Will Krooked Alex have to "Keep on walkin'"?

UHW's Lavender Caucus aren't too happy to be paying the salary of a homophobe like Alex, and they want him gone. No response from SEIU management yet...

February 20, 2009

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Eliseo Medina
Dave Regan
Mary Kay Henry

To International Vice Presidents:

It has been brought to the Lavender Caucus’ attention that Alex Espinoza, SEIU-UHW representative, has made public comments on various websites that condone homophobic behavior and violence against LGBT people. According to SEIU’s Mission Statement, “SEIU is united by belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. As SEIU purports to be the “leading advocacy organization for working people, it is our responsibility to pursue justice for all people of every race, ethnicity, religion, age, physical ability, gender, gender expression and sexual orientation. We are the standard-bearers in the struggle for social and economic justice.

When Alex aka Krooked raps “keep on walkin’, homo”, he creates a hostile environment for all SEIU-UHW members at his facility as well as those he encounters at labor events. In a period of increased violence towards the LGBT community and the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepherd’s death, it is inconceivable that a SEIU-UHW representative would participate in such hateful speech as found on the video “Trippin” easily viewed on Youtube. How will SEIU-UHW members go to Alex for support against homophobic managers and bosses when they know of his public raps?

As the trustees for SEIU-UHW and International Executive Vice Presidents, you are responsible for maintaining the high standards and history of our local’s support of LGBT members and the LGBT community. The standard should be no less than our mission statement. Due to the high level of standards SEIU must uphold, we call for the immediate removal of Alex Espinoza. No other method of discipline would be just. We demand a response by February 23, 2009. If Alex is not terminated, we will explore other remedies.

Mary Kay, as a founding member of the Lavender Caucus and the highest ranking LGBT officer in SEIU, we trust you share our outrage at these hateful and offensive remarks and will take immediate action.

Yours in Solidarity,

Lavender Caucus

Tony Aidukas, Co-Chair
Lucila Conde, Co-Chair
Gary Jackson, Co-Chair
Lily Hickman, USW President

cc: Lavender Caucus