (619) 692-2077 x 214.
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As the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more accessible and additional sites opening, The Centers wants to keep you up to date. On January 23, the County expanded the category for vaccination to those 65+. For phases, information, details on COVID-19 vaccination sites, or to make your appointment, visit the San Diego County website.
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HELP STOP THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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You can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by adding your phone to California’s exposure notification system to get COVID-19 exposure alerts. Visit CA Notify to activate, then keep your Bluetooth on and you will receive alerts if you were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Learn more and get started here.
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SAN DIEGO COVID-19 TESTING
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With COVID-19 cases continuing in our region, The Center wants to help you find a testing location if you need one. Click here for a list of testing sites or call 2-1-1. Most do not require an appointment, the test takes 5-10 minutes, with results available within 2-4 days.
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FREE GROCERIES AND FREE DELIVERY
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The Center, in partnership with 2-1-1, CIE San Diego, DoorDash and United Way, is delivering basic pantry items to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Home deliveries take place on Tuesdays between 3pm-4pm and items include rice, soup, peanut butter, cereal, and more. If you have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in any way, please contact Sarah Merk-Benitez at smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org for more information and to sign up.
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As we all continue to stay at home as much as possible, The Center wants you to stay connected to our community. Join discussion and support groups, special programming, and more via Zoom - all tailored for our LGBTQ community. Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at (619) 800-4252 from 9am - 4pm or (619) 800-4216 from 4pm - 9pm to find the right one for you. Below find just some of The Center's groups.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY
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On the heels of the recent announcement by President Biden to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, Covered California has established a special-enrollment period from Feb. 1 to May 15 to give Californians more opportunities to sign up for health care coverage, as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession.
Similar to the steps Covered California took last year, the new special-enrollment period will allow uninsured individuals to sign up for coverage without needing to meet the normal qualifying life events, such as recent loss of coverage or moving. Anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements, which are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, can sign up for coverage through May 15 and have their coverage begin on the first of the following month. For more information, visit www.CoveredCA.com or call Covered California at 1.800.300.1506. You can also get free and confidential assistance in a variety of languages from a certified enroller, or have a certified enroller call them and help you for free.
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