It’s imperative to know your history, or you’ll be doomed to repeat it. Queer history is essential because it’s the reason Pride Month exists. The June 1969 Stonewall Riots were a series of protests led by queer women of color like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera against wrongful discrimination, harassment, and humiliation. Lives were lost, voices were silenced, but without the sacrifices of our queer elders, we wouldn’t have the privilege to represent our community proudly and fight for our rights fearlessly.
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On June 1, queer Indigenous actor Jonathan Joss was brutally murdered in a tragic homophobic hate crime. He was a beloved member of the queer community who shaped our humor with his charismatic charm and notable roles, including as John Redcorn in King of the Hill and Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation.
While the queer community mourned, the police reported the altercation between Joss and his neighbor, quickly excluding the possibility of it being a hate crime. However, Jonathan Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, in a lengthy tear-jerking Facebook post, stated, “My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home. That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times, and nothing was done.”
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As of now, according to People, the San Antonio Police Chief regrets making a statement so soon without having sufficient evidence and apologized to the queer community for the loss of Joss. Meanwhile, Jonathan Joss’ alleged murderer, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was arrested and released on a $200,000 bail and was released on house arrest the next day, according to the New York Post.
Joss’s untimely death is significant to Pride Month because our rights, our livelihoods, and our identities are threatened. We must continue to advocate, speak out, and keep the names of our queer elders alive. History will not repeat itself for us because we have the blueprint, and with the strength of our elders, we will never fail.
We will keep Joss’s name alive and continue to seek justice for him alongside his husband. Rest in peace, our dearest Jonathan Joss.
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