A conversation with
CRAIG WIESNER
Commissioner, San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission
https://www.smcgov.org/lgbtq
Co-Founder, Reach & Teach
https://shop.reachandteach.com/
Hosted by
PAUL GEORGE
Exec. Dir. (Ret.), Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
https://peaceandjustice.org/
https://www.facebook.com/penin.pjc
It is abundantly clear that the far-right (ie the GOP) will try to make the so-called “culture wars” a main element of the 2022 elections. In Texas, the state Republican Party just adopted an official platform that states, “Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice” and “We oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity”. Meanwhile, new laws already on the books in Texas are seeing parents come under criminal invesstigation for tending to the healthcare needs of their trans children.
The ACLU is reporting that so far this year, 34 bills have been introduced in 29 states that would restrict transgender healthcare. Another 43 bills in 19 states are aimed at censoring LGBTQ+ issues from school curricula and libraries. Florida, of course, has already enacted its infamous “don’t say gay” bill. Even more alarming, 31 right-wing extremists were recently arrested in Idaho for planning physical assaults on Pride Month events. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion of these disturbing trends and what may be done to counteract the escalating culture wars.
Craig Wiesner is co-founder of Reach and Teach, a shop in San Mateo dedicated to peacemaking, sustainable living, and inclusion that offers books, toys and fair-trade gifts from around the corner and around the world.
He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a degree in Organizational Behavior and Adult Learning. A decorated veteran of United States Air Force, Craig worked as an intelligence analyst and as an instructor at the Defense Language Institute.
Craig has been deeply involved in social and economic justice issues and the peace movement for the last 25 years. He is married to his long-time partner, Derrick Kikuchi, with whom he shares his life, business, and dog Holly. Craig was appointed to the LGBTQ Commission in November 2015.
Recorded on Wednesday, June 29, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Zoom Webinar
