Richmond Councilwoman Perseveres Through Hate Speech
Mark Wassberg took to the podium, wagged his finger at the Richmond City Council and said:
“I’m going to keep coming up here and tell you how gays have no morality. … You’re filth. You’re dirt. Because I have the constitutional right to say it.”
The comments during a July meeting of the council were directed at Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles, the city’s first openly lesbian councilwoman. She sighed and listened impassively. After all, she’d heard it all before. For four years.
Since she was elected in 2010, Beckles, 51, has endured taunts, rants and ridicule about her sexual orientation and race - she’s from Panama and identifies herself as a black Latina - during City Council meetings.
More: Richmond Councilwoman Perseveres Through Hate Speech - SFGate
