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Table of Contents
June Co-Chairs'
Report
Pride and politics have always gone hand-in-hand, but how often are we proud to be involved in San Francisco politics? Towards the end of our last general membership meeting, Kamala Harris walked in unannounced. She barely made it in the door when the meeting came to a halt and the entire room stood up and started cheering and applauding her. Though there are many feelings and perspectives on the issues surrounding the death penalty, most agree Kamala is handling the very difficult situation with aplomb and graciousness. We are proud to have stood with Kamala since the first few days after her decision and Feinstein's inappropriate comments at the funeral of the slain officer. We are proud to stand with her now and into the future. And we are equally proud of the officers in the San Francisco Police Department and the daily sacrifices they make to protect us. Though this issue has created divisions, we can work to minimize those divisions and be supportive not only of Harris, but also of our terrific and courageous police force. At our June 14th meeting, Harris will speak to us in depth about the changes she has made in her office and her goals for the remainder of her first year in office. Supervisor Bevan Dufty, whom we are looking forward to working closely with over the next year, gave a great talk at our last meeting. Part District 8 problem-solver, legislator, and feisty political activist, mixed with a touch of comedian, Bevan served up a great political cocktail for our members, keeping the crowd captivated for over an hour. He gave us updates on all aspects of his work in the District: finding housing for LGBT homeless youth, working with the Center to create a LGBT economic development non-profit, keeping Halloween in the Castro safe and helping neighborhood schools improve their facilities, among other things. He also talked about how he works with his fellow Board members, gave us his analysis of recent controversial issues such as chain stores and residential demolition, and offered his take on some of the upcoming Supervisor and School Board races. We are pleased to welcome two new board members for 2004: John Newsome and Joe Caruso. John Newsome works for the Bridgespan Group and has been active in local, state and national politics for the past ten years. Joe Caruso worked on Mayor Newsom's campaign and is now the Mayor's Director of Neighborhood Services. We want to extend a special congratulations to Susan Leal for taking on the challenging job of running the SFPUC and its almost $4 billion re-build of the region's water system. Though we are losing a wonderful elected official, we are gaining an exceptional public servant. We are proud to see our community members working so closely with Mayor Newsom. It's a new political era, and a dedicated team of smart, hard-working people are coming together to help lead San Francisco through difficult times and make this a truly world-class city. We also want to congratulate Luke Klipp, Owen Stephens and all the members of the Young Democrats for winning the bid to host the Young Democrats annual conference in San Francisco next year! We're feeling proud to be political these days…how about you? See you in June. Laura Spanjian & Rich Kowalewski Reese's
World: Perspectives from the Editor
You see, I went home to Kansas City for the weekend of Mother's Day. Well, my Mother really wanted me to come with her to our family church, a place I haven't attended since high school. As much as I love my Mother and my family, going to church is not high on my list of things to do. It's a nice enough church and was definitely important in molding me throughout my young years, from birth to adulthood. It's a United Methodist congregation with a poor, white, Democratic-leaning background, but currently run by a right-wing Republican minister who often interjects her politics into her sermons, to the consternation of many of the people in attendance. So, like I said, I made my Mother a deal. I would go to church with her for Mother's Day, if she would go with me to our first ever meeting of the local chapter of PFLAG while I visited town. Well, she took me up on the offer, and wouldn't you know PFLAG-KC was having a Mother's Day potluck just a few hours after church let out! So in a topsy-turvy day that began with listening to a right-wing Republican minister rail against the 'attacks on marriage,' 'attacks on the family,' pro-choice people, and by quoting James Dobson of the Focus on the Family, my Mother and I then found our way across town to a potluck meeting of the PFLAG-KC where the group discussed the wonders of my having seen same-sex weddings in San Francisco City Hall, the excitement over Massachusetts's judicial decision, attending the recent pro-choice march in DC, and dealing with an openly GLBT family member for the first time for some of the new attendees who were learning and struggling. My Mother really enjoyed the meeting, as she is very social amongst a friendly group of people, and found ways to showcase her Pride for her son, to my own embarrassment and shyness, as Mothers are wont to do from time to time. But the most incredible part of the day was the drive, as my Mother and I opened up more than before on these issues and my life. We talk all the time, but oftentimes not on issues of my Gay life or the intricacies therein. And to speak openly with her about how she and my Father are feeling much better on the subject these days, how she has even told her right-wing Republican minister about me, how she prays and hopes for the best for my life and our equality, and how I hope and pray for her happiness within her church and in life, was a great opportunity seldom had. Going home for Mother's Day reminded me of how far we have come and how far we still have to go, and the realities of the right-wing and of being openly Gay in the Midwest once again. But knowing that my Mother is behind me all the way, and behind us in our struggles for equality, makes me feel Proud on a whole different level. And that's something I value deeply. Happy Pride Month everyone. Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Empowering LGBT Young Democrats
Why LGBT Young Dems? Both Owen and Luke agree that there is a need for this new group to serve as a tool to give a voice to a part of the population that often doesn't know where to find it. The Bay Area's two large LGBT Democratic clubs, Alice B. Toklas and Harvey Milk, are mostly made up of people older than 35 and do not focus specifically on nor appeal to young people. The established Bay Area Young Democratic clubs are part of a new generation that overwhelmingly supports LGBT people and their issues, but queer youth deserve a forum that speaks to their priorities, issues such as gay marriage, employment rights and school/community safety. The focus of the new group is to inform and engage Young Democrat clubs in the Bay Area on LGBT issues. Another part will be to partner with groups like Alice, Milk, and the Young Democrats to give our issues voice. In addition the group will also provide an opportunity for campaigns and political clubs to enlist the support of dozens of locally-involved LGBT young Democrats for voter education, outreach and registration. Naturally, the new group of young people will engage in a number of social activities throughout the year. Upcoming Events: For further information about the Bay Area LGBT Young Democrats,
contact Luke Klipp at luke@alicebtoklas.org
or Owen Stephens at owen@alicebtoklas.org
On the
Mark in Sacramento
In this month's column, I'd like to first wish you a Joyful Pride Month. When I look back at this time just a year ago, I feel my own sense of deep pride in our community's forward motion. This time last year, our relationships were still illegal in 13 states and full-fledged marriage rights were a pipe dream. Look at us now! Not only did we receive a long overdue decision from the United States Supreme Court affirming equal treatment and protection under the law, but now we are seeing ourselves fully married locally and around the country. The passage of my Marriage License Non-Discrimination Act, AB 1967, through the Judiciary Committee, became the first time a state legislative body has gone on record to proactively support our right to marry. Last month I held a press conference with Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez to announce that I will introduce the same legislation on December 6, the first day of the new session, with the Speaker as a Joint Author. Additionally, we now have the impressive support of Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, Treasurer Phil Angelides, Controller Steve Westly, and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi. It is my sincere hope that we will put a same-sex marriage bill on the governor's desk next year! It is truly a time to celebrate Pride once again. On another legislative front, I'd like to bring you up to speed on AB 1866. Amid reports of abuse and cover-ups in the California correctional system, I authored this bill, which would repeal regulations adopted by the Department of Corrections in 1996 that currently prohibit media from conducting interviews with specific inmates. Currently, reporters are allowed random interviews only and are prohibited from communicating with inmates through confidential correspondence. Now more than ever, our prison system needs to be open to the ultimate watchdog-public scrutiny. By providing access to reporters, we will help to turn up the volume on the deafening code of silence permeating our prison system. I would like to say a few words about two prominent San Francisco women whom I greatly admire for their courageous stands for justice and liberty. I was thrilled to be able to honor our friend, Sister Bernie Galvin, as District 13's Woman of the Year. The California State Assembly hosts the Woman of the Year ceremony annually as a way of recognizing outstanding women who have made significant contributions to communities across California. You might recall that last year I proudly honored our own Alice Co-Chair Theresa Sparks. This year, I chose Sister Bernie Galvin, a more than deserving recipient for her phenomenal work as an advocate for the homeless. While my friend, San Francisco's District Attorney Kamala Harris, has been scrutinized in the media and by others who are critical of her strong and principled stand against the death penalty, I could not be more proud of her. For those of us who believe that the death penalty is racially skewed, morally reprehensible, costly, and ineffective in deterring crime, Kamala has exemplified true conviction and thoughtful consideration. It is critical that we continue to steadfastly support her during this difficult time in San Francisco. Again, Joyful Pride! As always, should you have questions or thoughts, please feel free to contact me at any time through my District Office at 415-557-3013 or keep updated on the web via: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13. Yours, "Sneak Preview" From District Attorney Kamala Harris
I have implemented a new system of neighborhood liaisons for each of San Francisco's neighborhoods. My Assistant District Attorneys now attend each of the monthly Police Community Forum meetings. We recently opened a new Community Court in the Sunset District, the 10th community court to serve San Franciscans. We are taking a comprehensive look at the DA's system of community courts and personally meeting with representatives from each of the courts. IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN FRANCISCANS I have met with all district stations and their staffs assigned to quality of life crimes and set up a protocol for handling quality life crimes in a compassionate way. I met with Mayor Gavin Newsom's homeless cabinet and coordinated with them on quality of life issues. I also met with homeless advocates to try and work out planning with compassion for those who are homeless and in need. We are taking a hands on approach to dealing with the problem of quality of life crimes by taking drive-troughs of the neighborhoods so we may see where the greatest impact of quality of life crimes occurs LEADERSHIP NARCOTIC PROSECUTIONS One my first steps after taking office was to visit the blighted 6th Street corridor. I met with community leaders and discussed plans for increased prosecution of narcotics crimes. As a consequence, the number of narcotics cases brought to the DA's office from SFPD has increased by 30 percent since I took office. IMPROVING THE HOMICIDE DIVISION It is my pleasure to have brought attorney Valerie McGuire into the homicide division of the District Attorney's office. McGuire, a native San Franciscan, has personally tried at least 25 homicide cases throughout her career. I respect her intelligence and ability and have great faith in the work she will do for the city of San Francisco. REDUCING THE HOMICIDE BACKLOG When I took office in January there was a backlog of 74 homicide cases. I made it a top priority to clear these cases. In our first four months we have cleared 18 of these cases, which is a 25% reduction. PROSECUTION OF VIOLENT CRIME The District Attorney's Office is currently reviewing gun policies
and will establish new guidelines for minimum sentences for certain
type of weapons offenses, and we have called for changes in the
bail schedule. As I took office, I saw the need for the restoration of professional
management to the District Attorney's office. The first phase of
that restoration has been completed. When I took office 2/3 of staff did not have access to email and numerous attorneys did not have voice mail. Needless to say that is a great disadvantage in 2004, so we have delivered email and voice mail to all attorneys. We are proud to have in the District Attorney's office a cadre of legal luminaries such as Judge Breyer, Jim Brosnahan, and Chris Arguedas to give pro bono trainings to attorneys. I assure you that key hiring decisions made in this office have been based on experience, not politics. FIRST PROGRAM OF TRAINING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Led by the Assistant District Attorneys in my office, we have begun training police on different aspects of the law as it relates to criminal investigations. This will provide insight into legal issues that are relevant to their investigations. As you can see we have accomplished a lot in the first months of my term as San Francisco's District Attorney. But our work has only just begun. It will be my pleasure to continue to serve the city of San Francisco, and you have my guarantee that this office will work tirelessly to represent the best interests of the citizens of San Francisco. I am committed to making all San Francisco residents proud of the work we are doing on their behalf. Interview
with San Francisco DCCC Chair Leslie Katz
Reese Aaron Isbell (RI): Thank you again for agreeing to sit down with me and be interviewed for the Alice Reports newsletter. I have a great number of questions for you, but first, Is there anything specific you want to say to Alice? Leslie Katz (LK): Thank you! RI:Or is there anything you want to let Alice Alice know about what you want to do with the DCCC? What do you want to do with the DCCC? LK: In all seriousness I do want thank Alice because I always view the support I've received from Alice as critical to my electoral successes. And also to thank Alice for all the work that the Club does. I would like to see more clubs like Alice during my tenure, in other words I would like to have the DCCC play a stronger role in offering services to the Clubs so that local clubs can become stronger, have their membership grow, provide resources for them to do that, via our website or other services, so that other clubs can have the same get out the vote efforts and voter registration efforts that Alice does. I view Alice definitely as a model we should look to and try and replicate that with some of the younger or struggling clubs. RI: Moving beyond Alice, tell me more about the DCCC and the Strategic Retreat. LK: Talking about in light of what happens when you get out of our little insular world [of San Francisco] here, one of the things I was hoping to get out of [the Strategic Retreat], is that we have so many bigger issues that we're united on and that we can do so much more if we don't get mired in internecine battles on some local issues where really on our shared values we have so much in common. And that we've got really, I think, a crisis. And the reason I ran for chair is because I have never been so terrified since I've become a voting age adult. I've never been so scared of the government that we have in power and I wanted to do whatever I possibly could…. RI: Nationally? LK: Yeah, to make sure [Bush] gets out. RI: Good. Going more general, how do you view the DCCC in general? LK: Well, as a body, our mission is to engage in voter registration, voter identification, and get out of the vote. Those are the major issues. As well as to take the Democratic Party position on local issues and candidates. But the first is really paramount and that's part of our mission statement. RI: To engage in voter registration? LK: Right. RI: And to promote the Party message? LK: Exactly. I was just going to say that one of the things we have to do more than ever is promote the message of what the Democratic Party stands for, and it really is, as someone described [at the Strategic Retreat], the 'Big Tent'. There's room for differences of opinion within the Party and there's parts of the Party that may be a little more moderate than many of us in San Francisco would certainly like, but we really do have primarily a two-Party system on the national level and it's the Democratic Party that cares about those who have the least opportunity, that have not had all of the advantages, that I think the Republican Party does not show as much care for. We care about education. We care about all the disadvantaged communities. We want to make sure that broad voices are heard. And we care about working people and jobs and education and those are priorities for us and making sure that it's not a burden for our people for ways to afford those. RI: How do you view….the DCCC locally versus other DCCC's in the state? LK: Politics in SF is a blood-sport so we're a little more active than most of them. Some of them are anxious to get even people to run for the DCCC. RI: Well, that's the thing, when I'm back home in Kansas City, they're begging people to run. They want people; they need Party people. LK: But, one of the things I used to joke that in Los Angeles, it's Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and in San Francisco it's politics. And I love that people are so engaged and so passionate. People may have some slight differences in opinion, but I can't imagine living somewhere else where people aren't at least thinking about the issues and having opinions and I think our Central Committee, the DCCC, reflects that. You know, there are differences of opinion on some issues, although I think there's more agreement than people realize, more broadly. And unfortunately people like to draw battle lines, and because we don't have so much ideological disagreements, we end up having a lot of disagreements over personalities. And that's why you see such contentious mayoral races and we'll probably see more contention in Supervisorial races, now that they're not city-wide. I think it's a body of extremely talented people who want to make a difference, and you can't ask for more than that. And everyone there cares about the Democratic Party and they see themselves fitting somewhere within the Democratic Party. And, although I don't think we've got anybody from the true Right-end spectrum of the Democratic Party, this is San Francisco-- although we used to have some members who were pretty conservative, we even had some anti-Choice Democrats when I got on the County Committee years ago-- but I think the current group of members are people very active, very involved, in different organizations, in different groups, on different issues and they represent the broad spectrum of San Francisco. And it really is a voice of the City, a voice for the City. RI: Do you, coming from a sociological and political perspective, and knowing history, do you view a difference in being a woman, in being an open GLBT person, as a Chair of a DCCC in San Francisco, or anywhere? Do you see yourself bringing in different qualities or do you see different perspectives being heard? I know, for instance, that studies have been done with women legislators, by the Center of American Women in Politics, about how different issues are prioritized when women are legislators, or similarly, with different interest groups, or social groups, or however. Do you view that coming into play in this role? LK: Absolutely. I think I do bring my perspective and obviously I'm going to want to make sure that when anything of importance to the LGBT community comes up that it does get heard and that it gets a reasonable and fair discussion. And that in SF may be a bit of a moot point, but not always. RI: We do have marches against same-sex marriage going on in the Sunset, so it's not completely unheard of… LK: Exactly. But I think certainly I've noted that in the various legislative bodies that I've served on, that it does make a difference. It certainly made a difference on the Board of Supervisors when we had more women on the Board. It was a very different Board. RI: How so? LK: In the way the debate is constructed, in the way the issues are framed, in the kind of analysis that's done. So I think, I hope that being both a woman and a member of the LGBT community will only enhance my being able to serve as Chair because it will broaden my perspectives and I think it certainly makes me that much more sensitive of issues of other disenfranchised and minority communities, and sensitive to making sure that all the communities have their issues heard and represented. RI: Since our local DCCC is made up of a variety of social groups, community groups, populations, I gather it's useful for someone within a community as well to be able to understand all those different interests. LK: Exactly. That's what I'm trying to articulate. I think I bring that perspective being a member of three different minority groups. RI: Do you have any examples of how the debate was different on the Board because there were women there? Or because there were LGBT people there? LK: Absolutely! Certainly when we brought forward the Equal Benefits Ordinance, the debate was very different having three LGBT members on the Board at the time. You know, our colleagues I think did feel strongly that they saw how important an issue it was for the three of us and they wanted to support us. More from my interview with Chair Leslie Katz in next month's
newsletter Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club General Membership Meeting 2nd Monday of each month Download a membership application at www.alicebtoklas.org, or fill out the application below Membership Application Yes, I want to join the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club! __$35 Regular __I am renewing my membership __I will be a new member __I am a registered Democrat Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________State: ______Zip: _____________ Phone: Day _____________________________Eve: _____________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Please send checks payable to “Alice B. Toklas
LGBT Democratic Club” and mail to: |
It's
PRIDE, so get ready for the fun! Pride month is one of those reasons
you live in San Francisco. It's a month filled with good feeling
and amazing energy, and, of course, a million things to do…the
Film Festival, the performance and art shows, the parties, the Dyke
March and Pink Saturday, and seeing old friends. And it all culminates
in a larger than life Pride March, but not before we get our fill
of coffee and politics at Alice's annual Pride breakfast. This year
we are proud to have Mayor Gavin Newsom providing keynote "Welcome
to Pride" remarks. A slew of other Alice favorite elected officials
will also offer Pride welcoming comments, including Assemblyman
Mark Leno, a barely still Treasurer Susan Leal (before she takes
her new post as head of the SFPUC), District Attorney Kamala Harris,
City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Assessor Mabel Teng, and Supervisors
Bevan Dufty and Fiona Ma, among many others. It's not to be missed,
so see you there! Alice's Annual Pride Breakfast, Sunday June
27th, 8-10 am, Padovani's at 55 Fifth Street between Market and
Mission. 
So
I made my Mother a deal. 
Several
months ago, Owen Stephens decided to form a new group of Bay Area
LGBT Young Democrats. Enlisting the help of Luke Klipp to co-chair
the fledgling group, he organized a first meeting in April. Whether
this group will serve as a separate club or as a partnering caucus
or coalition is yet to be determined, but the group is now meeting
monthly and formalizing its organization and first several activities.
Both Owen and Luke are members of Alice's board of directors. 
Dear
Alice Friends:
In
the nearly five months since I was sworn in as San Francisco's District
Attorney, it has been my honor to serve the citizens of San Francisco.
I have made the prosecution of violent crime a top priority in this
office. I am also working to make this office more responsive to
San Francisco's individual neighborhoods and overall community.
I take my commitment to this responsiveness very seriously. I am
proud of the work we have done in the District Attorney's office
thus far, but there is surely more work to do. I look forward to
the progress we can make in this office as we serve the community.
Here is an overview of the work we have done.
From
the Editor: I sat down recently (on May 19th to be exact) with Alice's
own Leslie Katz, who was elected Chair of the San Francisco Democratic
County Central Committee (DCCC) the previous month, and asked her
for her thoughts on the DCCC, her role as Chair, LGBT rights, and
the upcoming national elections. She recently conducted the DCCC's
first ever all-day Strategic Planning Retreat to hone in on common
goals, detail specific action plans, and focus the DCCC agenda for
the coming year. We really could have talked for days, and there
was so much to cover, but here's an abridged copy of our conversation,
in the first of three parts, with the next pieces in the upcoming
Alice newsletters.