Queer Notes: A very long hearing, join the picket line tomorrow, and I'm still at the hearing ...
Today at the Board of Supervisors at the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee there is a hearing about a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin condemning the misogynistic and homophobic remarks of Joe O’Donoghue and the Residential Builder’s Association at the Department of Building Inspections Commission hearing last month. Intense drama erupted when some RBA members came out swinging against the Mayor’s pick for the Director’s spot, Amy Lee, and made some unfortunate and sexist remarks about her pregnancy and her qualifications to be Director of the Department of Building Inspections.
When the resolution came up for a vote at the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Bevan Dufty pulled the resolution and sent it to committee. Many in the LGBT community were upset, including Debra Walker, who wrote an open letter to him asking for his rationale. Debra highlighted some of her personal experiences of homophobia by the RBA and spoke about how upset some were still about the gay-baiting poem that O’Donoghue wrote to Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Debra Walker, Land Use Activist and Artist
Shortly after that on the agenda is the resolution that Supervisor Bevan Dufty and Supervisor Tom Ammiano are sponsoring that opposes transgender discrimination in health care and supporting AB 1586, a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Paul Koretz.
Update: I ran into Debra Walker in the hallway outside the hearing. The Supervisors were on item 3, the Section 8 cuts. Peskin's resolution is item 5. When we reached the item, Supervisor Peskin introduced an amendment to the whole that struck sections that referred to Director Lee and replaced them with the phrase "female city employee." Once public testimony started, Joe O'Donoghue asked for a continuance of one month since he believed he had inadequate notice and inadequate time to prepare a defense. Then Debra Walker spoke as Chair of the LGBT State Democratic caucus in support of the resolution.
Next was Director Lee. Her testimony was incredibly moving. She gracefully discussed how difficult it will be for her to act as Director as she becomes more pregnant after all those derogatory comments. Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier, who is not on the Committee and came in just on this item, spoke after Director Lee about the struggles she faced as a pregnant woman when she was running for Secretary of State and how Director Lee's comments rang true for her. Other public comment speakers included Larry Roberts, VP of the Milk Club, Michael Goldstein, former Pres. of the Harvey Milk Club, and myself. I left the hearing to speak to a Supervisor in the hallway and missed a couple of speakers so apologies to those that I missed.
Finally, Supervisor Maxwell spoke passionately about how important it is to speak out about injustice and stand up against discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
The resolution passed unanimously out of committee.
Join Local 2 on the picket line tomorrow:
The hotel workers' fight for a contract is going to the streets again against the San Francisco's 14 Multi-Employer Group hotels. Since last summer, the hotel workers have been struggling for a decent contract. The worker’s were victorious in ending the lockout, but the hotels still want to cut healthcare and offer very low wage increases
Tomorrow members of the SF Democratic Party will be joining the hotel workers for a huge march and rally: Tuesday, May 3, 4 PM, Union Square.
Local 2 on the streets
On a queer note, Gays and Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) are having an annual fundraising event at a hotel that is part of the Multi-Employer Group..Local 2 asked them to move it from the hotel to one that is not on the boycott list. GLAAD refused. After several contacts, Local 2 came to the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and asked them to write a letter to GLAAD and organize State and local LGBT elected officials to contact them and let them know that they will not cross the picket line. From what I understand, our LGBT elected officials are doing the right thing. I don’t know what GLAAD is thinking. Our Mayor and frankly every Democratic elected official in San Francisco is honoring the boycott, and proudly so.
Continue to Boycott Badlands
And Castro for All will have an ongoing picket in front of Badlands a bar which was recently found guilty of discrimination against African American gay men by the Human Rights Commission. The boycott picket begins every Saturday night at 9PM and lasts until 1AM. Stand up against discrimination!
Here are a couple of pictures that Dennis Brumm took last Saturday night:
Larry Roberts
Vice-President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
Rafael Mandelman
President, Noe Valley Democratic Club
Howard Wallace, Vice-President, Labor Council and Michael Goldstein, former President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
On a final note, I'm still at the hearing waiting for the resolution in support of 1586. Wish me well.
When the resolution came up for a vote at the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Bevan Dufty pulled the resolution and sent it to committee. Many in the LGBT community were upset, including Debra Walker, who wrote an open letter to him asking for his rationale. Debra highlighted some of her personal experiences of homophobia by the RBA and spoke about how upset some were still about the gay-baiting poem that O’Donoghue wrote to Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Debra Walker, Land Use Activist and Artist
Shortly after that on the agenda is the resolution that Supervisor Bevan Dufty and Supervisor Tom Ammiano are sponsoring that opposes transgender discrimination in health care and supporting AB 1586, a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Paul Koretz.
Update: I ran into Debra Walker in the hallway outside the hearing. The Supervisors were on item 3, the Section 8 cuts. Peskin's resolution is item 5. When we reached the item, Supervisor Peskin introduced an amendment to the whole that struck sections that referred to Director Lee and replaced them with the phrase "female city employee." Once public testimony started, Joe O'Donoghue asked for a continuance of one month since he believed he had inadequate notice and inadequate time to prepare a defense. Then Debra Walker spoke as Chair of the LGBT State Democratic caucus in support of the resolution.
Next was Director Lee. Her testimony was incredibly moving. She gracefully discussed how difficult it will be for her to act as Director as she becomes more pregnant after all those derogatory comments. Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier, who is not on the Committee and came in just on this item, spoke after Director Lee about the struggles she faced as a pregnant woman when she was running for Secretary of State and how Director Lee's comments rang true for her. Other public comment speakers included Larry Roberts, VP of the Milk Club, Michael Goldstein, former Pres. of the Harvey Milk Club, and myself. I left the hearing to speak to a Supervisor in the hallway and missed a couple of speakers so apologies to those that I missed.
Finally, Supervisor Maxwell spoke passionately about how important it is to speak out about injustice and stand up against discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
The resolution passed unanimously out of committee.
Join Local 2 on the picket line tomorrow:
The hotel workers' fight for a contract is going to the streets again against the San Francisco's 14 Multi-Employer Group hotels. Since last summer, the hotel workers have been struggling for a decent contract. The worker’s were victorious in ending the lockout, but the hotels still want to cut healthcare and offer very low wage increases
Tomorrow members of the SF Democratic Party will be joining the hotel workers for a huge march and rally: Tuesday, May 3, 4 PM, Union Square.
Local 2 on the streets
On a queer note, Gays and Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) are having an annual fundraising event at a hotel that is part of the Multi-Employer Group..Local 2 asked them to move it from the hotel to one that is not on the boycott list. GLAAD refused. After several contacts, Local 2 came to the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and asked them to write a letter to GLAAD and organize State and local LGBT elected officials to contact them and let them know that they will not cross the picket line. From what I understand, our LGBT elected officials are doing the right thing. I don’t know what GLAAD is thinking. Our Mayor and frankly every Democratic elected official in San Francisco is honoring the boycott, and proudly so.
Continue to Boycott Badlands
And Castro for All will have an ongoing picket in front of Badlands a bar which was recently found guilty of discrimination against African American gay men by the Human Rights Commission. The boycott picket begins every Saturday night at 9PM and lasts until 1AM. Stand up against discrimination!
Here are a couple of pictures that Dennis Brumm took last Saturday night:
Larry Roberts
Vice-President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
Rafael Mandelman
President, Noe Valley Democratic Club
Howard Wallace, Vice-President, Labor Council and Michael Goldstein, former President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
On a final note, I'm still at the hearing waiting for the resolution in support of 1586. Wish me well.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home