Yesterday, I introduced Joy Silver, president and CEO of RainbowVision Properties. In our conversation, Joy talked about aging in the gay community and the unique RainbowVision message. In today’s conclusion of our conversation, Joy talks about RainbowVision spokesperson Billie Jean King and the magic of Santa Fe.
Ben Finzel: Billie Jean King is your spokesperson and you recently presented her with an award on behalf of the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. Why do you think Ms. King is the right kind of spokesperson for our community? In addition to her prominent role in our history, what does she bring to RainbowVision?
Joy Silver: I was honored to be asked to present the Walker Award to Ms. King from the GLBT Historical Society this year, since "Gay Sporting Life" was our year-long exhibit this season, honoring GLBT athletes. Ms. King represents our ability to effect change in the world, and her accomplishments show how single actions and perseverance can ignite change for the positive in a larger context. Among her accomplishments, she was a champion for Title 9, which legislated that women’s sports had to be financed by schools equally to men’s sports reverberates throughout society’s ideas of equality on many levels. Billie Jean King’s leadership skills continue to motivate and inspire us to greater heights as we brave the risks to equality and freedom. Who better to represent RainbowVision!?! Ms. King tells the story that when she was outed as a lesbian in the sports world back in the day, she lost all her endorsements, and now being a lesbian has gotten her ours!
Ben Finzel: I have always loved Santa Fe, but I’m not sure that everyone understands why it is the place you chose to build your first community. Can you tell me a bit about that decision and the reasons that you think it represents the right kind of place for RainbowVision to be located?
Joy Silver: Santa Fe is a small town with big city amenities, including an international opera, and so the environment in the arts has historically meant diversity of its population. In fact, diversity is considered a key asset. Openly gay city council members and the fact that both New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss participated in our ribbon-cutting event for our grand opening prove that both the City and the State see our population as an integral part of what Santa Fe, and thereby New Mexico is all about. We are one of five states that do not have a DOMA bill, we have state Hate Crimes legislation, our Fair Housing Act is stronger then the Federal Fair Housing Act in that we include transgendered people protection in housing, and the term "diversity" is the key phrase for all state philosophy. Add to this that information from the US 2000 Census shows that in the top ten metropolitan areas in the US, both Santa Fe and Albuquerque are listed as having per capita the most same-gendered couples. New Mexico is the only state to have two metro areas identified as such and it is commonly know that over 20% of the Santa Fe population identifies as LGBT.
Ben Finzel: Joy, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me.
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