Richmond Officials Curb Hate Speech

Following years of anti-gay hate speech directed at Richmond's only out city councilwoman, the City Council voted Tuesday to revise a report addressing rules and procedures for handling disruptions during public meetings.

The 6-1 vote followed nearly two hours of discussion.

Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles, 51, a black Latina lesbian, has been the target of ongoing anti-gay verbal attacks for the past four years - since she became Richmond's first out LGBT elected city official in 2010.

She is running for re-election this November.

During the meeting, council members expressed concern about who would be responsible for determining what hate speech versus free speech is and breaching community members' civil rights while discussing the report.

Currently there are policies in place, but they are "murky," and the report clarifies the rules of order, said Mayor Gayle McLaughlin.

Beckles described the purpose of the report as a way to codify proper behavior in the chamber.

She reminded opponents that when the Ku Klux Klan marched down MacDonald Street by Richmond's civic center they had every legal right, but they never marched in Richmond again. "Why?" Beckles asked; because the community came out and told them they weren't going to stand for the KKK marching in their streets.

There was a large contingent of LGBTs and allies at the meeting to support Beckles. The East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club had urged its members to attend.

"I'm delighted. I'm really delighted to see the community coming out to say, 'Stop it,' " Beckles told the Bay Area Reporter after the meeting.

The revised report will further clarify and outline what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior and language in the council chamber and will be read publicly before each meeting. One of the rules makes the chambers a campaign-free zone.

Council members struck a clause about offering trainings to individuals on best practices for working with public officials.

Councilman Corky Booze, who has long been an opponent of Beckles, cast the lone no vote. He also voted against the proposal to conduct the report in July.

The revised report is due sometime in October.

Praise for Beckles

Earlier in the evening, the city council chamber was packed with an estimated 150 people praising Beckles and applauding other supporters. Very few people who oppose Beckles were at the meeting or they remained quiet, except for Mark Wassman. Twice Wassman went on a homophobic rant, but the second time he was escorted out of the chamber by three police officers as he called McLaughlin a "bitch."

Outside a handful of demonstrators supporting Beckles passed out red ribbons and spoke out against hate speech prior to the meeting.

Beckles, who was born and raised in Panama and graduated from Florida A&M University before moving to California, was heartened by the outpouring of community support. She told the B.AR. that she hopes to see the community back at every meeting.

"What we need is for the community to continue coming to these council meetings and let individuals know, 'No that's not tolerated here,'" said Beckles, adding that communities often enforce and shape individuals' public behavior, sometimes better than laws.

Beckles said that she wasn't so much concerned about the outpouring of the East Bay's LGBT community in Richmond Tuesday night, but more about the people of Richmond, in particular the LGBT community.

"We have a big LGBTQ community in Richmond and they are the target, so it is not just me," said Beckles. "It feels good to know that we are finally addressing something that's hindering people from participating in the process."

Words Hurt

When the controversy erupted into media outlets last month, LGBT Richmonders were hurt and angered by how the city's first lesbian councilwoman was being treated.

"It's hurtful because you know this is my home," said Carolyn Wysinger, a 35-year-old African American lesbian who's a Richmond native. She said that Beckles has done many great things for the city. Yet, Wysinger said that she has seen people she's grown up knowing and going to church with in the council chambers saying hurtful things about LGBT people.

It has, "nothing to do with her policies. [It] has nothing to do with the work that she's done," said Wysinger, who was appointed by McLaughlin to the Richmond Human Rights and Human Relations Commission in March.

Wysinger said she believes it was the perfect time for her to join the commission, which has been working on a number of issues, including school bullying and hate speech.

Richmond, a city of more than 106,000 residents, is in transition changing from its rooted traditions and ideals into the 21st century, said Wysinger.

"Richmond hasn't really changed as quickly as some other cities," said Wysinger. "Even though it's been progressive, in some ways it's still a little bit traditional."

To learn more about Beckles, visit www.jovankabeckles.net