City and County of HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Theresa Sparks Executive Director

Edwin M. Lee Mayor

APPROVED

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Advisory Committee May 21, 2013 Meeting Minutes

Committee Members Present: Commissioner Pappas, Alex Lazar, Amos Lim, Angie Perone , Christopher Vasquez, Corrin Buchanan, Derek Brocklehurst, Diane Alcalá, Fayaz Rajani, Frank Lester, Heather Akers- Healy, Jackson Bowman, Michelle Kim, Patrick Pablo, Renata Moreira, Scott Milagro-Fotre, Stephen Downey, Tracy Garza, Vaughn Villaverde, and Zalman Rosenfeld.

Committee Members Absent: Mark Synder, Mitch Mayne, Paul Klees and Bianca Polovina

Staff Present: David Miree and Theresa Sparks, Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Guest/Community Members Present:

Nancy Heilner, Executive Director, Queer Therapy Collective Tod Higgins, San Francisco State University ADA Coordinator Carla Johnson, Interim Director, San Francisco Mayor's Office on Disability Danny Kodmur, Disability Access Specialist, University of California Berkeley

Order of Business

1. Meeting was called to order at 5:30PM. Roll was called; there was quorum.

2. Public Comments for Items not on the Agenda

There was no public comment.

3. Approval of April 16, 2013 LGBT-AC Meeting Minutes (Action item)

The minutes were unanimously approved.

*Meeting Note: HRC Executive Director Theresa Sparks was present and addressed the LGBT-AC membership to clarify any questions as to the established policies and protocols regarding the oversight and administration of the HRC’s Advisory Committees (AC) and their Working Groups. It is the responsibility and at the sole discretion of the AC Commissioner Chair to advise on and/ or to approve all related activities and projects undertaken by the Advisory Committee and its affiliated sub working groups. It is the responsibility of the AC Commission Chair to act as facilitator of any required vetting process between the full Commission and the AC regarding all AC activities. The Director noted that although these policies and procedures have been in place for a long time and have historically governed the AC’s regular course of business with impunity, the “Commission” is “open” to reviewing the existing guidelines and working with AC members to afford greater clarity and subsequently “institutionalize” these guidelines to writing to foster consistency and regularity upon future reference or inquiry.

Regular Business

4. "Increasing Awareness and Exploring the Needs of LGBT Deaf People and People with Disabilities in San Francisco” – Panel Discussion Presented by the Deaf and People with Disability Working Group.

Serving as Moderator, LGBT-AC Member Angie Perone presented opening remarks about the purpose of the panel discussion and the intent of the LGBT-AC to provide programming that addresses the specific needs of the LGBT community via events that foster education and awareness on issues and concerns effecting this demographic. The panel discussion at this meeting is aimed at Increasing Awareness and Exploring the Needs of LGBT Deaf People and People with Disabilities in San Francisco with an eye toward advancing greater compliance to foster more access and public accommodation in city services and programming.

AC member Derek Brocklehurst provided an introduction and brief background of the panelist that included:

Pre Nancy Heilner, Executive Director, Queer Therapy Collective Tod Higgins, San Francisco State University ADA Coordinator Carla Johnson, Interim Director, San Francisco Mayor's Office on Disability Danny Kodmur, Disability Access Specialist, University of California Berkeley

Each panelist (some using a sign interpreter where requested) provided opening remarks regarding his/her area of “expertise” or advocacy related to the Deaf and People with Disabilities community. The panelists also highlighted in their opening remarks their professional role(s) and contributions in advancing greater compliance, increased access and reasonable public accommodation (beyond only physical structures but should also include visual and audio enhancements) as it relates to: Awareness and Cultural Competency Training, Public policy development, Service/support animal guidelines and legislation, Rehabilitation services, Civil rights advocacy, Comprehensive application of ADA Laws, Disability disaster preparedness, New and existing technology aim at enhancing visual, hearing and mobility capabilities Ensuring that the City’s “infrastructure” and public facilities are equipped with resources and services aimed at benefitting, if not enhancing, the quality of life for this community or population.

Danny Kodmur had the audience take part in “participation exercises” to account for the level of awareness of people who know and have people with disabilities in their lives. Mr. Kodmur also spoke to the matter of societal perceptions of people with disabilities and how some disabilities may be inextricably tied to someone’s identity. Kodmur offered scenarios about how responses and interaction with people w/ disabilities often prompt the important dialogue and conversation about living with a disability and how it should not be looked at as some form of burden or impediment but as a part of the human condition in life as we all have some form of a life issue that affects our day-to day existence whether it is a physical, emotional, or mental manifestation. Kodmur spoke specifically to changing the narrative about people with disabilities, also he spoke about energizing the conversation to “bust down the disability closet” and stop perpetuating disability invisibility in social interaction, social spaces and group and community events. This lack of awareness goes to the lack of cultural competency regarding the disability community.

Panelist Nancy Heilner also spoke to the existence of “disability invisibility” as it relates to people who may experience a disability that is not traditionally physically manifested but is the result of a mental illness and substance abuse. Nancy also spoke to the higher rate of suicides in the disability community brought on in part due to feeling disenfranchised and alienated as a result of a lack of cultural competency regarding this community. Ms. Heilner went on to address the plight of mental illness as another example of “disability invisibility“ particularly as it relates to LGBT youth who extricate themselves from “unwelcoming home or family environs” only to become homeless which can led to issues with substance abuse. Although it may not be seen as an “obvious” disability, the resulting impact on the youth community supports a need to engage in greater public dialogue to examine the nexus between “stigma and discrimination “ and mental illness and substance abuse which may perpetuate conditions or a “pathway” to “disability invisibility.” This theorem may also hold true as it relates to communities of color. This amplifies the need for more city services and programs and safe places to provide mental and substance abuse assistance to those who need it the most.

It was noted that LGBT individuals seek out mental health services to deal with anxiety and depression more often than heterosexuals. The LGBT community experiences a greater number of incidents of violence, victimization and harassment which can lead to PTSD. A California Studies showed that 77 percent of (general) LGBT folk seek out mental health services and that number rises to 85 percent for the Transgender community. We need more services that are “queer affirming.” More needs to be done to “educate” mental health professionals to the mental health needs of the LGBTQ community. The inability to find affordable mental health care can also be problematic for this community and results in continued “isolation” and “invisibility “ in disability service provision.

Panelist also spoke to the need for greater inclusion and representation in public policy and service provisions that will ultimately have some bearing on the quality of life of the disabled community.

*****There was a Q&A section. Please visit the HRC website for a full audio file of the complete panel discussion and subsequent audience questions and panelist responses. ******

Moderator Angie Perone offered “Special Thanks” to the Deaf and People with Disability Work Group as well as HR Commissioner Michal Pappas and HRC Staff David Miree for their contribution and support for making this presentation happen.

5. “Call to Action” Letter in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) and update on Panel Discussion, “Why Does It Matter?” A Community Conversation on LGBTQ Inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:00-7:30pm-Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room, Ground Floor- Fayaz Rajani and Renata Moreira (Discussion/Action item)

LGBT-AC Members Fayaz Rajani and Renata Moreira provided a brief overview on the status of the event including confirmed panelists and anticipated attendance of well-regarded experts, community leaders and stakeholder who will be on hand to engage in this very crucial subject matter. Moreira also offered a status report on immigration reform legislation on the federal levels noting that the legislation basically was “throwing LGBT Families under the Bus” and that more needed to be done to bring greater awareness to and support for this issue. Moreira continued that there are a number of avenues to garner support and ACTION for this issues including “letter writing campaigns” which are happening in a variety of LGBT groups and allies calling for more support for the INCLUSION of the LGBT Community in the Immigration Reform dialogue and the actual legislation. The San Francisco Board of Supervisor voted on a Resolution calling for federal leaders to show their support for the INCLUSION of LGBT individuals and Bi-National Families in the immigration reform bill.

Rajani spoke about the “revisions” that were made in a proposed “call to action letter” encouraging more leadership support for greater LGBT inclusion in immigration reform. Rajani noted that some members of the CIR-WG had attended a meeting of the HRC’s Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) to solicit help toward outreach for the upcoming Immigration Reform panel discussion as well as looking to collaborate with the EAC on efforts toward ensuring LGBTQ inclusion in the immigration reform legislation.

Amos Lim also provided an update on the status of the federal immigration bill and outlined some of the revisions in the proposed “call to action” letter. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Workgroup wanted to have the LGBT-AC body to “approve” the letter that will be forwarded to federal leadership asking for their support toward greater inclusion of the LGBT community and LGBT families in the immigration reform dialogue and related legislation. Rajani recognized Heather and Amos for their invaluable contributions toward drafting the “call to action” letter.

The LGBT-AC body unanimously approved the letter.

6. Presentation and follow-up on the recommendations and findings related to the “Beyond Castro” Report. Perone noted that the report conducted over two-years came out of a series of panel discussions and community focus group meetings with the intent of increasing visibility of the LGBT community and as well as the availability of services and programs beyond the parameters of the Castro Neighborhood. Ms. Perone outlined some of the recommendations and findings contained in the report and asked that the LGBT-AC body approve the report (for next steps) which include forwarding to the full HR Commission, Mayor’s Office and BOS for review and approval to allow for publication and distribution.

The LGBT-AC body unanimously approved the report.

7. PRIDE Parade 2013 Contingent -LBGT-AC and HRC participation (logistics) and safety monitor volunteers (Discussion /Action item)

HRC staff member Miree reported on the status of the HRC/LGBT-AC’s participation in the 2013 Pride Parade. Miree noted that the registration process had been completed and the only outstanding item was identifying volunteers to attend the required safety monitoring training and act as safety monitors for the HRC’s parade contingent. Miree noted that he was open to any suggestions of themes or colors for the parade and believed the proposed color would be “candy apple red” to match one of the cars up for consideration that will used. Fayaz Rajani, Vaughn Villaverde, Stephen Downey and Patrick Pablo volunteered to attend the safety monitor training and will serve as the HRC’s official parade vehicle monitors for the 2013 Parade.

8. Advisory Committee Work Group Staffing –Commissioner Michael Pappas

LGBT-AC Commissioner Chair Pappas noted that in an effort to accommodate the reduced staffing level at the HRC that the three (3) workgroups needed to schedule their meetings to begin no later than 6:00pm. This dictum is offered as a way to alleviate HRC staff from having to attend/staff late evening meetings that would require staff to augment their work hours on the subsequent day which reduces work productivity as staff time is reduced to “practically” half a day’s work in most instances.

9. Items for Future Agendas

LGBT-AC workgroup on Economic and Empowerment will provide a status report and update on their upcoming event -“Sky High Rents-Disappearing Non-Profits- A panel exploring the impact on the LGBTQ community as non-profit organizations are forced to leave the city due to unaffordable rent increases

10. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 7:35 pm.