As a groundbreaking queer-owned business with a long history of advocacy, activism, and community involvement, Fiamma is a highly visible part of the fabric of  Bellingham. In your original article in the Herald, there was journalism that was inaccurate. I find these inaccuracies--and the choices to publish them and subsequently edit them without correction or a formal retraction-to be deeply troubling. I would like to take a moment to correct the record and clarify a few points.

First, I socially transitioned over five years ago; your article misgendered me. Additionally, you erased my gender identity while preserving the identities of others.

Second, I legally changed my name nearly twenty years ago—long before marriage equality became law in 2015. I did so to reclaim my identity from the trauma of my childhood, choosing instead to share a name with my then-partner. Your reporting misrepresented this deeply personal truth. Dan Bothman and I are neither related nor married; we are business partners.

I was prepared for the possibility of being misgendered in the paper since I was never directly asked, but seeing Dan and me reported as siblings was truly jarring. I was stunned.

Does my queerness make you uncomfortable? If so, I would request you to ask yourself, genuinely, where this belief comes from and why it is upheld?

In your article, you extended special considerations for an employee of the federal government because of the “current political climate in Washington D.C.” But when you made this journalistic choice, did you consider the fact that LGBTQIA2S+ folks are affected by this “current political climate” in a much more personal and consequential way? From day one, this administration has been actively and systematically oppressing LGBTQIA2S+ persons in this country. I’m convinced this is just the beginning. If trends continue, we may soon live in a world where even acknowledging our preferred pronouns is banned. By incorrectly stating my gender identity and mischaracterizing my relationship in your reporting, you are complicit in that process.

Visibility creates safe spaces in our community. Erasing a person’s queer identity makes our community less safe. 

Not too long ago I was harassed by someone on Railroad who was following me and using explicit anti-queer slurs. As I walked, I fixed my eyes on Fiamma Pizza, and the second I reached our steps I knew I was okay. The people in there had my back. 

Everybody deserves to feel safe. Every single person.

This is not a trivial issue. Your haste to break the story and the inclusion of these errors helps to erode the feeling of safety in our community. In addition, this behavior is disrespectful and a violation of my dignity and does not aid in building community or a sense of resilience. I am old enough, and strong enough, to take a hit; I’ve earned my resilience. But I will not stand by while the vastly inclusive community I’ve fought for my whole life faces unnecessary harm. 

I show grace for honest blunders, as I am certainly not exempt from the occasional flub or slip-up myself. While unintentional ignorance might be a factor, the harm caused to me and, by extension, a greater community by publishing erroneous information as fact is real. Please take the time to educate your reporting and editing team. How we tell our community stories creates our realities, and you are in a role of serious responsibility in Bellingham. 

In a system that defaults to give my white voice and masculinity unearned authority, I pledge to use it in service to others. 

Sincerely,

Ken Bothman