LGBTs join movement in Dallas
Gay Dallas resident Dave May, who says he lost his ear to cancer because he didn’t have health insurance, marches with Occupy Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 15. (John Wright/Dallas Voice)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAST WEEKEND’S MARCH
JOHN WRIGHT | Senior Political Writer
wright@dallasvoice.com
Dave May was self-employed and uninsured when he first noticed a small growth resembling a cut on the inside of his right ear about five years ago.
May was paying out of pocket for annual check-ups, and because his trusted general practitioner repeatedly assured him the growth was eczema — a relatively harmless skin condition — he had no reason to shell out $500 to see a specialist.
But the growth in the bell of May’s ear only got worse, and when he finally went to a dermatologist in 2008, a biopsy determined it was skin cancer.
It turned out to be an aggressive form, and May has since undergone four surgeries at Parkland hospital, including removal of his ear, ear drum and ear canal.
May, now 53, said if the cancer had been caught sooner, his treatment would’ve cost a few thousand dollars — and his ear would be intact. Instead, he estimates the cost to taxpayers in the hundreds of thousands.
“Our national health care policy is just pennywise and pound-foolish,” said May, whose cancer is finally in remission. “Had there been
some type of universal health plan, I would have gone to a dermatologist much earlier.
“I’m not into self-pity,” May said, adding that he’s only broken down once during the entire three-year ordeal. “I don’t feel sorry for myself, but I’ve always strongly believed that health care is not a privilege, but rather a human right.”
May was one of several LGBT people who joined about 400 protesters from Occupy Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 15, for a march from the group’s campsite at Pioneer Park to the The Crescent in Uptown, site of Goldman Sachs’ local offices.
In some cities, the Occupy movement has included a large and very visible queer presence — with rainbow flags flying high during protests and same-sex couples openly cohabitating inside encampments.
But so far at Occupy Dallas, which began Oct. 6, the LGBT presence has been far more subtle.
Local queer Occupiers and supporters are hoping this will change, however, and those who marched with the group last weekend said they see major parallels between the LGBT equality and Occupy movements.
“It’s all about civil rights,” transgender activist Pamela Curry said as she marched up McKinney Avenue toward The Crescent.
STRUGGLING FOR VISIBILITY | Chaaz Quigley, shown during last weekend’s march, said it’s been a struggle to establish a visible LGBT presence at Occupy Dallas. ( John Wright/ Dallas Voice)
“It’s about the people, not corporate rights,” Curry added, repeating the popular refrain that she’ll believe GOP presidential candidate
Mitt Romney’s claim that “corporations are people” when Texas executes one.
Eric Folkerth, straight pastor of the heavily gay Northaven United Methodist Church in Preston Hollow, noted that the Occupy march came on the eve of Reconciling Sunday in his denomination — which calls for full LGBT inclusion in the UMC.
“They’re both movements about people who are marginalized and often unheard,” Folkerth said as he stood outside The Crescent, adding that he hopes more LGBT people will get involved in the Occupy movement.
Jay Narey, communications director for Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, said he didn’t plan to spend the night in Pioneer Park but wanted to show his support for the movement by marching with the group.
“I think they’re bringing much needed attention to the inequality,” said Narey, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “SOCIALIST” in large red letters and held a sign that read, “END the CORPORATOCRACY.”
Narey said he was disappointed there weren’t more LGBT people at the march. “They’d rather have a cocktail at JR.’s,” he said.
Bisexual activist Latisha McDaniel carried a sign containing one of the few LGBT references: “Union worker. State worker.
Independent Voter. Queer. Life-giver. Person of color. 99%!!!” it read.
“They’re screwing everybody equally,” McDaniel said. “Every minority in the country is being stepped on by these corporations, by corporate greed.”
Chaaz Quigley, a gay member of the International Socialist Organization, led the entire march for a brief period as it made its way up McKinney Avenue, carrying a sign that read “Socialist Queer!”
Quigley said he’s been the most vocal LGBT participant in Occupy Dallas, having been involved since the organizing stages and spending several nights at Pioneer Park.
But he said it’s been a struggle to establish a visible queer presence within the local movement, and he called on the community to help.
“If we can have people show up in drag, that’s what needs to happen,” Quigley said a few days later at Occupy Dallas’ new camp behind City Hall. “We need to have an incredibly visible presence. We’re not trying to co-opt anything. We’re trying to create real equality.”
For more on Occupy Dallas, visit the group’s website or Facebook page.
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This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 21, 2011.
While I did participate in the Occupy Dallas March recently as mentioned in the above article and was honored to do so – I just want to clarify that my participation in the demonstration was a personal one, and I was in no way representing “Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.” My decision to participate was an individual one strictly as a private citizen, in an effort to show support to Occupy Dallas’ and Occupy Wall Street’s efforts to highlight the vast inequality of wealth and income in the United States which much be rectified if our Democracy is to survive. Capitalism is a good thing as long as it benefits the MAJORITY rather than just the top 1 or 2% of the population. While participating in the protest – I heard one participant call for a “NEW – NEW DEAL” – and that is precisely what this country needs. There are two fundamentally competing views of America right now – one being a Reaganite vision of America and the other being a Rooseveltian vision of America. I am definitely a strong advocate for the latter and work toward restoring a Rooseveltian as opposed to a Reaganite America. Capitalism has to work for ALL of us – not just SOME of us.
Not having insurance would just be completely crazy. I am an accountant and in my local area “Penny Health” is the best health insurance finder I ever had. Yes my insurance does cover dental and eye insurance which is a big help to my life.
Considering that over 50 million Americans are without health insurance due to unaffordability (it just has been reported that the US median income is below $27,000) or unavailability, it is callous to dismiss tens of millions as being “crazy” not to carry health insurance. As I worked in the life/health industry from 1980 to 1991, I also can tell you that most individual policies are not worth the paper that they are written on: I personally have witnessed how these companies will drop their policyholders once they become seriously ill. Health care is both a fundamental human right as well as sound policy unlike the failed bailout of the banks.
OccupyEquality is networking Queer Occupy Activists in cities, states, nationally and internationally. Please join us https://www.facebook.com/groups/occupyequality & https://twitter.com/occupyequality. We are building a 50-state Facebook network & I invite anyone who wants to start an OccupyEquality Texas Facebook page to contact me at occupyequality@live.com