By Dennis McMillan
San Francisco Pride Condemns Attack on Jerusalem Pride March
San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee joins InterPride and others in condemning the horrific attack that occurred during Jerusalem’s Gay Pride march, where a religious extremist repeatedly stabbed several participants as they moved peacefully through the streets of the holy city. This tragedy demonstrates clearly why Pride events are still relevant and much needed, as they ensure the visibility of the LGBT community, and promote acceptance and equality everywhere, for everyone, say Pride spokespersons. “Our hearts are with the victims, their families and the entire LGBT community in Jerusalem and Israel.” sfpride.org
Groundbreaking Survey Assesses Needs of Transgender People Living with HIV/AIDS
Transgender Law Center launched the Positively Trans (T+) survey, a first-of-its-kind community-led needs assessment to examine the legal and policy landscape as experienced by transgender women, men and gender non-conforming people living with HIV/AIDS across the country. “As transgender people living with HIV/AIDS, we are capable of forming our own network, telling our own stories, and developing our own strategies for advocacy,” said Cecilia Chung, Senior Strategist at Transgender Law Center in Oakland and project leader for Positively Trans. “This survey is a groundbreaking opportunity to not only highlight our needs, but also our resilience when there are few resources available. We are ready to offer policy makers, providers and legislators our own solutions.” transgenderlawcenter.org
Openhouse Offers Workshop for Tenants Being Mistreated by Landlords or Feeling Fearful of Eviction
Openhouse, which offers housing assistance, services and community for LGBT seniors, will host a Tenant Rights Workshop on August 17 at 4pm in partnership with Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO). Space is limited. Please RSVP to Openhouse Housing Coordinator Abby Krumbein at (415) 702-3537 or abby@openhouse-sf.org to reserve a spot. openhouse-sf.org
Openings at Lyon-Martin Health Services Now Offered
Lyon-Martin now has openings for Back Office Manager; Consulting Psychiatrist; Integrated Behavioral Health Specialist; Integrated Clinical Social Worker; Spanish Speaking, Primary Care Provider; Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Lyon-Martin Health Services is a nonprofit community clinic in San Francisco that provides primary care and behavioral health services in an integrated model to over 2,000 women, lesbian and transgender patients annually. They are looking for intelligent, dynamic individuals to join their team. The ideal candidates understand that offering patients a professional setting where they are treated with dignity, respect and compassion is the cornerstone of how they run their organization. Lyon-Martin is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, transgender people, lesbians and people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply. lyon-martin.org
New SFPD Castro District Boundaries Announced
In a recent update of Police Station District Boundaries, Park Station’s patrol area was changed, so it now covers all of Duboce Triangle, including the neighborhoods north of (but not including) Market Street, from (but not including) Octavia Blvd. west and up toward Twin Peaks. When calling SFPD for help (911 for a life-threatening emergency or non-emergency 415/553-0123) the primary dispatch goes to either Mission or Park Station, based on their boundaries – though all stations in SF cover for each other when necessary, for the fastest response to calls.
castromerchants.com
CA LGBT Judicial Coalition Criticizes Lack of LGBT Judges
The California LGBT Judicial Coalition has published “The New Frontier of LGBT Equality: The California State and Federal Judiciary” with 15 pages asserting it is time for California to make a sustained commitment to increase LGBT representation throughout the judiciary. “The legitimacy of the justice system depends on inclusion,” claims Herbst Foundation Professor and Dean’s Circle Scholar at University of San Francisco School of Law Julie A. Nice. “The California judiciary should be leading on the measure of LGBT inclusion. But we’re trailing. Unfortunately, the lack of representation creates the perception of a lack of opportunity.” Because LGBT lawyers seldom see a judicial appointment from their community, they remain reluctant to pursue these positions. Fortunately, the Governor’s office is beginning to address the low LGBT representation in the judiciary. thla.org
New Publication Provides Schools with Guidance to Ensure Safe Environments for Transgender Students
Five national organizations introduced “Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools,” a first-of-its-kind publication for school administrations, teachers and parents about how to provide safe and supportive environments for all transgender students, kindergarten through twelfth grade. The lead authors are Asaf Orr, the Transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and Joel Baum, Gender Spectrum’s Senior Director for Professional Development and Family Services. Other co-authors include the National Education Association (NEA), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Recognizing that schools are increasingly being called upon to include and support transgender students can seem daunting or overwhelming, Schools In Transition offers practical guidance and field-tested tips to parents, educators, administrators and community members on planning and supporting a transgender student through a transition at school. nclrights.org
MUNI Construction Projects Affect the Castro
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and its MUNI Metro light rail train service have several projects coming up that affect the Castro. They include shuttle buses instead of trains during an extended nighttime shutdown of the entire MUNI Metro subway tunnel (from Embarcadero to St. Francis Circle past the West Portal Metro Station, and including Church and Castro Stations) having begun July 31, and extending for about a year. During that time there will be nighttime Metro subway work to replace and upgrade emergency telephones and radio systems, then re-rail of the tracks and other work inside Twin Peaks Tunnel (beginning in early 2016). Escalators at Castro Station also will be replaced (one at a time) beginning this October. Traffic Calming changes are being added to the complex and problem intersections of Upper Market at 16th-Noe, 15th-Sanchez and 14th-Church Streets starting this month. New Bike Share kiosks are coming next year to The Castro. sfmta.com
AEF and BCEF Appoint Sandra Nathan as New Executive Director
The joint Boards of Directors of AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) announced the appointment of Sandra Y. Nathan as Executive Director. She will begin her new position on Monday, September 14. Nathan replaces long-time Executive Director Mike Smith, who announced his retirement in January. The search was led by Scott Miller Executive Search. aidsemergencyfund.org
New amfAR Grants Accelerate Research Efforts to Eradicate HIV
The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, announced that three research teams have been awarded $2 million each to pursue a range of strategies aimed at curing HIV. The new grants are part of amfAR’s $100M Countdown to a Cure initiative, launched last year with the aim of discovering the scientific basis for a cure by 2020. Each project is designed to tackle the major impediment to curing HIV, namely the persistence of the virus despite anti-HIV drugs. amfar.org
NCAVP Mourns Death of Transgender Woman Killed in Fresno
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of K.C. Haggard, a transgender woman who was stabbed to death in the street in Fresno, California. The driver of an SUV summoned Haggard over to the vehicle, moments before fatally stabbing her in the neck. Local transgender activists are calling for this homicide to be investigated as a hate crime. Local media coverage is highlighting a lack of bystander intervention after Haggard was attacked. This is the eleventh homicide of a transgender woman that NCAVP has responded to in 2015, and the second within three days. ncavp.org
Equality Act Could End Legal LGBT Discrimination for Good
Despite widespread belief to the contrary, no federal law explicitly protects LGBT people from discrimination; but The Equality Act is a comprehensive bill that would, if passed, add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the protections that already exist based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also would do more than that. Unlike the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which bounced around Congress for 20 years without ever passing both chambers in the same session, The Equality Act takes a comprehensive approach to protecting the LGBT community in seven critical sectors: credit, education, employment, federal funding, housing, jury service and public accommodations. The legislation is an update to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that increases its protections for many Americans beyond the LGBT community as well. thinkprogress.org
Trans: Thrive Offers Second of Community Forum Series
Trans: Thrive, a Drop-in Center by and for the Transgender Community of San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area, is presenting Community Forum #2, “Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Tea,” on Thursday, August 20, at 6pm at 25 Van Ness, 6th Floor. Organizers ask activists to join them as they mobilize the transgender community “to have a much needed, and long overdue, discussion about issues within the transgender community which have created barriers to overall unity and connectedness. Help us bridge the gaps within our own communities by engaging in heartfelt, thoughtful, respectful and transparent conversations about ‘what’s bugging us most’ about these long-standing divides.” transthrive.org
Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association Seeks Members
The Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association provides a public forum for the people who live, work and play in the greater Eureka Valley area to discuss common issues and concerns, and help develop solutions to improve the neighborhood. Organizers say, “If you’re looking for a place to get involved, express your opinions, lend a helping hand or wrestle with land use and planning topics, we’d love to have you consider attending or joining EVNA. We’re reportedly the oldest continuously operating group in the city.” They have an active board and membership of about 350 people, holding general membership meetings every two months and a board meeting every other month. Anyone who resides in the area can belong. They are especially looking for persons of color, women and younger voices to add to their eclectic mix. evna.org
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