Phillip Goldberg (HPHS Class of 2014)

Growing up as a closeted gay man in Highland Park, during a time where our community was on the cusp of acceptance of understanding cis-queer identities, my journey has been complicated with this place. What was never complicated about it, however, was the immense love people had for one another in this town. Whenever I went to Walker Brothers, I would see a smiling face of either my dad’s patient or a friend and be able to catch up or even reconnect. When I first moved out to San Francisco after college, it was a group of us from Highland Park that helped establish my foundation in the city and really make me feel at home. And most recently, this past year, I joined The Pride Fund, a queer Jewish giving circle that raises funds for causes at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities in the Bay Area and Israel. And then later on, I learned that 5 of the 20-some members of this (let’s be honest: niche) organization as well as the chair have roots in Highland Park. This was a surprise, but not a coincidence. This city radiates love and hope. The people here are good people trying to make the world a better place. I hope we are remembered for that as we take on this painful and slow road to recovery.

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