Those of us who are politically minded have long understood why representation matters. When members of underrepresented communities hold seats of power and influence, the conversation changes; the struggles of marginalized people become less impersonal to those in the majority; and more equitable laws and culture develop.
Both of us have supported out LGBTQ candidates since our teens. We have always wanted LGBTQ people to be fully equal under the law. That’s why we invest our time as board members of Equality California and as members of the leadership at the LGBTQ Victory Fund—to help elect LGBTQ people, and to pass pro-LGBTQ legislation.
That said, representation matters for all people coming from marginalized communities where they lack representation and power: women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants and so on.
We were both asked recently to support the out gay candidate, Scott Nevins, in the upcoming Palm Springs Council District 1 election, “because we have to support the gay candidate.” Palm Springs has a majority LGBTQ population and a supermajority LGBTQ City Council. We, LGBTQ people, are lacking neither representation nor power in Palm Springs.
However, people of color are lacking representation and power. Palm Springs decided to move from at-large elections to district elections due to a lawsuit to help ensure better representation of communities of color. District 1, in particular, was designed to ensure a high likelihood of electing a person of color, because the districting committee and council understood that representation matters.
Based on current estimates, 38% of Palm Springs identifies as non-white. However, even with Councilmember Grace Garner in office, the Palm Springs City Council is only 20% non-white.
It’s also worth noting that the council could lose two other women on the council over the next two years, as Councilmember Christy Holstege and Mayor Lisa Middleton are likely to be elected to state-level offices. Even if only one leaves, and if Grace were to lose, the council could potentially be down to one female identifying member, while the population is 40% female. Representation matters.
District 1 is currently represented by Councilmember Garner. She is native to Palm Springs, female and a person of color; she has a strong voting record on the council. While we admire Nevins for his work with DAP Health, we cannot in good conscience support another cisgender white man, gay or not, in opposition to an incumbent woman of color when people of color are underrepresented, and where LGBTQ people are already well-represented. Representation matters.
As two white, queer, cisgender people, we are proud to support Grace and the underrepresented communities to which she brings a voice.
Sue Burnside and Darrell Tucci are longtime LGBTQ+ rights activists. Both serve on the board of directors of Equality California and on the campaign board of the National LGBTQ Victory Fund. Burnside is a long time resident of Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Tucci lived in Palm Springs for 8 years before moving to San Diego 20 months ago.
I fully support your position Darrell and Sue. Thank you for speaking out.
So important to have balanced voices on the city council, Grace brings that balance
They made a wise decision. Thank you.
All I hear is two white people lecturing me on who I must vote for. I will vote for who can improve my community. Grace Garner has had 4 years and we don’t have a lot to show for it. Scott Nevins is a good man who wants to work hard.
It’s unfortunate that the choice for District 1 – or any district – should be boiled down to identity. Instead, we need to know< Who is the better listener? Who shows greater respect for people different from themselves? Who has more realistic expectations about what can be accomplished as one Council member among five? Who has the better understanding of how local government works? The answers to these questions would be a better guide to a voter's choice than what is presented in this column.
Is LGBTQ Victory Fund’s position now that Palm Springs has too much LGBTQ representation? Do they also suggest we vote for the cis straight women running in Districts 2 and 3 to increase “representation”, or only District 1? All three races feature a LGBTQ candidate against a cis straight woman. Why are you shaming good LGBTQ candidates who want to serve the city? Let the voters decide.
I agree with you. Thank you for speaking out. As a former cochair of the citizens working group that worked to support a majority minority district I was thrilled when we were able to elect our first Latina to the city council. You are correct that Grace had a strong record on city council, as well as a strong record in constituent services for the entire district. She has been a strong voice for our minority communities. She is also a lifelong ally of the LBGTQ community. It is personal with her. Her favorite uncle died of aids when she was a junior in high school. In high school she and a gay friend tried to start a gay straight alliance in high school (Palm Springs was less progressive then and they were not successful). Her mothers home was a place of refuge for her out gay classmates. When she was in DC, she took a job where part of her duties were supporting women’s rights and advocating for LGBTQ equality. And she has continued to be an LBGTQ ally on city council, supporting Queer Works and DAP health in their funding requests along with other policies that support our LBGTQ community. Grace has earned my vote.
This is the opinion of two people who do not live, work or vote in Palm Springs. Let those of us that actually live, vote and deal with the problems in our District on a daily basis decide who we should vote for in this election. We do not need to be lectured on who will make the best decisions for our District or our City based on skin color, sex, gender or sexual identity.
This embarrassing article is indicative of everything wrong with Palm Springs city council. Two white people who don’t even live in Palm Springs virtue-signaling while actual local problems in our city go unaddressed. We are told nothing about what this woman has done, or what she plans to do for us, other than that she is female and a Latina. That says it all. We need new voices on this council who will actually work for us.
Craig you are absolutely right. Comparisons by ideas, values and accomplishments are how we can determine who to vote for in any election. Pitting one minority group against another minority group is no basis for determining a candidates value.
This seems patronizing and tone deaf. Voters care about who will get the homeless off the streets? Who will get serious on crime? Who will get COD built? Who will be able to get more investment for the minority communities in our city? Who is the better listener? I am supporting Scott Nevins because I believe he has more empathy and better plans, and he is a genuinely nice and fun person who does not talk down to me.
I support Grace Gardner because she is the most qualified candidate running. She has done a good job representing the majority of her District’s residents, as well as listening to all the residents of her District and the City of Palm Springs. I am also delighted that District 1 is represented by a person of color — which is why Palm Springs went to district elections to begin with.
2 non People Of Color in LA and San Diego telling POC in Palm Springs how we should vote is not the allyship we need. I’ve talked to Scott and I like him. Grace has never called me or come to my door.
Yo vivo el Districto 1 de Palm Springs. Grace no a echo nada para nuestra comunidad latina. Dice ser Latina pero ella no sabe comunicarse con nuestra gente. Nadamas le gusta decir Que es Latina para Que votemos por ella. Yo NO voto por Grace.
I don’t vote in district 1 but as a gay man I am shocked by this strategy from Grace Garner’s campaign. Whoever advised them it was a good idea to find rich gays who don’t even live in the city to argue to other gays that their representation doesn’t matter was badly mistaken. Not all LGBTQ+ in Palm Springs are privileged like them. And then to have another Garner supporter talk about AIDS as though that is relevant here? I grew up in middle east and know only too well how important protecting LGBTQ+ rights are. This is disappointing hackish stuff to hear claimed LGBTQ+ leaders dismissing our struggles and representation to further their political goals.
I read this opinion a few days ago and haven’t been able to get it out of my head since. I had been reluctant to comment because I do not live in Palm Springs. But I read it again and neither do these authors. I am heartened by the pushback to this piece in the comments and want to add my voice to those saying it is unconscionable that two people who claim to be leaders at the Victory Fund, of all organizations, could suggest that queer people have too much representation. I find their suggestion that certain minority identities should automatically trump others to be misguided and dangerous. Representation is important, but many other things are too, like work ethic, character, intellect, empathy. I do not know Scott Nevins or Grace Garner, but I feel sorry for Scott, who is automatically deemed unworthy because of his identity as a marginalized minority that Darrell and Sue don’t favor. I also feel sorry for Grace, whose status as a marginalized minority that Darrell and Sue do favor means that her skills and record are meaningless. And I also feel sorry for the Victory Fund, who at this dangerous time for LGBT equality nationwide, should have board members who actually believe in LGBT equality and representation.
Although I have respect for both Darrell and Sue, this article rubs me the wrong way. I always want to support the right candidate and many times that has been a candidate from a marginalized community. I went to MS to work phone banks and drive voters to the poll to support Mike Espy, I performed standup at a benefit for Veronica Escobar, I donated and endorsed Daniel Hernandez, Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres, Malcolm Kenyatta… I could go on but you get the point. First and foremost, I also support the person who I believe WILL DO THE BEST JOB! In a rebuttal of this article, Rich Weissman wrote: “Who has the ability, passion, energy, desire and ideas to better serve District 1 on the City Council? This defines Scott’s campaign!” Agreed 100 times! I’ve known Scott for years, and there are few who are more passionate about Palm Springs, our country and saving democracy. I want our leaders to reflect who we are, but I also want the best man/woman for the job. And that is Scott Nevins. And if you think the LGBTQ+ is overrepresented, it is my opinion, you are sadly mistaken! Thank you, Rich. You said it perfectly! Now — let’s continue to fight, together. We have lots of work to do! Best to all! (Rich’s article: https://cvindependent.com/2022/10/community-voices-palm-springs-voters-should-select-a-representative-based-on-who-will-best-serve-them-not-demographics/)