Laughin’, Lovin’, and Livin’ in 2008: A conversation with Chris Alston

Interview By: MooDylan

INTRODUCTION

When you think of movers and shakers at the cross-section of communities that include gay men, women and Black folks in Philadelphia, probably few organizations better typify that complicated soup of racial and sexual realities than Philadelphia Black Gay Pride. And the mover/shaker behind that organization, fittingly, hails from West Oak Lane - one of the City’s solidly black, solidly middle class enclaves. With such an obvious historical investment, Chris Alston stands confidently at the helm of a large and growing organization. Not only doing good in the hood, PBGP broadens its influence through “promot[ing] and advocat[ing] for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health and well being of all related communities” This interviewer had a chance to play twenty questions with our hometown hero and the answers he gave about his childhood, milestones along the way, his professional life, and even a peek at his personal life will surprise, in some cases shock, and overall inspire you.

CHILDHOOD

Nurtured by both his parents, Chris describes his childhood in one word as “Great! . . . Both of them were a very intricate part of my life and for that, I am grateful.” Indeed the very structured upbringing he had may have contributed to his childhood dream of becoming an accountant. That, along with his attraction to numbers, explains why he now manages over 30 planning committee members…the largest yet! In addition to such invested parents, Alston also credits as early influences his “biggest cheerleader . . . my sister . . . and my pastor [who] taught me about the love of God.”

MILESTONES

With values like family, faithfulness, and Divine love instilled early on, it’s no wonder Chris’ coming out was so drama free. “I really don’t have a story . . . it just happened”, he confides - without the slightest twinge of guilt for those of you who enjoy a good coming-out tale spun of treachery, trials, and triumph. Such a background probably influences his personal goal of excellence. Just the same, into all lives trouble must come. Two rather difficult events in Alston’s life were the loss of his grandmother and the break-up with a long-time partner. The dates seared in his soul, Alston relishes his resilience, explaining:

“October 19, 1997 . . . my Grandmother left this earth. The other saddest day of my life was June 19, 2005 when the love of my life walked out on me. But I thank God, that He sustained me through both incidents, although my grandmother could never be replaced, He has put grandmother figures in my life to help compensate for that loss. And now . . . .I can see that everyone that He put in my life was in preparation for the man that’s now is in my life . . . .and all I can do is thank God!!!”

PROFESSIONAL

Having assumed the role of PBGP president in 2006, Alston’s pedigree includes an earlier stint with the PHIRM - a group that began giving parties 2 years prior to the inception of Philly Black Gay Pride - and PBGP planning/committee engagement as far back as 2001, 2 years after its own birth. Given this history, he surveys the landscape and contextualizes a current major challenge among the intersectional community of gay Black folks:

“Well there are a number of challenges facing our communities, but there are also a lot of really great new progressive things happening in our communities. With respect to the challenges, I would say that the most critical is our ability to share our voice and our collective concerns, issues and ideals related to being people of color and members of LGBT Communities.

Historically, our communities have not enjoyed the political capital or decision making influence that white gay communities have enjoyed. There are a number of reasons for this. One reason is the lack of critical understanding of issues important to LGBT people of color communities by white LGBT communities. On the people of color side there has been a historical distrust of white communities with respect to race relations, and economic and political empowerment among other issues.

So, our current environment is still one where LGBT communities of color are not heard and do not exercise certain rights to demand to be heard, with respect to issues relating to our future as individuals and communities. This I see as our greatest challenge.”

Ever the optimist, he pauses to add that:

“On the positive, I would say that the growth of both local and national LGBT people of color organizations, individual leaders and communities enhances the possibility of improving our efforts to exercise those rights in a very progressive way.

I would say the greatest opportunity is simply the possibility of having a unified strengthened voice where we, LGBT people of Color are asserting our own issues in ways that are acceptable culturally to our communities but respectful of the other allied communities that we must work in partnership with to improve not only our lives, but our communities in general. And that is the beginning . . .”

Alston is, indeed, aware of and a participant to opportunities that have become realities for the community:

“Well you know that there have been some historical challenges in the area of effective collaboration. But there have been some successes and I think we are on the brink of a major achievement in this area. First, as an example of effective collaboration, I can tell you that over the past year, Philadelphia Black Gay Pride has taken on organizing a community response to homelessness by participating in the Annual Day of Giving sponsored by the United Way. In this effort, we called on many different groups and organizations to be co-sponsors by providing money to feed/clothe over 300 homeless individuals on MLK Day, bringing volunteers together to do outreach to the homeless and add their voices to the call for more resources targeting LGBT people who are homeless and homeless folks across the board. This has been a very successful collaboration that started two years ago and we look forward to it growing.

But, more recently we helped to organize the LGBT People of Color Coalition which consists of thirteen local LGBT People of Color organizations to strengthen the public policy and political voices of our communities. This is historic in many ways. First, I can’t remember a time when we even had thirteen People of Color organizations in Philadelphia at one time taking on critical questions like public policy and political power. Second, for the first time we have all come together with one agenda and people are taking notice.

We recently had a community forum on April 17th where we presented a platform around LGBT People of Color issues worked on by the co-sponsoring organizations. This gave the community an opportunity to share their voice in the development of this platform which will be used as a yard stick to measure how decision makers and elected officials are doing on our specific issues. It was great to have Senators Obama and Clinton’s National LGBT Coordinators and surrogates present to talk on their behalf. All of the candidate’s in the highly contested 1st Senatorial District race, John Dougherty, Larry Farnese and Anne Dicker attended as well as City Council members Frank Rizzo, Jr. and Maria Quinones Sanchez. This was truly a historic forum that has many possibilities for our communities.”

Such enthusiastic insight is what motivates Chris to ‘share the wealth’ when it comes to opportunities for others to get plugged in: from volunteering at this year’s Philly Black Gay Pride (taking place now April 20 - 27, http://www.phillyblackpride.org/), planning for next year’s festivities, and even year-round events. No doubt, he offers, plugging away without a lick of shame, “We are a 100% all volunteer organization and we value community participation and ownership of our activities, so I invite folks to join us as we build community.”

PERSONAL

A strong willed person (and who doesn’t need that and more being “in the life”), Chris still takes time for the important things. For instance: dating (exclusively though, and “taken” now, so dream on guys!), flea markets (he’s even a vendor), baking (“cakes from scratch with real flour” he brags), and keepin’ it real spiritually (I’ll bet you didn’t know he’s been a church organist for 23 years . . . was he doing it in diapers?). When asked if he prefers boxers or briefs, he answers boxers . . . “Or boxer briefs” he adds (never one to be pinned down). Alston dreams - 5 to 10 years down the line of getting married . . . with children, in Philly perhaps . . . but not necessarily. What’s for sure, however, is that wherever he is and whatever he’s doing, Chris Alston will have his signature heart of gold in tow, filled with love for God, the family and other loved ones who shape and support him, and the community from which he comes and to which he gives back.