Change Me

It just kind of hit me. Today is the fourth day we've been in San Francisco. Everything has been falling together lately, and I had a hard time noticing that it was happening. I guess months of staring at budget spreadsheets made me think it would never happen.

But we're here.

Over the past few days, we've met with some incredible folks who have humbled, inspired, and challenged me. I realize now more than ever that there is so much to be done––so much action to continue. How can I not be honored to be a part of this––my queer legacy?

We met with Beth Pickens on Monday. She's the managing director for RADAR Productions and works very closely with a traveling queer artist group called Sister Spit. This is a group that developed based off the need for some recognition of lesbian art and literature. Over the years, Sister Spit has incorporated queer folk from all backgrounds, and is proud to say that they've welcomed a straight, cisgendered man on the tour for the first time.

Beth is one of those people who you can tell has a wealth of knowledge and it shows. Among the advice I gleaned from our interaction, this is my favorite: (about the queer artist community in San Francisco) "Our artists aren't interested in normalizing anything. They say, 'I don't wanna be normal. I want to celebrate what makes me freaky.' There's a difference between normalization and visibility. We want to increase visibility of our work."

We talked over Proposition 8, HIV awareness, and even the recent 'It Gets Better Project.' When asked what she would have said to a young queer-identified person, she told our group, "Your future is a million times cooler than you can even imagine. YOu just have to ask for it."


Jason Villalobos was the man our group met up with tonight to discuss HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Jason's the kind of person you hope you meet when you're having an off day. His unrelenting enthusiasm and passion are impossible to overlook, and his story is incredible. To see Jason's story, check out this video. Jason works in San Francisco as an HIV/AIDS activist who works with too many organizations for me to reasonably list here, and says (about his work) "I put myself out there and my work finds me."

He says that San Francisco is a "city of misfits," taking in any and everyone who doesn't fit in anywhere else. Jason believes his life mission "is to eliminate stigma. We all have issues, but we never talk about them. The only way we can confront our issues is to say them out loud."

Something you ought to know about Jason: he's a bit of a local celebrity. You can see his face on a billboard at Castro and 18th currently, and he's even been on Oprah!

Jason's talk to our group deeply moved us all. He shared his inspiring story from rural, central California to bustling San Francisco, his own battle against HIV, and the many ways he's given back to the city that he says saved his life. In regards to the growing spread of AIDS, Jason reflects on the lack of federal support during the '80s.: "We were on our own. San Francisco had to turn inward and take care of its own."

Finally, Jason left us with this: "My one piece of advice to you all is to use your voice as loudly, as often, and as precisely as you can. You can still be powerful and give something back with just your voice."


My heart is simply taking wing tonight.
I have a feeling I'll have trouble sleeping.

- Grady