Table of Contents
Dates With Alice
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January General Membership Meeting
Monday, January 9, 2006
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
The LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street
Special Guest: District Attorney Kamala Harris
VOTE-- Alice Co-Chair and Board Election
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January Co-Chairs' Report
HAPPY NEW YEAR
 
We hope that each of you had a relaxing and fun holiday season.
2006 proves to be as much of a roller-coaster as 2005, with many
state-wide races up for grabs, including the race for governor. Though
Alice has not made any endorsements for races in 2006, we do know that
many of Alice's close friends will be candidates this year. Assemblyman
Mark Leno is running for re-election to his last term in Assembly
District 13. Supervisor Bevan Dufty will be running for re-election in
District 8, which covers Castro/Eureka Valley, Corona Heights, Noe
Valley and Glen Park. Supervisor Fiona Ma is running for Assembly in
the 12th Assembly District. And many Alice members and friends will be
running for re-election to the Democratic County Central Committee
(DCCC).
A new year brings new members to the Alice Board of Directors.
Please attend the Alice membership meeting on January 9th to elect a
new 2006 Co-Chair and new board members. Congratulations to the Alice
Nominating Committee, led by Rafael Mandelman, who did an amazing job
recruiting a hard working, diverse and talented slate of board members
for 2006. Many of the people we met and worked closely with during the
November election are candidates for the Alice Board, and we are
excited to continue working side by side with them to elect a
democratic governor and fight for marriage equality. With all of these
amazing people working for Alice, we will only build on our successes
from last year.
So, we begin another year…one of hard-fought races to stop our
rights from being taken away, and education about why we need to keep
fighting until we have equal rights.
In the beginning of the year, we hope to host a panel on the
successes and challenges from the November election: what did the LGBT
community do right, and what do we need to continue to work on.
We also hope to have continued dialogue about the police
videos-the effect, and the side-effects, they had on us, other
community groups and members, as well as the police department, the
Chief of Police and the Mayor. A few weeks ago, some of us had an
amazing dialogue about the police videos with police officer, and
former Alice Board member, Lea Militello, and her Co-Chair, Lenny
Broberg, of the SF Police Officers Pride Alliance. Moderated by Thom
Lynch, Exective Director of the LGBT Community Center, the two-hour
plus discussion focused on the LGBT response to the police videos, the
police officers' emotions about the videos, and how we can move forward
as ONE community, supporting our LGBT officers at the same time as we
voice our concerns about violations of our civil rights. We hope to
have Militello and Broberg speak to the Alice membership in the near
future.
Here's to 2006-a year full of hard work electing a democratic governor,
fighting beside Assemblyman Mark Leno and others for marriage equality,
and at least one non-political resolution fulfilled!
We look forward to many more successes.
Scott Wiener and Laura Spanjian
Alice B. Toklas co-chairs
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Thank You and Farewell
THANK YOU…TO MY FAMILY
from Co-Chair Laura Spanjian
Ellen Callaway and Laura Spanjian |
It's hard to believe I have been working in San Francisco, and LGBT, politics for almost ten years now. Who would have thought, back in 1997, when I started as Supervisor Leslie Katz's legislative aide, that the work I started in her office would be much more than just a job. The work would become my passion and my commitment, my social scene, and the thing that makes me excited to wake up every morning. And serving as co-chair of Alice has been one of the highlights of my work over almost a decade.
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Alice and our Work
Like many people, Dean Goodwin was the reason I learned what Alice was all about. He befriended me early on and encouraged me to be involved in LGBT political work.
And then my involvement grew by leaps and bounds. I worked closely with so many Alice members during my work on Bevan Dufty's successful race for District 8 Supervisor in 2002, and then, even closer during Susan Leal's bid for Mayor.
I will never forget what Susan Leal taught me about integrity and fighting for something you believe in, no matter what the odds are against you. I am continually inspired by her, and learn from her. But I will also never forget the passion and dedication of Alice during that race. No matter how difficult things seemed on a given day, Rich Kowalewski and Jeff Anderson would get on the phones and help fundraise; Fran Kipnis, Martha Knutzen and Anna Damiani would provide moral support…and teach me how to really organize a club vote!; Rafael Mandelman, Luke Klipp and Miguel Bustos would bound into the office to help out; Owen Stephens provided laughter and heart (especially with his amazing and fun cartoon of Susan as Superwoman); and Michelle Ortiz, Tony Winnicker and Dan Bernal would energize and pump up the campaign. All of these people-all of these Alice members-were an amazing team. That team believed in something and worked like hell for it, no matter what the odds. Quintessential Alice.
And in the past few years, Alice has become stronger, working together in new and important ways. We've accomplished so many things, especially recently.
Remember when we were deeply lamenting Kerry's loss to Bush and tried to come up with the many reasons why we lost. Well, this past election, we turned those on their head. We learned what we did wrong and DID THEM RIGHT this time. We had clear messages; we talked about civil rights, abortion rights, minority rights and labor rights; we did not outsource our GOTV efforts but relied on grassroots volunteers; and we worked extremely hard to engage women, African Americans, Latinos, Asians, labor and the LGBT community.
We worked together. And not just on paper. Not only did Alice and Milk and many groups such as EQCA, Pride at Work, And Castro for All and LGADDA work together, but we didn't stop there. Even though there were no sole LGBT issues on the ballet this time, we understood that the right wing was attempting to diminish and destroy all of our civil rights. Robert Haaland pushed us to work with people and groups we did not know. And we did. We walked with volunteers from Planned Parenthood and stood on street corners with SEIU hotel workers and nurses even when the words "lesbian" or "marriage" were not written on any of the ballot initiatives.
What we did in California last year can be done in California this year…we can win back the governor's seat. And then we can take our show all the way to the White House. The efforts here in San Francisco last November will be the building blocks of those victories. And Alice was, and will continue to be, an integral part of that effort.
We're already seeing immediate results of our work. Groups trying to dismantle domestic partner benefits and slow down marriage equality efforts were unable to garner enough signatures for the June, 2006 ballot, and are already talking of waiting until 2008 for a possible anti-marriage equality ballot initiative.
State and federal victories not withstanding, we also did locally what Alice is best known for: working to elect LGBT members to public office. Last year, we continued our fight for increased LGBT representation in SF. Many Alice members worked closely with Robert Haaland and Miguel Bustos as they waged campaigns to represent us on the Board of Supervisors. We were encouraged and impressed with their efforts and implore them to continue their work as public servants.
This year, our victories were many. We elected as Treasurer one of the few city-wide LGBT public officials in San Francisco, our good friend and former Alice Board member, Jose Cisneros. We fought hard and elected Phil Ting as Assessor-Recorder. Ting is a smart and strong community leader and loyal friend of many Alice members. And we re-elected City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who has been an extremely tough and successful crusader on our behalf.
© Rink Foto |
A Fond Thank You to my Alice Friends and Family
One of the benefits of serving as a Board member and as co-chair was being able to work closely with Rich Kowalewski, who has been a friend and mentor. I will miss Rich as he begins a new life in Austin, Texas. He is a great touchstone. Also, I will miss working so closely with my current co-chair, Scott Wiener. His energy, integrity and work ethic are inspiring. And I thank my other mentors and friends who were there for me when I needed support and a sounding board: Tony Winnicker and Dan Bernal, Fran Kipnis and Martha Knutzen, Theresa Sparks, Rafael Mandelman, Robert Haaland, Reese Isbell, Tom Runge, Lisa Williams, Kirk Oatman, Jeff Anderson, John Lazar, Dean Goodwin, Andrew Bryant and Anna Damiani, among others.
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I am lucky to have served for a club named after a woman, Alice Babette Toklas, who was known for her spirit, compassion, wisdom and a love of controversy. Serving as co-chair of Alice has been one of the most rewarding things I have done. Sometimes my passion and stubbornness have made me unrelenting in my views, at times, but I have always tried to work past that and treat everyone with respect. Alice has taught me many things, and I am happy for the lessons.
You are an amazing group of people to work with. I appreciate all of the friendship that you have shown to Ellen and me over the years. I can truly say that all of you are family. I am grateful and humbled to have been an integral part of Alice's history…and its future. I will continue to fight by your side, through all the battles ahead of us, for years to come.
Thank you all for making me a better person, a better leader, a better activist and, above all, a member of the Alice B. Toklas family.
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Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
Permanence in Blue
by Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
 I
have a blue frog tattooed on my right shoulder. It is my first and, so
far, only tattoo. I got this tattoo in early 2005, shoring in a new
period in my life. For me, it symbolized that I knew more of who I was
and what I wanted in my life. It signaled permanence in
self-identification and a marking for the future.
As Democrats, we had a year in 2005 of finding ourselves too.
After the great disappointment of the 2004 presidential 'election' and
the beginning of the second Bush Administration, we wandered and
wondered and seemed to be at a loss for what do to next. For a brief
time at the beginning of the year, we seemed incredibly lost.
Then something remarkable happened. We began to take shape. We quit
wallowing in our own misery and began to fight back anew. While still
disappointed about the past, we were energized about the future. And we
knew we had nothing to lose with going full throttle ahead.
Nationally, under the strident leadership of our very own
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and our new DNC Chairman Howard Dean,
we took the Republicans head-on and fought against their disastrous
proposals and ugly tactics. The year of 2005 ended with their signature
piece of legislation (the destruction of Social Security) end the
trashcan, the Bush Administration in the doldrums, and many of their
leaders in jail.
Stateside, our Democratic leaders took on the incredibly-popular
Arnold. This was dangerous at the time, but we hit and kept hitting and
shaped our own political winds, and by the time the year was over, we
had a knock-out punch in the form of his 'special election' going down
to defeat and his poll numbers in the doldrums.
For us in the LGBT community, we did much the same. We turned
a variety of state ballot initiative defeats around the country on
marriage equality on its head. After the stinging loss in 2004, we
could have buried the issue, as we were told to do by many of our own
and many of our 'friends.' But under the courageous leadership of our
very own Assemblyman Mark Leno and Speaker Fabian Nunez, we marched
forward. We took the issue of marriage equality from a perspective of
defeat and bad-poll-numbers, to a situation where Arnold was having to
defend himself for vetoing our bill. And the poll numbers were moving
more and more in our favor!
Yes, 2005 was a year of finding ourselves and staking out our
core values. And 2006 will be a new year full of continuing that drive,
leading by example and on principle, and remembering who we are at all
times. Much like a tattoo, we have permanently defined who we are. And
as we head to the elections of 2006, the voters will know what being a
true-Blue-Democrat means and why a Blue state is a state of the future.
As we fight for a Blue 2006 throughout the nation, let our
self-awareness and permanent intrinsic values lead us forward.
Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Editor
P.S. A sincere thank-you and farewell to my friend Laura Spanjian as
she ends her stellar Co-Chair tenure. I wish to express my deep
gratitude, not only for her endless energy and dedication to Alice, but
also for her generous support to yours truly over the years. Her
eagle-eye and savvy political skills, along with her endearing smiles
and generous hugs, will be deeply missed.
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Alice 2005 Holiday Photo Album
ALICE HOLIDAY PARTY A HIT
Laura Spanjian, Scott Wiener, Rafael Mandelman |
Fun was had by all at the annual Alice B. Toklas Holiday party.
Hosts Laura Spanjian and Ellen Callaway opened up their lovely home and
provided wine and bubbly for a crowd of Alice members and friends, with
amazing food created by Betty Hall and her catering company, Southern
Slant (www.southernslant.com).
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New members mixed with long-time members, and a bevy of Democrats,
including Susan Leal, Jane Morrison, Sue Bierman, Martha Knutzen, Fran
Kipnis, Scott Wiener, Robert Haaland, Rafael Mandelman, Michael
Goldstein, David Campos and Debra Walker, were out in force.
Elected stars of the night included Congresswoman Lynn
Woolsey, State Senator Jackie Speier, Assemblymen Mark Leno and Leland
Yee, Honorable Mike Nevin, and a host of local elected
officials, including Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Fiona Ma, District
Attorney Kamala Harris, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting and Treasurer Jose
Cisneros, to name a few.
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Rafael Mandelman, Penny Carroll, David Campos |
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Debra Walker |
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Jim Maloney and Andrew Nance |
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Robert Haaland and Nora Dye |
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David Campos and Laura Spanjian |
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Anna Damiani |
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Jim Maloney and Scott Wiener
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Laura Spanjian, Nora Dye, Penny Carroll, Ellen Callaway
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LGBT Responses to SFPD Videos
(letter printed in the Bay Area Reporter and the
Bay Times, December 22, 2005)
We are writing on behalf of organizations and individuals
representing LGBT communities in San Francisco. We have come together
in protest of the video produced by a member of the city's police
department that mocked people of color, women, and transgender
individuals.
We support the mayor's and the chief's strong public condemnation of
the video and their decision to hold accountable those actively
involved with the production of this offensive video. We are also aware
that some officers have stated that they were not aware of how various
shots would be used, and we respect their due process rights. While
accountability of individual officers is important, we also need
reforms within the department that will address the underlying lack of
respect by some officers in the department toward people of color,
immigrants, women, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community.
The LGBT community has been deeply involved in the struggles
to diversify the police and other city departments and we were
disturbed by the critiques of Chief Heather Fong, the first woman and
only the second Chinese American to lead the department. We consider
the attacks to be intended to divert attention from the issues at hand.
We continue to support her leadership and look forward to working with
her and SFPD on reforming the department. Recognizing that most
officers are not involved in this effort and that many members have
built or wish to build stronger relations throughout all communities,
we look forward to working in coalition with and continuing discussions
with LGBT police officers, specifically the Pride Alliance, which has
played an incredibly important role in bridging differences between the
LGBT community and SFPD. Finally, we look forward to working with the
Police Commission and others to establish trust between the police and
the communities they are sworn to serve. The LGBT Community Center,
with the work of the others in these discussions, will convene several
meetings including bringing Pride Alliances members to meet with us. We
will also want to talk to leaders in the police force to see what can
be done to continue our successes in decreasing racism, homophobia,
transphobia, and other issues still present in small pockets of the
force, and also support the work that good officers - LGBT or straight
- are able to achieve.
Thom Lynch, Executive Director, LGBT Community Center; Robert
Haaland, Democratic County Central Committee Member; Laura Spanjian,
Co-Chair, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club; Greg Shaw, President, Harvey
Milk LGBT Democratic Club; Debra Walker, Commissioner, Department of
Building Inspection; Scott Wiener, Co-Chair of Alice B. Toklas LGBT
Democratic Club; Michael Goldstein, Democratic County Central Committee
Member; Andy Wong, Asian Equality; Chris Daley, Transgender Law Center;
Jennifer Rakowski, Community United Against Violence; Cecilia Chung,
Transgender Law Center; John Newsome, And Castro For All; Shannon
Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights; George J. Smith III,
Co-Chair LGADDA; Saskia Traill, Vice President, Harvey Milk LGBT
Democratic Club; John Lewis & Stuart Gaffney, Co-leaders, Equality
California San Francisco Chapter; Julius M. Turman, Co-Chair BALIF;
Kelly McCown, Co-Chair BALIF; Lisa Williams, Co-Chair of LGADDA;
Esperanza Macias, Former VP, Harvey Milk Club; Zwazzi Sowo, Courage to
Love Institute
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Police Video Scandal Provides Opportunities
We applaud Mayor Gavin Newsom for showing extraordinary leadership in response to the police video scandal. The Mayor has shown, once again, that he is there for our community and other marginalized communities.
This episode has been a sad one. It showed the very real divide that continues to exist between certain communities in San Francisco, including the LGBT community, and some members of the San Francisco Police Department. We must examine and heal this divide. We must continue to work with other affected communities to send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated, and then work together to build back trust.
As we go through this controversy, it is important to keep something in mind: the vast majority of officers in the SFPD are good, honest, hard-working, and sensitive to the communities they serve. Although the officers involved in this scandal should be held accountable after receiving due process, we need to make sure that other officers, who go to work and put their lives on the line every day in an honest and service-oriented way, do not get dragged down as well.
We are confident that the conversation that this scandal has started will have a positive and productive result for the SFPD and for San Francisco.
Scott Wiener and Laura Spanjian
Co-Chairs, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
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On the Mark in Sacramento
From the Desk of Assemblyman Mark Leno
Dear Alice Friends,
San Francisco has seen many a somber headline on the high number of
homicides in our community. As Chair of the Assembly Public Safety
Committee, I would like to share with you a few ways I am working on
public safety matters legislatively in Sacramento and here at home in
San Francisco.
We recently hosted our 2nd Bi-Annual Young Men's Conference
"Own It." This important community conference included over a hundred
young men from area high schools and community groups. Panelists and
speakers-including Dwayne Jones (Mayor's Office of Community
Development), Shawn Richard (Brother's Against Guns), Rudy Corpuz
(United Playaz), Marquez Gray (CHALK), Manuel LaFontaine (City College
San Francisco Peer Advisor), and Dr. Joe Marshall (an award-winning
leader in violence prevention and youth development)-spoke to the
participants about topics ranging from college and career preparation
to violence prevention to coping with grief and loss. The goal of the
event was to demonstrate the many positive opportunities available to
help them to rise above life's challenges.
In Sacramento I will be working on several pieces of
legislation that I hope will improve our criminal justice system and
help it to be more effective and responsive to the community. These
bills include important reforms to our current parole system and an
examination of the use of Tasers by our state's law enforcement.
California's rate of recidivism, the percentage of former
inmates who return to prison within 18 months, is the highest in the
nation at 67%. Since our Department of Corrections focuses primarily on
punishment, rather than rehabilitation, the state does very little to
prepare prisoners for their eventual release. I want to focus our
state's attention on rehabilitation programs and efforts. Given that
90% of inmates are released, our public safety depends on better
preparing them and creating support systems to keep them successful
once they have been released. As such, I have authored Assembly Bill
505, which would save roughly $60 million annually through reforms in
the parole system. The savings from these simple reforms would then be
channeled into public/private partnerships to provide re-entry services
for soon-to-be discharged prisoners and parolees.
I have also authored an important public safety measure in
Assembly Bill 1237. According to a recent report by the American Civil
Liberties Union of Northern California, 71 people in the United States
and Canada died in incidents following police use of tasers between
1999 and September 2004. In the last year, that number has more than
doubled, including 15 post-taser fatalities in northern and central
California. Our bill will collect the information we need to make the
best decisions about how to best use tasers to protect the public
safety, requiring law enforcement agencies to report information about
their training protocols and use of tasers to the Department of
Justice. This will provide the information we need to ensure we have
taser utilization policies that are truly protective of the public.
Additionally, I want to strengthen the programs that we know
work. Here in San Francisco we have a model treatment program that is
the first of its kind in California. Our mobile methadone maintenance
treatment program has been operating since March 2003 in close
cooperation with the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The
program is highly effective in treating the City's estimated 15,000 to
17,000 heroin addicts by taking the services directly to where they
reside in neighborhoods throughout the City. By treating these patients
more effectively, we are helping to ease the burden on our criminal
justice system. Assembly Bill 631 will allow the city to be reimbursed
for its costs through MediCal saving us about $150,000 annually.
These programs and legislative proposals are but a few of the
many actions I am taking as your representative in Sacramento, and as
the Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Do know that I am
working hard on improving our public safety and criminal justice
system. If you would like more information about these activities, or
have ideas of your own, please feel free to contact my office here in
San Francisco, 415-557-3013, email me directly at
Assemblymember.Leno@asm.ca.gov, or keep updated on the web via: http:www.markleno.com.
Yours,
Mark Leno
Assemblyman, 13th District
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June 2006 Democratic Primary Candidates
From the Editor: The filing deadline for Democratic candidates in
the June 6th primary is March 10th; therefore changes are possible.
However, here is a current listing of announced and possibly
to-be-announced major Democratic candidates for statewide offices with
their available website links for your reference:
Senator
Dianne Feinstein - Incumbent
Governor
Phil Angelides - State Treasurer
Steve Westly - State Controller
Lieutenant Governor
Liz Figueroa - State Senator (Alameda/Santa Clara Counties)
John Garamendi - Insurance Commissioner
Jackie Speier - State Senator (San Francisco/San Mateo Counties)
Secretary of State
Debra Bowen - State Senator (Los Angeles County)
Deborah Ortiz - State Senator (Sacramento County)
Controller
John Chiang - Board of Equalization Member
Joe Dunn - State Senator (Orange County)
Dario Frommer - Assemblyman (Los Angeles County)
Treasurer
Bill Lockyer - Attorney General
Kevin Murray - State Senator (Los Angeles County)
Mark Saladino - Los Angeles County Treasurer
Attorney General
Jerry Brown - Mayor of Oakland, Former Governor
Rocky Delgadillo - Los Angeles City Attorney
Insurance Commissioner
Cruz Bustamante - Lieutenant Governor
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jack O'Connell - Incumbent
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June 6, 2006 Primary Election Calendar-- Important Dates
February 13 through March 10 - Nomination papers are available
for the official declaration of candidacy for state party races,
including the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC), for the June
6 ballot
February 24 - The last day the Board of Supervisors can submit charter amendments and bond measures for June 6 ballot
March 8 - The last day the Mayor or Board can submit ordinances and declarations of policy for June 6 ballot
March 10 - Last day to file for candidacy in state party races
for the June 6 ballot. The last day for submission of district bond
measures for the June 6 ballot.
March 16 - Randomized alphabet drawing for candidates and designation of letters for ballot measures.
March 22 - Deadline for submission of paid ballot arguments for voter handbook (noon).
April 1 - Region 4 Preconvention at the State Building.
April 28-29-30 - California Democratic Party Convention.
May 9 - First day for early voting for June 6 election.
May 22 - Last day to register to vote for June 6 election.
June 6 - Election Day
For further information, see election calendars via the Secretary of State and the San Francisco Department of Elections
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Alice
Membership Form
Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415-707-2010
www.alicebtoklas.org
Alice Reports Editor: Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
General Membership Meeting 2nd Monday of each month
Month of January:
Monday, January 9, 2006
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
LGBT Community Center
1800 Market Street @ Octavia
You can now join online www.alicebtoklas.org/abt/joinonline.asp,
or fill out the application below
Membership Application
Yes, I want to join the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club!
__$35 Regular
__$100 Supporter
__$250 Sponsor
__$500 Champion
__$20 Special Needs
__Other
__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:
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street, PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
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