Cory Allen speaks at a recent press conference. Photo courtesy of Cory Allen.
6:01pm | Editor’s note: The following is the second installment in a new series of interviews with emerging LGBT leaders.
Cory Allen is a 24-year-old out gay man who currently serves as the President of the Lambda Democratic Club of Long Beach, the city’s oldest LGBT Democratic club. Originally from the small California town of Porterville, Cory has been involved in LGBT and Democratic causes since he arrived here in 2005. Young, determined, and filled with pride for his city, Cory is among a new generation of LGBT leaders dedicated to helping his community become more openly integrated into all facets of life in Long Beach; politics just happens to be his specialty.
Q: How did you become politically active in Long Beach?
A: Oddly enough I have been going through that history in my head ever since Jean Harris died. Jean is the one who got me into politics. There was a Democratic even in 2005 where there were discussions of running LGBT candidates in local races, and getting the community more involved. I was a student at Long Beach State, and she got me involved in student activism, like voter registration on campus. She helped push me into politics as a wee 18-year-old.
Q: How does Long Beach compare to Porterville in terms of LGBT acceptance?
A: Long Beach is lightyears ahead of Porterville. Every time I go back home to Porterville, I feel like I digress. Long Beach is so different in that couples can hold hands in public, whereas in Porterville being able to openly identify as gay and feel safe is a privilege.
Q: What are the major issues facing the LGBT community in Long Beach?
A: Apathy is the biggest issue. It is just my perspective coming from a non-accepting city to an accepting city that it is hard to get people to become politically active. It is hard to get them to come and support gay causes, other than social ones.
[Another issue is that)…we are one of the few communities that have had an entire generation wiped out because of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Practically every award given out at our banquet is of someone we lost to the epidemic. There are not enough mentors to teach the younger generation about LGBT history or political organizing. It took a long time for me to learn about my own community. I did not know who Harvey Milk was until my sophomore year in college.
Q: What role does Lambda play in local politics?
A: When looking at a city like Long Beach, which has a huge LGBT population that is active in politics, business, and city government, we see that the community has tremendous influence in the city. We have a voice here, but it is easy for people in our city not affiliated with the community to forget that. In a city with such high visibility, we have a responsibility to represent the community by advocated for policies or running candidates for elected office. We have a responsibility to educate non-LGBT residents, voters, and politicians, just like they have a responsibility to educate us. Education and outreach are necessary components to progress.
Q: Who do you think is the most influential LGBT activist in the history of the city?
A: I don’t know if I can pin someone as the “most.” The fact that the Lambda Democratic Club has been here for 32 years shows that many people have played a role in getting us where we are today. A lot of people have played a role in organizing politically, and there are people who led when it was unpopular to do so. Their efforts ultimately led to us having two openly LGBT members on the city council. There were a lot of critical components that fought for our community.
For more information on Lambda, visit LBLambdaDems.org.
Cory Allen is seen here participating in the recent Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade. Photo courtesy of Cory Allen.