Monthly Newsletter of the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club
September 2006

Table of Contents

• Dates With Alice-- Endorsement Vote!
• Co-Chairs' Report
• Alice PAC Recommendations
• Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor: "Legacies: (An Ode to My Grandmother)"
• Remembering Sue Bierman
• Alice Membership Form
  

Dates With Alice

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August Co-Chairs' Report
Why Voter Registration Matters

Voter registration is not the most exciting topic in the world. People tend to yawn, their eyes glazing over, when you mention it. But, despite its seemingly mundane nature, there is nothing more important in our democracy than getting people registered to vote.

In San Francisco, approximately 150,000 eligible voters are not registered. Given our city's political tendencies, it's probably safe to assume that if all of these people registered and voted, they would vote strongly in favor of the Democratic ticket and progressive causes generally. Phil Angelides would probably get at least a 100,000 vote bump, as would other statewide Democratic candidates. Equally as important, we would have 150,000 additional people engaged in San Francisco's political culture - watching what our government is doing and holding it accountable when it drops the ball.

Alice is playing its role in getting at least some of these voters registered for this November and beyond. The San Francisco Democratic Party, under the leadership of Alice board member Rafael Mandelman, is engaging in a citywide voter registration drive, and Alice will be playing a role in that effort by registering voters in District 8. Bevan Dufty's campaign is helping as well.

We as Democrats - whether we are private citizens, elected officials, club leaders, or anyone else - have an obligation to register our brothers and sisters to vote. This is particularly so in the LGBT community, given that our most potent influence is through getting our community out to the polls.

Voting equals power. Join us in getting San Franciscans registered. If you can help out, let us know at info@alicebtoklas.org.

Scott Wiener and Rebecca Prozan
Alice B. Toklas Co-Chairs

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Alice PAC Recommendations

The Alice PAC met on Sunday, August 20, and voted to recommend these candidates and propositions for endorsement. Alice members will vote for the club's formal endorsements at the meeting on September 11. Please attend the September 11th meeting, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, to vote for the Alice endorsements for the November election.

Elected Officials Assessor Phil Ting Public Defender Jeff Adachi Board of Supervisors, District 2 Michela Alioto-Pier Board of Supervisors, District 4 No recommendation Board of Supervisors, District 6 Chris Daly Board of Supervisors, District 8 (previously endorsed) Bevan Dufty Board of Supervisors, District 10 Sophie Maxwell Board of Education Dan Kelly Kim-Shree Maufas Hydra Mendoza Community College Board Johnnie Carter Anita Grier Lawrence Wong

California Propositions For descriptions and full legal text of these propositions, click here. 1A - Transportation Investment Fund YES 1B - Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, Port Security Bond YES 1C - Housing and Emergency Shelter Turst Fund YES 1D - Education Facilities - Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond YES 1E - Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond YES 83 - Regarding Sexual Offenders NO 84 - Water and Park Bonds YES 85 - Parental Notification NO 86 - Cigarette Tax YES 87 - Alternative Energy YES 88 - Education Funding NO 89 - Campaign Financing No recommendation 90 - Regarding Eminent Domain NO

San Francisco Propositions For descriptions and full legal text of these propositions, click here. A - San Francisco Unified School District School Bond and Tax Rate Statement YES B - Allowing Members of Boards and Commissions to Participate in Meetings by Teleconference Due to Pregnancy and Related Conditions; Adoption of Parental Leave Policies YES C - Setting Salaries of Certain Local Elected Officials YES D - Disclosure of Private Information YES E - Parking Tax Ordinance No recommendation F - Paid Sick Leave Ordinance YES G - Limitations on Formula Retail Stores No recommendation H - Relocation Benefits No recommendation I - Adopting a Policy that The Mayor Appear in Person Each Month at One Regularly-Scheduled Meeting of the Board of Supervisors NO J - Calling for Impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney YES K - Adopting a Policy Relating to the Housing Needs Of Seniors and Disabled Adults YES

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Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
Legacies
(An Ode to My Grandmother)
by Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.

My grandmother passed away this last week. She was 98 and had been living in a nursing home for the last many years. It was unfortunately her time. Her death has reminded me of old memories and haunted me with stories past in my family and life in Missouri.

I've been thinking a great deal about what kind of impact we make in the world. Her passing reminds me that perhaps we make a greater impact upon all around us than we sometimes think. Often it's easy to think that we are alone in the world and no one is really paying attention. Often it's easy to pretend we live in isolation from the rest of the world. Often it's easy to not notice the impact we each have upon the world in our own way.

Her life was about her family and her faith. And her legacy will live on with the continued vibrancy of that family and faith. Hers are spread all over the country, all over the world; living separate lives, but connected by blood and bonds of old. That history and connection is still there whether paid attention to or not. And her legacy continues in bringing us all back together once again as a family for her passing.

But what is our own legacy? Do we know or care about what we leave behind? Do we leave traces and legacies of our own?

I think of this because of another thing that happened this month that made me cry.

Several weeks ago I received an email from some friends who have a shared Kansas City history along with me. They mentioned that my alma mater, UMKC, had just been listed as one of the top 100 colleges in the country for LGBT students. I looked at the article in the Kansas City Star and I sat stunned to disbelief.

And then a wave of emotion overtook me and I wept for several minutes into my hands.

You see, in 1990, when I attended UMKC, there was nothing for LGBT students. Nothing. And I felt scared and alone and did not know what to do upon Coming Out. Eventually I formed a new student group called the Gay & Lesbian Student Alliance. In doing so, I learned that there had actually been a U.S. Supreme Court case back in the late 1970's that said that a then-LGBT student group could form at UMKC and that landmark case gave birth to the LGBT college student groups around the country. That 70's group lived a short life and then passed away.

In 1990, I began that new student group that continued the legacy of LGBT awareness at UMKC. I was just one person and our group had its ups and downs over the years, but eventually, today, there is a vibrant group on campus and a full-fledged LGBT campus office and coordinator of programs and services. My own legacy, and the legacy of those LGBT students at UMKC in the 70's, have greatly impacted the lives of all those around them-students, faculty, staff, the greater community, and beyond-even if we may not have realized the full impact we were having.

It may seem strange to bring the story of my grandmother's death together with the UMKC LGBT history, but both issues came together this month to illustrate a point to me. We are larger than we may think we are. Our legacy continues on, even when we may not realize it. And that legacy can have a real and lasting positive impact on the world.

Robert Kennedy once said, "It is from a numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring these ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

We are all ripples that create legacies. We can choose to be a ripple of hope and courage and love and peace, or we can choose differently. When we serve together as ripples of change for a better world, and stronger ideals, and finding commonalities and support, and love among our families and peoples, we create a legacy that rushes forth and can strengthen our lives and those around us, currently and in generations to come.

The impact of my grandmother's life, and that of my former small student group, is still felt even after their passing. We each have the power to make a current and lasting change in the world. Let us resolve to continue to do so for the good of all that is and that will be.

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Remembering Sue Bierman
by Alice Co-Chair Rebecca Prozan

Alice lost a long time friend and ally in Sue Bierman.

Words cannot describe her, some that come to mind are loyal, dependable, and a very, very sweet woman.

Appointed to the Planning Commission by Mayor George Moscone, Bierman spent 16 years there. She had a reputation for fighting for affordable housing, and voting against development. Ousted by Mayor Frank Jordan in 1992, she ran for the Board of Supervisors where she introduced legislation protecting tenants and preventing development. Term limits ended her time as Supervisor in 2000; Mayor Willie Brown selected her to serve on the Port Commission. Additionally, she served countless terms on the San Francisco Democratic Central Committee and had just been re-elected this year.

Sue will always be known for stopping the planned freeway in Golden Gate Park.

She was a strong supporter and ally to our community. Alice endorsed her numerous times, and worked with her on many issues. She always supported our fundraisers and marched in the LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration.

I worked with Sue for a time at City Hall, and found her accessible, helpful, and reliable. At every event that she should have been at, she was. For most issues and candidates, she supported the right ones. She was loyal to Mayor Willie Brown, and she was able to maintain her relationships with those adversarial to him by sponsoring legislation at the same time. I always respected that about her. Disagreements were always courteous.

Thank you Sue, for everything you did to protect San Francisco and the people who live here.

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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 August:
Monday, September 11, 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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