>> O'Connell: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

WHILE MANY OF US ARE EAGER TO GET BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD, THE REOPENING IS A SOURCE OF ANXIETY AMONG ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES AFRAID OF THE RACIST ATTACKS THAT HAVE SURGED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

I'M JOINED BY PHILIP CHONG, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF QUINCY ASIAN RESOURCES, AND CHRIS HAHM, B.U.

RESEARCHER AND PROFESSOR WITH A FOCUS ON REDUCING HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES AMONG ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

THEN, LATER, REVEREND IRENE MONROE AND TRANS RESISTANCE MASSACHUSETTS' CHASTITY BOWICK JOIN ME ON ALL THINGS PRIDE IN BOSTON, FROM BOYCOTTS OVER DIVERSITY ISSUES TO CORPORATE RAINBOW WASHING AND MORE.

AS VACCINATION RATES RISE AND COVID DEATHS FALL IN THIS STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY ARE EAGERLY TAKING OFF THEIR MASKS AND TAKING ON A LOT OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ON HOLD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT FOR SOME, THE VIRUS ITSELF ISN'T THE ONLY CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO REOPENING.

IN THE ASIAN-AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, THERE'S ALSO WIDESPREAD FEAR ABOUT THE RACISM THAT SURROUNDS IT.

IN A SURVEY EARLIER THIS SPRING, NEARLY A THIRD SAID THEY OFTEN WORRY ABOUT BEING A VICTIM OF HATE CRIMES OR OTHER RACIST INCIDENTS, AND 20% SAID THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN THE VICTIM OF ONE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THAT COMES AMID A SURGE OF SUCH ATTACKS WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE GROUP "STOP AAPI HATE" RECEIVING MORE THAN 6,600 REPORTS SINCE LAST MARCH, MORE THAN 800 OF THEM PHYSICAL ASSAULTS.

MANY MORE WERE VERBAL ATTACKS OFTEN REFERENCING COVID-19 AND SOME OF THE RACIST PHRASES FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEAPONIZED DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

AND NOW, MAKING MATTERS WORSE, IS THE RESURGENCE OF THE WUHAN LAB LEAK THEORY, THE NOTION THAT THE CORONAVIRUS ORIGINATED IN A LAB IN THE CHINESE CITY WHERE COVID-19 WAS FIRST DOCUMENTED.

WHEN THE THEORY FIRST ORIGINATED LAST YEAR, IT WAS BEING FLOATED BY THE SAME PEOPLE PARROTING TRUMP'S RACIST LANGUAGE AND SCAPEGOATING ASIAN-AMERICANS FOR A PANDEMIC THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH.

SO AS SOME SCIENTISTS BEGIN TO GIVE THE THEORY LEGITIMATE AND SKEPTICAL CONSIDERATION, THERE'S SOME FEAR THAT FOLKS WITH LESS THAN SCIENTIFIC MOTIVES MAY LATCH ONTO IT, TOO.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE PHILIP CHONG, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF QUINCY ASIAN RESOURCES, AND CHRIS HAHM, A PROFESSOR AND RESEARCHER AT B.U.

's SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK WITH A FOCUS ON REDUCING HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES AMONG ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PHILIP, I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU FIRST AND ASK, WHAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMUNITY BEEN IN REGARD TO THE FEAR FACTOR ABOUT RE-ENTERING SOCIETY AS WE'RE ABLE TO NOW?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT IS -- FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

IT STARTED WITH THE WHOLE RHETORIC ACCUSATION OF THE ASIAN BRINGING THE VIRUS, AND THEN THE ACTUAL SHELTER IN PLACE, AND NOW WITH ALL OF THE RECENT ATTACKS REALLY CREATING THE FEAR, THE CONCERNS.

WE STARTED THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN FOR THE AAPI MONTH WITH THE WHISTLE PROJECT, AS A PROTECTION FOR THE ELDERS.

AND WHILE WE'RE GIVING THESE FREE WHISTLES, WE HEAR LOTS OF CONCERNS FROM THE ELDERS, THAT THEY LEGITIMATELY ARE ASKING THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION MOVING TO THIS COUNTRY.

BECAUSE MANY OF THEM, THEY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN THE LATE AGE, WHICH ALSO BRINGS IN LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND CULTURAL BARRIERS.

IT IS REALLY HARDER FOR THEM TO GET BACK -- OR GET INTO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THE VACCINATION, WITH THE NUMBERS GOING DOWN, THERE IS NOT A FEAR.

A LOT OF THE ELDERS AND ASIANS, THEY ARE STILL WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT.

AND NOW THEY GOT FEAR ABOUT -- LOTS OF THEM HEAR PUT DOWN YOUR MASK.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

SO IT IS NEVER GOING TO WIN.

IT IS ALWAYS THERE.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE.

NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE.

AS A COMMUNITY -- >> O'Connell: I WANT TO BRING PROFESSOR HAHM TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE HEALTH CRISIS THAT ALL OF US ARE EXPERIENCING, AND CERTAINLY COMMUNITIES OF COLORS ARE.

WHAT, IN PARTICULAR, DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO AS A SOCIETY TO HELP DIMINISH THIS FEAR AND DIMINISH THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, BUT IT IS ALSO A VERY COMPLEX QUESTION.

BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH SYSTEMIC RACISM AND SYSTEMIC -- IT IS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

IT IS VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS THAT IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON.

EVERY TIME THIS TYPE OF VIRUS OCCURS, ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE HAVING OFTEN TIME AND FREQUENTLY VICTIMIZED AND SCAPEGOATED.

SO WE CAN THINK ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS, BUT NOT REALLY AN EASY SOLUTION.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS, OKAY, LIKE, HOW DO WE ADDRESS ASIAN-AMERICANS -- WHAT ARE THEY SUFFERING FROM RIGHT NOW?

AND WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE HOPE BECAUSE THE VACCINE IS HERE AND COVID RATES ARE GOING DOWN.

SO THERE IS A SENSE OF HOPE AND A SENSE OF A NEW ERA THAT WE ARE ENTERING.

HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO MY INTERVIEW WITH MANY ASIAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS OR ELDERLY PEOPLE, THE FEAR IS AS GREAT AS BEFORE, LIKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND MAYBE IT IS EVEN HIGHER THAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE NOW WE ARE SHOWING -- WE ARE TAKING ALSO THE -- WHAT IS IT -- WE ARE TAKING OFF THE MASKS.

MASKS, SORRY.

THEY'RE TAKING OFF THE MASKS.

AND ANOTHER THING THERE IS THE SENSE OF SAFETY.

THE SENSE OF SAFETY HAS BEEN VIOLATED WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

SO THERE IS A LITTLE TRUST TOWARDS GOVERNMENT, TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, AND TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

SO BASICALLY ASIAN-AMERICANS DO NOT FEEL THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO REALLY PROTECT THEM.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT AFFECTIVELY DONE ANYTHING TO PROTECT US.

>> O'Connell: SO WE'RE SADLY SORT OF -- HOPEFULLY WE'RE ENDING THE PANDEMIC OR ENTERING A CHAPTER WHERE -- WE'RE ENDING IT THE SAME WAY WE BEGAN IT WITH VIOLENCE AND HATE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE ASIAN AND ISLANDER COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A HEARTBREAKING THING.

WHAT CAN WE DO AT HOME TO FIGHT THIS?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO APPALLED BY THIS BEHAVIOR BY OTHERS?

HOW CAN WE TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THIS DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM?

>> I THINK THE FACULTY PROFESSOR HIT THE NAIL IN THE HEAD ABOUT THAT TRUST, ABOUT THE BLOANG.

BELONGING.

AS AN ASIAN-AMERICAN MYSELF, AND IN THE COMMUNITY, HOW CAN WE BUILD THAT TRUST AGAIN.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH DEFUNDING POLICE, AND WITH ALL OF THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE POLICE, HOW CAN WE REBUILD THAT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT?

BECAUSE, DON'T GET ME WRONG, GROWING UP IN HONG KONG AND MOVING TO THIS COUNTRY WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD, I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS BESIDES DEMOCRACY IS THE POLICE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I THINK THERE IS GOOD POLICE, THERE IS BAD POLICE, WE KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

SO HOW CAN WE REBUILD THAT TRUST?

WE'RE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, STAKEHOLDERS, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WE NEED TO DO MORE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, NOT JUST FOR THE YOUTH AND THE ADULTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE ELDERS.

I THINK THE ELDERS -- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEEN FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS THE ATTACK ARE ON THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, THE GROUP -- THE ELDERS.

HOW CAN WE EMPOWER THEM TO SAY THAT -- BESIDES BEING THE VICTIM, HOW THEY CAN FIGHT BACK.

AND ALSO EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, SELF-RIGHTS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT IS A LONG PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT COULD BE FIXED BECAUSE WE LIVE IN -- I MEAN, AS AN IMMIGRANT, BEING IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 30 YEARS, THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES.

BEST, BEST COUNTRIES.

AND WHAT WE HAVE -- I KNOW WE HAVE -- OUR COUNTRY IS SO DIVIDED, WITH ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE, BUT STILL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE PEOPLE.

>> O'Connell: PROFESSOR, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO BUILD ON THAT.

I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES OF TRUST REGARDING NOT ONLY INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO REACHING OUT FOR HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT.

AS A MEDICAL WAY TO MOVE FORWARD, ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK ON THE INSTITUTIONS TO BETTER INCLUDE AND BETTER OPEN THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DOCTORS AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND POLICE WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY NEED HELP?

>> I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE NEED TO REALLY BUILD THE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE ABOUT AND WHAT ASIANS ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND EVEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE, EVEN ACTUALLY ONE-THIRD OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION HAVE NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION.

SO THAT IS REALLY SHOCKING FOR US.

WHEREAS ASIAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING, ALL OF THE TIME THEY HAVE THE TYPE OF VIOLENCE, BUT ONE-THIRD OF AMERICANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE GOING THROUGH THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE AND STRESS.

THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

THAT MEANS THAT -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WATCHING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE READING.

I THINK THE COUNTRY IS REALLY DIVIDED.

AND IT'S REALLY SAD.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY HAVING -- WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE, LIKE, MORE UNITED.

U.S.A., THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH?

ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH IS THE DIVISION AND THIS HEALTH DISPARITY AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> O'Connell: PHILIP, I WANT TO END WITH YOU AND ASK, HOW ARE YOU FEELING REGARDING OPTIMISM?

I KNOW YOU'RE OPTIMISM AND CERTAINLY HAPPY THAT AMERICA IS AMERICA, WHEN IT IS LIVING UP TO THE IDEALS THAT WE ALL SHARE.

YOU KNOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING THROUGH A RECKONING, A LONG, OVERDUE RECKONING.

ARE YOU HOPING WHEN WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, MAYBE WHEN WE TALK NEXT YEAR, THAT AMERICANS WILL BE MORE AWARE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO WE'LL BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE?

>> I HAVE TO.

I'M ALSO A FATHER OF TWO TEENAGED DAUGHTERS, SO I HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

ADDING THE POINT THAT ASIAN IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT JUST CHINESE.

THERE IS KOREAN, JAPANESE, CAMBODIAN, INDIAN, AND IT IS SO DIVERSE.

THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, I THINK IT HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT DATA DESEGREGATION TO REALLY BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND IDENTIFYING THE PINPOINTS AND NEEDS FROM THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.

WE NEED DATA.

WE NEED INFORMATION TO BETTER ADDRESS AND HELP EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY.

SO I WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE HERE.

AND STARTING FROM ME FIRST.

[LAUGHTER] >> O'Connell: ALL RIGHT.

I THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

PROFESSOR CHRIS HAHM AND PHILIP CHONG, I APPRECIATE YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU NEXT YEAR FROM A MORE OPTIMISTIC STANDPOINT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> O'Connell: NEXT UP, ALL THIS WEEK BOSTON PRIDE IS IN FULL SWING, WITH VIRTUAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE LGBTQ-PLUS COMMUNITY IN THE CITY.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVEN'T BEEN QUITE SO PROUD OF THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF.

LAST YEAR ACTIVISTS ACTED ON LONG-STANDING CRITICISMS ABOUT A LACK OF DIVERSITY WITHIN BOSTON PRIDE, WHICH HAS NO BLACK MEMBERS ON ITS LEADERSHIP BOARD, HOLDING A TRANS RESISTANCE MARCH ON THE SAME DAY THE ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEY'RE PLANNING TO HOLD THE EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR TO BOYCOTT THE PRIDE EVENTS AND DRAW ATTENTION TO VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER AMERICANS.

AND ALONG THE SAME VEIN, LAST WEEK LGBTQ ACTIVISTS UPSTAGED A BOSTON PRIDE MAYORAL FORUM, INVITING CANDIDATES TO THEIR OWN EVENT INSTEAD, WHICH PROMPTED THE ORGANIZATION TO RESCHEDULE THEIRS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF THE BRANDS AND CORPORATIONS THAT ENGAGE WITH PRIDE, WHO ARE QUICK TO ROLL OUT THE RAINBOW PRODUCTS EVERY JUNE, INCLUDING SOME PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE OFFERINGS FROM TARGET THIS YEAR, BUT CAN BE SLOW TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY OR MEANINGFUL REFORM, OFTEN MAKING PRIDE -- AS "THE BOSTON GLOBE'S" RENEE GRAHAM PUT IT IN A RECENT COLUMN -- "JUST ANOTHER OCCASION OVERWHELMED BY COMMERCIALISM."

I'M JOINED BY REVEREND IRENE MONROE, A SYNDICATED RELIGION COLUMNIST, CO-HOST OF GBH'S "ALL REV'D UP" PODCAST; AND CHASTITY BOWICK, CO-FOUND OF THE GROUP TRANS RESISTANCE MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSGENDER EMERGENCY FUND OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AND BEFORE WE START, I SHOULD NOTE: MY OTHER EMPLOYERS, NBC 10 BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND CABLE NEWS, ARE MEDIA SPONSORS OF BOSTON PRIDE.

>> O'Connell: ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO, HAPPY PRIDE.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU SEE THE PRIDE COMMITTEE, WHICH WE SHOULD SAY IS A BOSTON PRIDE -- THERE ARE PRIDES THAT HAPPEN ALL OVER THE STATE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU SEE THAT HAVE LED YOU AND OTHERS TO CALL FOR A BOYCOTT OF PRIDE EVENTS AND FOR THE BOARD TO RESIGN?

>> IT HAS BEEN A LACK OF INCLUSION, A LACK OF DIVERSITY.

AS SOMEONE WHO WASN'T BORN AND RAISED HERE, I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT BOND, THAT INCLUSIVITY, AND THAT WASN'T THERE.

WE HAVE TRIED TO INFILTRATE PRIDE, LIKE, LISTEN, LET'S LET TRANS LIVES LEAD THIS MARCH, AND ALL OF OUR EFFORTS HAVE ALWAYS GONE IN VAIN.

FURTHERMORE, WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THE PRIDE MONTH, JUNE -- PRIDE SHOULD BE ASSISTING THIS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THEY RAISE OVER $350,000 LAST YEAR AND THEY DID NOT HAVE PRIDE, SO WHERE DID THOSE FUNDS GO?

I KNOW WHERE IT COULD HAVE WENT, TO TRANS HOUSING, BUT IT DIDN'T.

IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE WE'RE FIGHTING NOT ONLY TO BE SEEN OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, FIGHTING TO BE SEEN, TO BE HEARD, TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AS OF LAST YEAR, THERE IS NO MORE ASKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WE CREATED OUR OWN TABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SOMETIMES THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT HA TO HAS TO BE, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> O'Connell: REVEREND IRENE, I KNOW YOU WERE JUST A BABY, BUT YOU WERE AT THE RIDE OVER THE EVENTS OF THE WEEK THAT HAPPENED THERE.

YOU'VE BEEN SAYING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT CHASTITY HAS BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS REGARDING PRIDE, AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> RIGHT.

AND I THANK YOU, CHASTITY, TO NOT ONLY ARTICULATE THIS ONGOING PROBLEM, BECAUSE I'M NO LONGER A BABY, AS YOU CAN SEE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT THE TORCH HAS BEEN TAKEN, AND YOU'RE RUNNING WITH IT AND STUFF HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE LARGER WHAT I CALL THE DOMINANT WHITE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY HAS AMNESIA, AS WELL AS WHITE PRIVILEGE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO APPROPRIATE AND PIMP HISTORY.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE SECOND WAVE OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE BLACK AND BROWN BODY THAT PATRONIZED THE STONEWALL RIOT -- I MEAN THE END, AND THEN IT BECAME A RIOT HERE.

WHAT IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC HERE, EVEN IF YOU GIVE US THAT HISTORY, YEAH, WE WERE THERE, IT IS THE CONTROLLING OF THE NARRATIVE.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PICTURES, ONE WHO WRITES THAT STORY, IT IS NOT PEOPLE LIKE US.

I FIGHT EVERY YEAR TO BRING THAT STORY.

SO I'M SO GLAD TO BE ABLE TO PASS THIS TORCH TO A YOUNGER CITIZEN WHO HAS ENERGY.

BECAUSE YOU GET SICK AND TIRED.

GIRLFRIEND, I WANT TO SAY SICK AND TIRED OF SAYING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> O'Connell: CHASTITY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CORPORATE PART OF IT.

I'M AN INSTITUTIONALIST.

THOSE ARE ALL MY BIG SINS.

IRENE IS LAUGHING AT ME BECAUSE IT IS TRUE.

I'M EXCITED THAT EVEN THOUGH TARGET HAD SOME HORRIFIC OUTFITS THIS YEAR, I'M THRILLED I CAN GO SHOPPING WITH MY DAUGHTER AND SAY, LOOK, TARGET THINKS I'M OKAY.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE PARADES, IN THE BUSINESSES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

>> JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY, EVERYTHING IS FINANCIAL.

AND IT IS SAD THAT DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR, EVERYBODY HAS A PRIDE PRODUCT, AND NOW EVEN A TRANS BLACK COLOR PRODUCT.

WHERE ARE THE PROCEEDS GOING?

ARE THEY GOING BACK TO THE UNDERSERVED, VULNERABLE COMMUNITY?

IS IT GOING TO HELP BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEM OPPRESSION PLACED ON THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES?

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

LET ME SEE YOU SPEAK UP AND SAY, I'M DONATING "X" AMOUNT OF THIS FOR TRANS HOUSING, FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR TRANS FOLKS, EDUCATION FOR TRANS FOLKS.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE NEED ASSISTANCE IN, AND IT ALL GOES HAND-IN-HAND.

BECAUSE IF I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO THE DOCTOR'S TOMORROW.

I MAY HAVE TO USE DRUGS JUST TO GET OVER SEX WORK.

ARE THERE NO PROPERTIES IN PLACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT WE NEED?

IF NOT, THERE IS A PROBLEM.

WE'RE NOT WANTED AT WOMEN'S SHELTERS, MEN'S SHELTERS, SO WHEN PRIDE COMES AROUND, USE SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE MAKING OFF OF OUR BACK TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT SERVICES I JUST NAMED THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DONATE TO.

>> I CALL THAT PIMPING ON THE BACKS OF BLACK TRAUMA AND BLACK PAIN HERE.

IT REMINDS ME OF VIOLA FLETCHER, 107-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO PRESENTED TO CONGRESS ASKING FOR REPARATIONS, AND YET THE CITY PUTS UP A $33 MILLION MUSEUM, AND NARRY A CENT GOES TO HER AND THE THREE SURVIVORS OF THIS MASSACRE.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE TO DECONSTRUCT HOW WHITE SUPREMACY OPERATES AT THE EXPENSE OF EVEN DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES, LIKE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ASKING, AS CHASTITY SAID, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF PRIDE COMMITTEE, NOT JUST HERE IN BOSTON, BUT IT IS PANDEMIC AND GLOBAL HERE.

SO THE REAL WORK IS HERE.

WHILE IT IS WONDERFUL TO GO INTO TARGET AND GET THESE MERCHANDISES, IT IS STILL DONE BY CHEAP LABOR AND STILL NOT TARGETED TO THE VERY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE GETTING SOME SORT OF RESOURCES FROM PIMPING US.

>> O'Connell: SO AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, AS -- THIS IS THE INSTITUTIONIST HERE -- AT THE SAME TIME, I VIEW THE LGBTQ RIGHTS MOVEMENT ONE OF THE ONLY MOVEMENTS WHERE CORPORATE AMERICA DID THINGS WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT TELLING THEM TO DO SO.

THEY OFFERED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BEFORE -- WE STILL DON'T HAVE EQUALITY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT WE DO HAVE RIGHTS AT COMPANIES.

EVEN RAYTHEON, WE CAN ARGUE WHAT THEY DO FOR WORK, BUT THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST MILITARY CONTRACTORS TO HAVE TRANS RIGHTS IN THEIR MISSION STATEMENTS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.

DO WE NOT NEAT NEED CORPORATE AMERICA AND THE BUSINESSES TO FORWARD THE RIGHTS WORK THAT HAS TO GET DONE?

>> OKAY.

I'LL GO.

I THINK WE DO FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS HERE.

I THINK THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE DOLLAR WORKS HERE.

BUT I THINK IT IS TWO-PRONGED.

WHILE THEY WERE GIVE TO OUR CAUSES, WE DON'T NEED TARGET TO SAY YES, I'LL ET THE H.R.C.

TO FIGHT FOR THE EQUALITY ACT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M GOING TO GIVE TO MITCH McCONNELL'S CAMPAIGN THAT IS FIGHTING AGAINST IT.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER, ONE OF THE THINGS DOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE THAT ROBERT E. LEE STATUE, B.M.W., A BIG CORPORATION, WAS GOING TO PULL OUT.

WE NEED A CORPORATE ACTIVISM TO JUST NOT TALK IT AND PIMP US, BUT ALSO WALK THE WALK AROUND, MAKE DISTRIBUTING THIS KIND OF RESOURCES TO THE VERY PEOPLE WHO'S BACK YOU'RE RIDING ON.

AND THE REASON WHY WE EVEN HAVE THIS SECOND WAVE OF THE LGBTQ MOVEMENT.

I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE A YOUNGER GENERATION.

AND I'M LOOKING ROOT RIGHT AT IT.

>> O'Connell: CHASTITY, WHAT IS THE PLAN IF THE PRIDE COMMUNITY -- YOU CALLED FOR BOYCOTTS ON THE OFFICIAL PRIDE EVENTS, AND I TELL PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR THE OFFICIAL PRIDE EVENTS SO THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT EVENTS THEY WANT TO GO TO OR NOT WANT TO GO TO.

IF THEY RESIGN, WHAT'S THE PLAN?

IS THERE A PLAN TO TAKE OVER BOSTON PRIDE?

OR IS THERE A PLAN TO LAUNCH A NEW PRIDE?

OR ARE WE JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> I THINK FOR US, IT WILL BE A COMMUNITY DECISION.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE BOARD OF TRANS RESISTANCE WHO FEELS THE WAY WE FEEL.

THIS IS THE COMMUNITY AND SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MASS EQUALITY,QUALITY.

WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO RESIGN, AND THEN WE WOULD HOLD A COMMUNITY FORUM TO SEE WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS BOARD.

MAKE SURE THIS BOARD IS DIVERSE.

THERE SHOULD BE A WHITE PERSON ON THE BOARD.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ALL BLACK, BUT IT HAS TO BE INCLUSIVE.

I THINK FOR US, WE WANT A COMMUNITY FORUM AND GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH BOSTON PRIDE.

I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THAT NAME BECAUSE IT IS VERY FAMILIAR.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT CORPORATE OWNERS.

I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WILL HAPPEN SOON.

>> O'Connell: IRENE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT CHANGE WILL COME?

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT TRANS RESISTANCE IS DOING.

I WANT TO JUST SAY THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT BOARD SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WHETHER WE SHOULD REVAMP IT OR NOT.

THERE IS A BIBLICAL STATEMENT THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T POUR OLD WINE INTO NEW WINE SKIN.

WE NEED TO REDESCRIBE A DEFUNCT PRIDE BOARD.

IF WE HAVE A WHITE PERSON, NOT A TOKEN ONE, BUT ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS INSTITUTIONALITY AND RACISM.

I'M THE FIRST BLACK LESBIAN WOMAN TO BE PRIDE.

THIS WAS 1998.

DO YOU HEAR ME?

IT TOOK WELL OVER 20 YEARS TO GET ANOTHER BLACK PERSON.

SO WE'RE SICK AND TIRED OF ASKING.

AND SO NOW PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS YOUNGER GENERATION BECAUSE, SEE, LIKE MY GENERATION SAID, OKAY, WE TRUST YOU.

THE YOUNGER GENERATION, LIKE CHASTITY, IS SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ON OUR OWN.

I WISH WE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

SO RUN WITH IT.

>> O'Connell: CHASTITY, YOU HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK QUICKLY ABOUT IT?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

THE SECOND ANNUAL TRANS RESISTANCE BLACK LIVES MATTER MATTER CAMPAIGN MARCH/PRIDE WILL BE THIS SATURDAY AT 12:00.

WE'LL BE MEETING AT NUBIAN SQUARE AT 10:30, AND THEN WE'LL BE GOING TO TRANSLIN PARK.

AND WE'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES, VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS, WE'LL BE SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS TO WIN AUTOGRAPHED PATRIOTS' ITEMS AND CELTICS' ITEMS.

AND OUR GOAL TOWARDS MARCH AND THE END OF JUNE IS TO RAISE $250,000 TOWARDS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AS WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO OBTAIN LAND OR SOME TYPE OF PROPERTY TO GET THIS PROJECT STARTED.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> O'Connell: AND QUICKLY, IRENE, ONE THING YOU'RE DOING FOR PRIDE QUICKLY?

>> I'M GOING TO BE AT THE TRANS RESISTANCE PRIDE.

I'M GOING ON THE STREET, AND DEFINITELY IN FRANKLIN PARK BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE IT IS HAPPENING.

>> O'Connell: I WISH YOU BOTH A HAPPY PRIDE.

I'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY FOR SURE.

I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH JOINING ME.

REVEREND IRENE MONROE AND CHASTITY BOWICK, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND HAPPY PRIDE, EVERYONE.

>> O'Connell: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

JIM WILL BE HERE WITH ASSISTANT HOUSE SPEAKER KATHERINE CLARK ON THE PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE AND THE LINGERING GRIDLOCK IN WASHINGTON, AND OUTGOING ORCHESTRA PRESIDENT ON HIS 23 LEGACY AT THE HELM OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org