Overview:
Though Fresno's Queer Housing summit looked at the city as a whole when discussing housing, many of the speakers had connections of their own to Tower District and what it means to them.
Local organizers, artists and community leaders gathered at the Tower Theatre on Aug. 24 for the Queer Housing Summit to discuss how to empower Fresnans in their pursuit of housing.
The summit also focused on how acquiring housing can be a challenge for LGBTQ+, gender nonconforming and BIPOC individuals.
The event was hosted by the South Tower Community Land Trust, Youth Leadership Institute, Fresno EOC LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Housing NOW!
Though Fresno’s Queer Housing summit looked at the city as a whole when discussing housing, many of the speakers had connections of their own to Tower District and what it means to them.
“Our group strongly feels, most importantly, that Tower District has always been and should continue to be just a little different from the rest of Fresno,” said Brooke Payton, who represented the Tower District Preservation Association.
The summit held breakout sessions and panel discussions about local and state housing policies and tips for becoming a homeowner and community building.
Francisco Dueñas, executive director for Housing Now!, a housing justice advocacy group, spoke about how people in the LGBTQ+ community face increased difficulty in acquiring housing.
“LGBTQ+ people are more likely to need housing assistance,” said Dueñas.
Dueñas also stressed the importance of building a community that is inclusive of all people.
“Us as queer community, housing is not just about where we live, it’s about where we build community,” he said. “It’s about being able to celebrate our culture and bring us together.”
The summit’s keynote speaker, Madeline Pendleton, spoke about the impact that growing up in Tower District had on her and how housing proved a constant obstacle.
“There were nights when I was kicked out of my family’s house and didn’t know where to go and those kids taught me how to survive,” said Pendleton, talking about how the Tower community in the 2000’s supported them.
“They taught me where to sleep, they taught me how to go to Me-n-Ed’s and sit in the corner and be really, really quiet and nice so they let you steal beer and pizza from tables when people left,” they added.
Pendleton founded a clothing company called Tunnel Vision and wrote “I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: Everything I Wish I Never Had to Learn About Money.”
Although Fresno’s Queer Housing provided insight into local housing, it was also an opportunity for the Tower community to connect. Drag performances and poetry readings gave way to audience participation and strengthened the bonds made at the summit.
