new column

“Me and My Big Red Backpack—
(p.s. what’s the theme for pride this year?)”

I have a big red backpack. You can’t miss it. It’s with me everywhere. I’ve tried and tried to find ways to leave it at home. But I’m kind of attached to it, “at the shoulder” as it were. Don’t get me wrong, I love the thing. It fits my life so well. I carry my newspapers, magazines, calendar, books, work stuff, Alice stuff, my jacket, and sometimes other clothes. That doesn’t even begin to note the various amounts of sundries, aspirin, glasses, contact lenses, and other such items that make it seem like a small drugstore on my back.

And then, being the happy-go-lucky Gay man that I am, I got me a little extra somethin’ somethin’ in there… cause you never know, just in case. You know what I’m sayin’?

Anyway, the point is, I have a big red backpack and it goes with me everywhere. You can’t miss it.

So when I’m hanging out in the Castro, even if I’m heading out for a night on the town and stepping into the local bars/dance-clubs for a little fun and to get my groove on, my big red bag’s with me. It’s a hassle to have it with me when I’m trying to feel loose and fancy-free, but what you gonna do? I ain’t got no car to put it in and my apartment is across town. So it’s with me all the time.

I’ve never had any trouble from the local Castro establishments though. Not once. In fact, on those occasions when I would take in Badlands for a little dancing, drinks, and eye-gazing, my big red backpack was always with me. I would just show my one ID and walk in. Once in a while I’d check it. But mostly, I’d have it hanging on one-shoulder up against the wall while I tried my best to look attractive and fun for some possible cute boy across the way. Or there were times when I just would sit it next to me on the ledge-for-seating area while watching videos. There were even several times when I would plop the backpack down next to me at the barstool.

I never had a problem with my backpack at Badlands.

Funny thing is, there’s supposedly a “No Bags” policy at Badlands. Well, who would have known? Actually, who would have known are the people that it was selectively used against. Turns out, there was an unwritten rule that used the policy against African-Americans to keep them out of the bar. So while my lily-white-self could walk in easily with my bright red backpack and have not a word said to me upon entering, or the entire time I was there, African-Americans were routinely told that they couldn’t enter the premises (even if they said they were going to check the bag).

Read the following excerpt from the recent Human Rights Commission findings on discrimination against Badlands:

“Several former employees explained that a selectively enforced bag policy was another method used to keep out certain African American customers. They assert that African American patrons were denied entry for carrying a bag while white patrons were allowed to enter… In August 2003, two outreach workers for a community organization conducting surveys outside of SF Badlands witnessed a doorman refusing entry to an African American man because he was carrying a small bag or backpack. The witnesses told the Commission that the African American man protested and pointed out other individuals already inside the bar who were carrying bags or backpacks. Both witnesses stated that they subsequently saw the doorman allow other individuals enter with bags while continuing to deny entry to the African American man. The witnesses explained that the African American man called the police but that the police officer explained there was nothing he could do because of the “No Bags” sign posted in the front window.”

No wonder the Commission found that Badlands “unfairly denied entry to African American individuals through the use of a “No Bag” policy that was rarely enforced against white patrons.”

Now, back to me and my big red backpack. Seems all this time I took it for granted that I could just waltz in Badlands with me and mine, I was living in my white-privilege world. And I didn’t even know it. When you’re a white male, you can get away with a lot of stuff and not even realize you’re getting away with it. Coming to a realization of that and understanding what it means isn’t exactly easy and takes some eye-opening-events.

Alice has joined the Boycott of Badlands. We hope you’ll join us at the Saturday-night protests, but more importantly, we hope you’ll help as individuals in the community too. It’s not just joining a picket line or a protest. It’s one-on-one conversations, particularly during the Pride season. If and when your friends or family members or out-of-town guests say they’re going to Badlands, tell them why that’s no longer a good place to go. If you’re in the Chat Rooms online and talking with guys who are coming to San Francisco for Pride, let them in on why they should skip Badlands. If you’re meeting up with friends in the Castro to go out, make sure to mention that you don’t go to Badlands because they discriminate.

This year’s official Pride theme is “Stand Up; Stand Out; Stand Proud.” Let’s add to that by forming our own mantra: “Stand Up for Equality; Stand Out for Justice; Stand Proud for Our Community.” Let’s make sure Badlands and everyone else in San Francisco, and particularly those coming for Pride from out of town, understand that we won’t tolerate discrimination within our community.

Me and my big red backpack ask that you join us in spreading the word.