San Francisco leading the way in Civil Rights
I believe that the three defining issues for our Country this decade are:
- LGBT equality;
- Immigration; and
- The public employee fights demonstrated in Wisconsin.
As the Mayor of San Francisco — and as a Gay man — I will be on the front lines.
As the first gay Mayor of San Francisco, I will stand up to the bullies — whether they are in the halls of Congress or the halls of our schools. San Francisco has built an incredible network of LGBT community organizations, religious institutions, and political groups to support our young people. But I want every gay child feeling alone and scared in places like Duluth, Charleston, and Tempe to hear gay elected officials from across our country standing up for HIV prevention funding, celebrating marriage equality victories, and championing tolerance and equality for the transgender community.
I will use my ideas, energy and experience to set a national agenda to serve the needs of our LGBT Community. Working through personal relationships, the US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities, I will advocate for national adoption of our best practices:
- LGBT Economic Empowerment;
- Meeting the needs of Transgender community;
- Services for LGBTQ Youth;
- Supporting LGBT-led families and seniors; and
- HIV Prevention/AIDS Services.
During the creation of The LGBT Center, I secured funding for the first Neighborhood Economic Development Organization (NEDO) in an LGBT Center. I am very proud that we have a NEDO similar to agencies in other communities such as Asian Inc. or Women's Initiative for Self-Employment or the Renaissance Center. Now, within The Center, a lesbian couple that wants to open a bakery can get help to develop a business plan, understand what type of capital they'll need, and identify how much they will need to set up and build out the space. We have a thriving economic development engine in our Center to help members of our community from around the City find jobs, purchase homes and start businesses.
Meeting the Needs of the Transgender Community
One of the most critical issues facing the Transgender community is the high rate of unemployment. I have worked consistently and successfully with public and private sector employers to recruit, train, hire, and support the success of Transgender employees.
I secured funding for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEI), which forged a partnership between Jewish Vocational Services, the LGBTQ Center, and the Transgender Law Center, placing over 100 people in new jobs, and providing training to City agencies and other employers on making workplaces around the City more welcoming; making the initiative a model for other cities around the world.
I personally reached out to several employers including Goodwill, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks and Safeway to engage them in transgender job fairs and job training programs. I worked closely with the SF Public Utilities Commission and the Airport to raise a combined $100,000 toward helping to identify, train, and hire qualified Transgendered individuals for positions at these departments.
The transgender community is particularly threatened by violence and hatred. We’ve seen several instances of hate crimes here in San Francisco and across the country. We can reduce this violence by carefully crafting trans-friendly policies ranging from bathroom access in public facilities, to school sensitivity training, to inclusion of gender re-assignment services in health plans—including Healthy San Francisco.
LGBTQ youth come to the Castro in search of a safe and welcoming community. In 2006, I partnered with Larkin Street Youth Services, Dimensions Clinic, and the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center to create the Castro Youth Housing Initiative. This program has 22 units of supportive housing for LGBTQ homeless youth in the Castro. In addition to housing, services include case management, life skills training, referrals for mental health and/or substance abuse counseling, and access to Larkin Street’s full continuum, including educational support and employment training.
I have been a strong advocate within City government for the outstanding work of Family Builders by Adoption (familybuilders.org) – which, for 30 years, has placed children into adoption with LGBT families. Since leaving the Board of Supervisors, I have joined the Board of Directors for Family Builders and am continuing to build relationships with different communities and to encourage private donor support. I have also worked in concert with Our Family Coalition (OFC) in terms of expanding City support for the growth of LGBT families.
I helped secure the site for Openhouse to build independent living for LGBT Seniors with comprehensive social and health services. I also restored funding so the Castro Senior Center could continue holding regular meetings.
IMMIGRATION
The struggle for immigrant rights is at a critical juncture. I am a staunch supporter of the Sanctuary City law, and as Mayor will support the rights of immigrants to fully participate in our City’s education and healthcare systems and contribute to our local economy.
I am the son of a Jewish immigrant who fled Czechoslovakia before the Holocaust so I understand those who come here any way they can to gain access to a better life. I grew up watching my mother register as a resident alien, and later as she tutored people to pass their literacy test in order to vote in New York. I support all policies that allow the undocumented to live transparently in San Francisco. Public safety and public health benefit when all San Franciscans can work, live, and access city services without fear.
The fight for a rational and just immigration policy is national, but I am proud of our local efforts to protect the immigrants who’ve made San Francisco their home. In 2009, I was the swing vote to overturn Mayor Newsom’s veto of Supervisor Campos’ amendment to the Sanctuary Ordinance, prohibiting city law enforcement from reporting juvenile offenders until after their felony conviction. I also voted to oppose ICE’s “Secure Communities” program in San Francisco.
We have thousands of children in San Francisco who are born to immigrants, and we must do more to assist these families and connect them with jobs and get their children access to excellent education. I will work closely with faith-based groups and advocates to help these families understand their rights—what does the Sanctuary City Ordinance mean for them? What City services are available?
As the first Gay Mayor of San Francisco, I will be a national leader speaking out about the impact of the federal policies on our City. The federal immigration policies pose particular challenges for the LGBT community. Trans-national LGBT couples are struck in the political quagmire of laws preventing marriage and laws preventing legal citizenship without marriage. Transgender immigrants seeking asylum face hurdles when they seek protection from our country.
I will proudly stand up for all immigrants seeking safety, love and prosperity within our 49 miles.
