How one MAGA hat incited hate and division within Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ community | Opinion
The hate and intolerance inspired by Donald Trump’s second presidency found their way into Sacramento’s gay community last week and the result was a sad reflection of the divisions plaguing our country.
Emotions were triggered by a red MAGA hat that is a symbol of Trump’s rise to power on the promise to “Make America Great Again.” For many gay people, the hat is a reminder of the intolerance members of the LGBTQ+ community have felt since Trump’s far-right movement took off nine years ago.
But in this case, a gay person who is a Trump supporter decided to wear the infamous red hat on a fateful night out on March 14. It resulted in hate, intolerance, anger, and division that we see all over the country. Sadly, two key people involved in the conflict tried at various points to do the right thing, but it all went wrong anyway.
After a GOP gathering in Sacramento concluded on March 14, members of the local Log Cabin Republican’s chapter paid a visit to the midtown bars within Lavender Heights - a collection of nightclubs, shops, galleries and restaurants around and near 20th and K streets that is the heart of Sacramento’s LGTBQ+ community.
The Log Cabin Republicans is a longstanding group of queer folks seeking to “transform the GOP from the inside.” The log cabin reference is an homage to President Abraham Lincoln, the first GOP president who was born in a log cabin.
Chapter president Preston Romero said that he spoke with the owner of Radclyffe’s, Caroline Sailor before his group arrived on Friday and she was okay with them gathering there.
One of their members decided to wear a MAGA hat to the bar, thus making everyone in the bar uncomfortable.
Romero said Sailor came to him and asked him to see if the member would take off the hat. Romero complied but the member declined. The entire group shortly left after that. The Bee reported the red MAGA hat caused a stir at Badlands, a Lavender Heights nightclub. Steven Bourasa of Sacramento was identified in The Bee story as the man wearing the MAGA hat.
“They are triggered by the red cap. I was not there to have a negative outcome,” Bourasa said to The Bee. “Conservatives are part of our community as well, but it’s an act of courage to come out as conservative.”
Sailor did not respond after I contacted her but she did post a series of statements on their bar’s Instagram. She appeared to first defend the gay conservatives but after a backlash from members of the gay community, she changed her perspective.
“I was so focused on trying to wrongfully defend Republican queers that I missed the part that shared this was a tied to a formal event, or that it was even scheduled for the following day,” the owner said in an Instagram post. “I genuinely believed these were just a couple of queer Republicans fighting for our community asking to drink in our queer bar. When they arrived with someone in MAGA gear, it was clear to me that this was not who they were. I want to be clear that this was never an intentional invitation for MAGA supporters to gather in our space.”
She also introduced a dress code, banning apparel that would be considered hate speech, including MAGA Hats. Badlands have also done the same thing.
MAGA is no easy subject
These business owners responded to a sensitive subject in their communities The hate and intolerance attributed to the MAGA hat makes it about more than just apparel. For some, the hat is a symbol a group of people who believe that the best way to be in this country is to erase people who love, worship and think differently than them.
Romero’s heart was not in the wrong place. He understands the reaction that the MAGA hat inspires in some people, which was why he reached out ahead of time. He even told me that he would be introducing a dress code to include professional and business casual attire, hoping to avoid a MAGA hat appearance.
But you can’t avoid the hatred that hat stands for.
In all of this, the most worrisome aspect of this situation was how empathy shown by Romero and Sailor failed to prevent the incident. A huge problem could’ve been avoided if the gentleman had just taken the hat off.
So if you’re a Trump supporting, MAGA hat-wearing person and you are approached about it, just take it off.
Every community in Sacramento deserves more than being triggered by a cap associated with the worst of humanity.
You’re a human first. Act like it.
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