The Urgent and Necessary Power of Visibility and Unity in the Queer Oakland Community

Visibility and community have always been our greatest assets.

Out of the closet of shame and into the world with pride,

out of the shadows and into the sunlight,
beyond reductive stereotypes and into full and ever expanding realities
from the margins to the center.

To see and to be seen, to hear and to be heard, to love and to be loved in public are core dialectical principles in our long and steady struggle to freely and openly exist and to carve spaces that we can call our own.

The history of our people–lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non binary and non-conforming people–has always been a history of political as well as spatial transgression. Of creating, against all odds, safe, durable and inclusive spaces and havens as we simultaneously demand equal rights and treatment  from our families, our cities, and our governments.

To be queer is to nurture and sustain community on the one hand and to push back, fight back and demand respect and dignity with the other.

To be queer is to understand existence not solely as individual, but as deeply plural.
To be queer is to recognize, everyday that eternal truth from ancient African wisdom, Ubuntu:

I am because you are.

We are living yet again, in dark times where our queer community is being actively targeted and persecuted not just by bigotry at large, but by our own government under this current presidential administration.  

But if our history teaches us anything, it is that we have been here before.

And we are not going anywhere.

Our strength rests not only in our collective numbers but in our resilience to lead healthy, productive and  idiosyncratic lives–in public–without fear and without shame.  

We continue to transgress norms and resist bigotry and hate by being who we are authentically everyday. We curtail intimidation when we close ranks and unite together in the streets, in bars, cafes, in parks; anywhere where the public eye is cast. 

By leading our lives in accordance with our many truths and values, we give others just like us permission to do the same.

We let those who would thwart or harm us know that we are only more emboldened, that we are unafraid.

We have a strong and diverse queer community right here in Oakland, California.

Now more than ever, we must continue to see each other, to be with each other and to support each other as we navigate these difficult times. 

This is a guiding catalyst behind the creation of queerinoakland.com

We want to facilitate and provide a platform made by Oakland queers for Oakland queers.

A space to easily and consistently find information for queer inclusive events, locations, businesses and services at the click of a button.

We want to serve and contribute to our dynamic Oakland queer community while at the same providing an opportunity to expand and develop friendship, solidarity and mutual respect and trust among one another.

We want to highlight and lift up the multiple actions and efforts being made across our city by queer groups and individuals, so that anyone seeing this website or reading this blog can know and understand this irreversible and fundamental truth: you are not alone.

Think of this blog as your new queer best friend in town; your town, Oakland.

It will discuss current trends and issues in queer life, from politics and aesthetics to self-care and culture. It will provide accounts of queer social and nightlife as well as offer recommendations and insights from other queer Oakland residents.

It will be a place to be personal, political, passionate, playful and proud.

Above all, it will be a place to be fearlessly and openly queer.

We of course want to hear from you and what information and stories are important to you, our fellow Oakland queers. Comments, feedback and suggestions are welcome.

We need each other now more than ever.
To be vulnerable and share our authentic selves.
To hold and listen to our setbacks and our losses.
To celebrate and revel in our triumphs, small and large.

To be who we truly are, on our own and with each other.

To be, simply, Queer in Oakland.