By Dennis McMillan
Supervisor Wiener Calls for Open Source Voting System in SFSupervisor Scott Wiener this week called for a hearing on San Francisco’s efforts to fund, design, and implement an open source voting system that he says will provide for a more transparent, secure, and publicly viewable elections system. Currently, San Francisco contracts out to private vendors to provide voting technology.
These vendors require expensive long-term contracts, and run elections on proprietary software and hardware. Open source elections software could be run on off-the-shelf hardware like tablets and printers, which are less expensive than proprietary hardware. The source code, systems design, and other materials used to run the elections system would be publicly available. The proposed hearing is scheduled to take place next month.
Out Lesbian to Head San Francisco General Hospital
Following an extensive nationwide search, San Francisco Health Director Barbara Garcia announced the appointment of Susan P. Ehrlich, MD, openly lesbian, as the new chief executive officer of Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, leading a staff of 5,400 and managing a budget of $1.1 billion. Ehrlich comes to San Francisco General from the San Mateo Medical Center, where she most recently served as its Chief Executive Officer, from 2009 to present, overseeing a staff of close to 1,500 and budget of $270 million. Previously, over her 14 years of service at the center, she was chief medical officer, vice president and medical director. sfhealthnetwork.org
Westboro a No-Show as Supporters Flock to Gay Children’s Book Author
Jase Peeples could not have bought the kind of publicity he was given when the infamous anti-gay hate group Westboro Baptist Church announced its intention to picket his reading and signing at Books Inc. in the Castro, where Peeples promoted Square Zair Pair, an LGBT themed children’s book. While Westboro was a no-show, dozens of people from the LGBTQ and allied communities showed up in force to send a message of love and support countering Westboro and supporting Peeples. hoodline.com
President Obama and Hillary Clinton to Attend Local Fundraisers
Today, President Obama is in Atherton to raise funds for Democrats. On February 21, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be in the East Bay to discuss her campaign and also to raise funds. A prior visit by President Obama to Atherton left the town with $8,000 in bills to pay for security and other services, but a new special events ordinance requires those hosting special events to pay for their own police, public works or other town services.
paloaltoonline.com
Marriage Equality USA Celebrates 20 Years, Announces Transition Plans
Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) has announced a series of projects and celebrations to commemorate 20 years of grassroots organizing, culminating this spring in the closing of the organization and the transition of key resources to continue the work towards full LGBTQ equality. After almost a year and a half of conversations with members and partners, MEUSA will conclude independent operations this spring after accomplishing their mission of marriage equality in all 50 states and at the federal level. However, the organization has taken deliberate steps to ensure 20 years of knowledge and programs are rededicated to the movement and used for full LGBTQ equality. For details, go to
marriageequality.org
Smart Gun Symposium to be Held in SF
Two West Coast non-profits dedicated to reducing the toll of gun violence—Washington Ceasefire and The Smart Tech Challenges Foundation—will be holding a symposium on February 23 to address possible technological solutions to the problem. President Obama, Vice President Biden and the non-profits support so-called “smart guns.” These are firearms that include a safety feature that allow them to fire only when activated by an authorized user. They can prevent misuse, accidental shootings, gun thefts and more. A limited number of tickets to the event, which will be at the Palace Hotel, are available for $50 payable by check at the door and secured by RSVP’ing Ralphfascitelli@gmail.com
U.N. Postal Administration Issues First Series of LGBTQ Equality Stamps
The United Nations Postal Administration has released six new postage stamps promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The colorfully designed stamps by artist and UNPA art director Sergio Baradat are also meant to celebrate the diversity of the gay community and mark the first time the global body’s post office has issued stamps with an LGBT theme. The stamps were unveiled in a ceremony at the U.N. General Assembly building that included a performance by the New York Gay Men’s Chorus. unstamps.org
Magnet Clients Now Served by Strut, Name to Discontinue
Strut, the impressive new center for health and wellness from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, now serves the clients of Magnet, which was the former Castro 18th Street hub of health and social wellbeing for LGBT men. Strut, which opened its doors on January 4 and is located at 470 Castro Street, plans to discontinue the use of the Magnet name after Magnet’s first three months in the new facility. Some programs (Bridgemen, Positive Force, DREAMM and 50+) will continue to maintain their independent identities. strutsf.org
Mixed Bag of Measures to Discriminate Against LGBT People
Efforts to impose and enable discrimination against LGBT people continue to advance in state legislatures. The bills that ACLU is monitoring for movement next week form a mixed bag of tactics to undermine LGBT equality. In particular, ACLU is eyeing proposed legislation that would subject transgender people—singling out transgender students—to discriminatory treatment, and a bill that would protect an organization or individual’s ability to discriminate based specifically on religious beliefs about marriage, sexual relations, and gender identity. Additionally, the threat of broad, sweeping Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills still looms in certain states. For details, check out aclu.org/anti-lgbt-religious-exemption
OutServe Names Executive Director
OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), representing the United States LGBT military community worldwide, has announced that Matt Thorn has been hired to serve as their Executive Director on a permanent basis. Thorn has held the position of Interim Executive Director since February 2015. Board members say over the past year he has demonstrated incredible commitment to the interests of their members and stakeholders. OutServe-SLDN has seen substantive forward progress for key initiatives and policies that matter most to the LGBT military community. outserve-sldn.org
Mayor Lee Announces Armistead Maupin as Recipient of 2016 Mayor’s Art Award
Mayor Edwin M. Lee has announced Armistead Maupin, local gay icon and acclaimed author of the Tales of the City series, as the recipient of the 2016 Mayor’s Art Award. Maupin will receive the 2016 Mayor’s Art Award on Tuesday, March 29, at a fundraising reception hosted by ArtCare: Friends of the San Francisco Arts Commission. Maupin is the author of eleven novels, including the nine-volume Tales of the City series, Maybe the Moon and The Night Listener. The Peabody Award-winning television miniseries starring Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney were made from the first three Tales novels. The Night Listener became a 2006 feature film starring Robin Williams and Toni Collette. sfgov.org
Planning Commission Pushes Vote on Affordable Housing Bonus Plan to February 25
After a nine-hour hearing, the Planning Commission voted to postpone an official vote on the proposed Affordable Housing Bonus Program until February 25. If the AHBP is approved, developers would be able to build taller, denser structures, in exchange for setting aside 30% of units for very low, low, and moderate-income residents. According to City estimates, the program will create 3,000 units of low-income housing, and 2,000 units for people with moderate incomes. The proposed changes to zoning regulations have sparked a backlash among many of the city’s housing activists and neighborhood associations. Detractors say the AHBP will reduce rent-controlled housing stock, dramatically change neighborhood character, further congest a strained Muni system and displace small businesses on a wide scale. hoodline.com
Transgender Law Center Is Hiring
Transgender Law Center is now hiring. Positions available include Bilingual Legal Helpline Assistant and Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney; Legal Fellowship Opportunities: Legal Fellow; Internship Opportunities: Law Clerk / Legal Internship Positions; and volunteer opportunities. For more information, contact transgenderlawcenter.org
LGBT Rights Highlighted at American Bar Association Meeting
President Obama’s executive action on curbing gun violence, the conflict between religious freedoms and LGBT rights, and the implications of the California drought were chief among the legal issues that were explored at the 2016 American Bar Association Midyear Meeting in San Diego. Among the topics were “Diversity Law: Same Sex Marriage and Employee Benefits Discrimination,” “The Impact of the School-to-Prison Pipeline on LGBT Youth; and “The Intersection of Religious Freedom and LGBT Rights.” americanbar.org
Recent Comments