Exposing Pride: Undercover at a 'family friendly' pride event

[00:00:00]We are the Southern Jewish Resource Network for gender and sexual diversity.

[00:00:04]>> So, we do have a youth ministry. Um we love our our youth.

[00:00:10]>> Can I ask you what you are?

[00:00:11]>> I'm a fox.

[00:00:12]>> It's a religious uh Hey, how are you?

[00:00:14]>> I'm very good. I'm Lisa.

[00:00:16]>> Lisa Briceno, and I'm the festival director. May I ask who you're with?

[00:00:19]>> We do not want media organizations interviewing people without previously coordinating with us.

[00:00:24]>> Nobody's complained about any harassment.

[00:00:26]>> want any We just don't want any issues.

[00:00:29]>> All right, guys. Today is June 13th, and it is Pride Month, and Gwinnett County is having [music] Gwinnett Pride in a couple hours. And as you guys can tell, I'm undercover [music] because we're going to attend the event. This Pride event is explicitly advertised as a family-friendly event, and I wonder what does that mean. So, my mission is to collect various literature that the vendors are passing out. I might even talk to some people there, some families, better understand where is that boundary with their kids between exposing them to to the stuff. All right, let's go do this. No more David, it is Davida. Pronouns he/them.

[00:01:06]So, I'm not going to go in there because I think that is really weird to film kids, but as you guys can see, this Pride event is set up right next to a kids park.

[00:01:18]And that is all done intentionally, on purpose. It's in order to say it's a family-friendly event, to bring the kids out here, which would be close to the kids. That's another big factor here.

[00:01:30]And then it's all right here.

[00:01:35]>> Pre-lube?

[00:01:35]>> What is it? Oh, lube. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:01:38]Of course, that's awesome.

[00:01:40]So, you guys are handing out I'm vlogging, so you guys are handing out what out here?

[00:01:43]>> we're from the health department.

[00:01:45]>> Uh-huh.

[00:01:45]>> We are doing uh education about HIV.

[00:01:48]>> Okay.

[00:01:51]>> This is uh we are really bad with that.

[00:01:53]>> Got it. And you guys are handing out We're >> out uh lubricant. This is silicone. 50% water, 50% silicone. We have educational material here for everybody, for the teens, for the older people.

[00:02:06]>> Oh, for the teens. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:02:08]There you go. Hey, how are you?

[00:02:09]>> A flyer.

[00:02:10]>> What is this?

[00:02:11]>> We have a queer socialist art show coming up.

[00:02:14]>> Oh, cool. PSL. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

[00:02:16]Yeah, yeah. Awesome. Thank you so much.

[00:02:19]I appreciate it. Yeah.

[00:02:23]PSL?

[00:02:25]And I didn't get recognized. [music] >> Trying to hang out with other queer kids in their 20s and 30s and 40s.

[00:02:48]>> Far-right conspiracy theory, right?

[00:02:50]Books?

[00:02:51]>> Uh we are the Southern Jewish Resource Network for gender and sexual diversity.

[00:02:56]>> You're trying to basically get like the synagogues to integrate the community and make sure that >> We work with synagogues, schools, all kinds of different [music] community organizations.

[00:03:06]>> What What are some schools or synagogues that you work with maybe here in the area? Do you Do you guys have >> actually have our guide to Jewish Atlanta. There's over 50 different organizations.

[00:03:23]>> [laughter] >> Oh, it's cool. You guys got a good amount of congregation and synagogues joining you guys. Can I ask you what you are?

[00:03:32]>> I'm a fox.

[00:03:33]>> Well, I'm the I'm the pastor, so they're going to >> the pastor. Okay, what what is your name? One of your What is your name?

[00:03:37]>> I'm Katie Day.

[00:03:38]>> Katie Day, very nice to meet you.

[00:03:40]>> Nice to meet you.

[00:03:41]>> So, what is it that you do?

[00:03:42]>> We're a pleasant We are Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church. We're a Presbyterian Church USA congregation.

[00:03:48]So, we are a welcoming, inclusive, joy-filled congregation.

[00:03:54]>> Big topic around here is the family aspect of it. Now, in Georgia, we know that there could be a situation where the teen doesn't necessarily agree with the parents about it. So, so what do you guys do for the youth or the teens? You guys have them specific for them?

[00:04:07]>> We do. Yeah, we have programming for all ages from children, toddlers, all the way up through adults to whatever age you will live to and participate to. Um so, we do have a youth ministry. Um we love our our youths. Um we try to support families um participating in things together, but we have a wide variety of families who participate in different aspects of our church.

[00:04:29]>> And in the situation where the teen may not agree with the parents, the parents just don't really affirm his or her lifestyle. Um do do you guys help with that, connect them with someone, or provide any support?

[00:04:42]>> can. Our church is is very openly and overtly affirming and celebrating. Um and so, for the most part, our families who attend are already on board with who anybody has been created by God to be.

[00:04:56]>> Okay, so I'm going to talk off here for a second. If you notice in all my conversation, I'm concentrating a lot on the youth and the teens because I don't necessarily care what these people do in their private, uh especially when they're over 18 years old. Problem is when they bring kids here and try to indoctrinate them.

[00:05:13]>> My name is Tabitha, and I am a licensed professional counselor here in the state of Georgia. Um I do uh adult uh individual therapy services. Um and that includes um any sort of gender-affirming care. I'm trauma-informed. I'm kink and poly-friendly. I do a lot of like talk therapy and stuff like that. Um and it's hard because a lot of the people in the community who do therapy um for LGBTQ, they don't take insurance, but I do.

[00:05:40]>> Yeah. Oh, very nice. Okay.

[00:05:41]>> So, if you know anybody who needs uh any sort of uh therapy services.

[00:05:45]>> I mostly know like teens, youth, and such like that. Not so much the parents.

[00:05:50]So, you guys don't do the teens. Is there Do you know a network or somebody I you could recommend me to?

[00:05:56]>> I actually had somebody walk by.

[00:05:59]Uh let me and she introduced herself as somebody who does play therapy. So, um I don't know if you can take a picture or >> Great. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That'd be great.

[00:06:07]Oh, play therapy. Okay. And that's more oriented towards the youth, the teen, the kids, and such like that. Okay, awesome. And it wouldn't be a pride event if the Democrats weren't here.

[00:06:17]>> We're trying to educate voters for ahead of the elections here in pride. Um so, we have runoffs happening here in June.

[00:06:23]So, we're just educating voters and we're inviting them to come out to our meetings, learn more about the uh process, and get them registered to vote and able to come out and participate in democracy.

[00:06:32]>> Now, a big thing for me uh is the youth, the teens. What are What are Democrats helping to do with the youth and the teen to help them find support, to affirm that even if they have an issue with their parents or in their household?

[00:06:45]>> Absolutely. So, I am the membership chair for the young Dems here locally.

[00:06:50]Um so, we have a young Dems chapter that we're very active and very vocal in. Um it's 14 to 40. Uh so, gwinnettyoungdems.com if you want to join. And we also have an LGBT caucus that we're setting up. We set it up last year and we're getting it up and running.

[00:07:02]>> question because I'm so worried about the youth and the teen. Uh do you guys advocate for something in terms of curriculum, especially here in Gwinnett County, that should be for the kids in the middle school, high school, and such?

[00:07:13]>> Uh so, we do attend school board meetings and we come out when we are needed to um in terms of advocacy for LGBT Q issues or just student issues in general. Um we work very closely with the school board. We have a really good school board here that's really inclusive and really uh understanding of our community. So, we're actually really lucky that we don't have to do a lot of like the advocacy and educating because they're already so well trained on it.

[00:07:34]>> We're doing uh free HIV testing today.

[00:07:37]It's [music] just a finger prick on a private room.

[00:07:42]>> The family's awesome, y'all. Love it.

[00:07:45]Yeah.

[00:07:53]That is very scary.

[00:07:55]>> What's you, dude? What's up?

[00:07:57]>> Oh, what's going on?

[00:07:58]>> Yeah, all right.

[00:07:59]>> Yeah, this is this is the the right-wing drifter.

[00:08:02]>> Oh, okay. Okay.

[00:08:02]>> Yeah, so he said he couldn't tell me, so maybe you can tell me. What is PSL doing for the LGBTQ community?

[00:08:09]>> Well, we're trying to stand up for all the oppressed people. Whether you're queer, whether you're brown, anybody that's being oppressed, we are trying to stand up for them. We're trying to build a coalition.

[00:08:17]>> Now, let me ask you. You've seen the Queers for Palestine movement. I'm attending that I'm attending that event next month, actually.

[00:08:24]>> Sure.

[00:08:25]>> So, how do you square out with that, right?

[00:08:27]>> What do you mean?

[00:08:28]>> Well, if you were queer in Gaza, there'd be a very minimal chance that you would survive. That you'd be >> Why is that?

[00:08:34]>> Okay, that's possible.

[00:08:35]>> What what happens to people who are openly gay, for example, in Iran? Can you tell me?

[00:08:40]>> Okay, can you tell me what happens to openly queer people in Israel?

[00:08:43]>> Yeah.

[00:08:43]>> The right now is the biggest pride event. No, because it's a religious Hey, how are you?

[00:08:48]>> I'm very good. I'm Lisa.

[00:08:49]>> your name?

[00:08:49]>> Lisa Bertini, and I'm the festival director. May I ask who you're with?

[00:08:53]>> Yes, my name is David. I'm an independent journalist.

[00:08:56]Wow. I'm an independent journalist. I have my journalist Thanks. Are you with the county, ma'am?

[00:09:02]>> No, I am I'm with Visibility Clubs. So, >> You're They'll organize there.

[00:09:06]>> They're organizing for this >> Okay, fantastic. Is there anything I can do to help you?

[00:09:10]>> Um well, I we actually have asked journalists not to go around interviewing people because we don't want anybody to feel uncomfortable about it. I'd be happy >> A little bit.

[00:09:22]>> You're feeling uncomfortable? You're PSL. How are you uncomfortable?

[00:09:25]>> I would be happy to coordinate with you for next year's festival if you'll just email me in advance.

[00:09:30]>> I really appreciate it, but from my understanding, this is a public space, right? And I'm And >> reserved. It's >> It is reserved. Okay.

[00:09:36]>> the park.

[00:09:37]>> So, what does that mean? My my freedom of journalism and speech is limited here?

[00:09:42]>> No, sir. No, sir.

[00:09:44]>> would you like to meet you?

[00:09:45]>> I would like you to I like I would like for you to coordinate with us more formally for next year's event and please >> We'll do it for next We'll do it for next event unless you can get a police to give me a formal command to not interview people.

[00:09:58]>> Certainly. Would you want to come with me? Do you want me to sign it? Okay.

[00:10:01]>> We'll do that.

[00:10:01]>> Hi David, one last question. Did you serve in the IDF?

[00:10:04]>> I didn't, no. I'm an American citizen.

[00:10:06]>> Okay, cool.

[00:10:08]>> We have a question. This gentleman is He has told me he's with a media organization. We have not coordinated with him and we do not want media organizations interviewing people without previously coordinating with us.

[00:10:22]So, could you advise us on the situation?

[00:10:25]>> So, and and just just an additional layer, I'm a vlogger.

[00:10:31]I'm not part of some media group. I go around the country and I vlog events that happen and whatnot. People that want to have a conversation with me, they have a conversation with me. People that don't, that's it.

[00:10:42]>> Um let me deal with this fire first.

[00:10:44]>> Yes, and I'll be right here.

[00:10:46]>> Okay, thank you. So, yes, if you could please cease the the video. They only wanted to allow interviews if it was coordinated in advance.

[00:10:56]>> Okay. I won't be interviewing, but I'm going to be vlogging around.

[00:11:02]Unless you're against the First Amendment.

[00:11:05]>> Obviously not.

[00:11:06]>> Okay. So, so what is the issue of me in a public space vlogging like I always do?

[00:11:12]>> The issue is I don't know if you heard what happened in Athens last week.

[00:11:17]And well >> What what is that? I'm a individual. I don't really care what happened in Athens. There's security all around.

[00:11:24]Nobody's complained about any harassment.

[00:11:26]>> want any We just don't want any issues.

[00:11:28]So, if if you're an ally, if If a friend, please respect it And respect it even if you're not.

[00:11:34]Thank you.

[00:11:35]>> Thanks. All right. So, I'm going to continue being here.

[00:11:37]>> You can be present, of course.

[00:11:39]>> Yeah. Vlogging.

[00:11:41]Talking to myself.

[00:11:41]>> Talking to yourself.

[00:11:42]>> Yeah. And if And if somebody stops by and wants to have a conversation with me, are you going to restrict that?

[00:11:47]>> Obviously not.

[00:11:48]>> Okay. Fantastic. We're good here?

[00:11:50]>> Yeah. I was just going to say >> No problem with him being here. That's all we care about.

[00:11:54]>> You can be here.

[00:11:55]>> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate you respecting that. That other lady didn't really respect that.

[00:12:00]Okay.

[00:12:00]>> What's up, brother?

[00:12:01]>> We were having a good conversation and then she interrupted.

[00:12:03]>> I just wanted to let you guys know that this guy's a right-wing grifter, so just be careful.

[00:12:07]>> It's >> Okay.

[00:12:07]>> On his shirt, it literally says Party for Socialism and Liberation. Do we trust that? All right.

[00:12:12]>> Like I told you, I understand he said he would do it. Like I said, you can always Once if you really want to stand there and and interview people without having to >> Yeah. I'm done.

[00:12:18]>> I'm just saying it's a it's a This is not what we're here for, okay?

[00:12:21]>> This was This was everything.