City and County of San Francisco HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Theresa Sparks Executive Director COMMISSIONERS Edwin M. Lee Mayor Susan Belinda Christian APPROVED Chair Mark Kelleher Vice Chair Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Advisory Committee Sheryl Evans Davis Michael Pappas May 19, 2015 Meeting Minutes Richard Pio Roda Michael Sweet Committee Members Present: Commissioner Michael Pappas, Commissioner Mark Kelleher, Alex Lazar, Barbara Lin, Bruce Ito, Danielle Castro, Diane Alcalá, Fayaz Rajani, Frank Lester, Heather Healy, Jaime Huling Delaye, Joseph Frislid, Mark Snyder Megan Rohrer, Mitch Mayne Monica Davis, Sarah Steer, and Tracy Garza. Committee Members Absent: Bonnie Miluso, Joshua Jacobs, Richard Whipple and Shaun Haines Staff Present: SFHRC Executive Director Theresa Sparks SFHRC Staff David Miree Guest/Community Members Present: John Bare, LGBT Community Activist Order of Business 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Meeting was called to order at 5:39pm. Roll was called; a quorum was established accordingly 2. Public Comments for Items not on the Agenda There was no public comment. 3. Approval of the March 17, 2015 LGBTAC Meeting Minutes* (Due to an abbreviated April 2015 Meeting, approval/adoption of the March meeting minutes was precluded and no April Meeting minutes were generated as a result) The minutes were unanimously approved. Regular Business 4. LGBTAC Community Engagement - discussion concerning possible platforms for community feedback and collaboration focused on the relationship between the LGBTQ community and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. LGBTAC Co-Chair Commissioner Mark Kelleher and HRC Director Theresa Sparks (Discussion item) **Due to the nature/subject matter of this line item, LGBTAC Co-Chair Michael Pappas recused himself from this discussion. Commissioner Pappas currently serves as Director of the City’s Interfaith Council which positions him in having a professional engagement with the principle parties which may also create a direct interest/involvement in any pending action/resolution regarding this of this contested matter. **LGBTAC Member Jaime Huling Delaye also recused herself due to her association with NCLR and any interest this firm may have toward potential resolution or outcome(s) related to this subject matter and the parties involved. ** LGBTAC Member Alex Lazar also delayed his arrival to this meeting in an effort to avoid playing a part in this this discussion as his professional role may also come into play toward resolution to this contested matter. LGBTAC Co-Chair Commissioner Mark Kelleher provided the membership with some background on this subject matter. Kelleher noted that during the past two (2) weeks or so he and HRC Executive Director Theresa Sparks had been in communications with John Bare, a LGBT Community Activist and Advocate working with the students, parents and teachers of the archdiocese who are engaged with the archdiocese and the challenges resulting from proposed changes to the archdiocese’s handbook pertaining to four (4) high schools w/i the archdiocese as well as pertaining to the new contract that the teachers and the archdiocese are considering. Commissioner Keller went on to note that these proposed changes (in particulars instance the 2015-2016 handbook) mandate that teachers, catholic or not, strictly adhere to and conduct their behavior ( personal or professional) in accordance to the catholic teachings specifically as it deals with sexual issues and warns against taking public positions contrary to catholic teachings. In the same vein there are similar directives in the teacher’s contracts currently being considered. LGBTAC Co-Chair Commissioner Kelleher noted that he wanted to read into the record the “15 advisories” that address a range of topics related to sexual issues as well as mandating behavior. Scriber’s note: For an exact and specific commentary on this subject matter including proposed possible follow-up course of action(s) where appropriate as provided by LGBTAC Co-Chair Commissioner Mark Kelleher, please review the audio of this meeting located on the HRC’s webpage at http://sf- hrc.org/lgbtac-meeting-agendas-minutes-and-audio-2013-present Also see http://archives.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-archdiocese-requiring-educators-to-publicly-align- with-catholic-teaching/Content?oid=2918987 After his presentation Commissioner Kelleher “polled” the LGBTAC membership body as to their thoughts on this subject matter and the interest of the group taking action or playing a role, if any, toward addressing this issue as a City sanctioned body established to provide leadership on and to advocate for the betterment of the LGBT community and in San Francisco. LGBTAC Member and Pastor Megan Rohrer stated that she would not mind being the point person on this matter as long as it is/was handled in a respectful matter to people of faith. Rohrer questioned the “focus on the catholic church as this potentially discriminatory construct or mandate is not limited to the catholic faith?” LGBTAC Member Diane Alcala noted as a person of the catholic faith that she believes it is about time to take (some) action to preclude this type of negative impact that can be very dangerous and harmful to people in the LGBT community who also embrace their religious identity/affiliation. LGBTAC Member Mitch Mayne noted that he was very interested in this subject matter as it reflects some of the challenges experienced by LGBTQ individuals in the Mormon faith. Mayne cited his work with the Family Acceptance Project and the impact of the film “Families are Forever” which both speaks to and advocates for the crucial need for inclusion, protections and acceptance of LGBT individuals in all religions. Mayne suggested a platform for greater training, education and awareness might be helpful in addressing this matter. HRC Executive Director Theresa Sparks noted that in response to Mitch Mayne that she (Sparks) had been contacted by a student group at Sacred Heart so named T.U.F.F. who was proposing a similar outcome as suggested by Mayne which would include greater awareness via a training programs for teachers and the clergy. Sparks noted that a platform to foster a discussion on the subject matter of “birth control and abortion and safe sex was already in place and used as an awareness/education tool at this school. LGBTAC Co-Chair Commissioner Kelleher noted that he plans to move to have this matter agendized for the next full Human Rights Commission meeting for discussion to determine next steps or other follow- up action by the Commission and/or the LGBTAC. Commissioner Kelleher “polled” the membership asking if the group would be amenable to entertaining speakers on this subject matter to address the LGBTAC Body. The membership signaled their collectively interest in taking this matter under review and consideration. LGBTAC Member and Pastor Megan Rohrer again noted her support for this proposed effort but reiterated her call for a more “Interfaith Approach” 5. Working Groups (In-Service) – LGBTAC members may use this opportunity to branch off into their respective working groups to further discuss and coordinate their pending 2015 work programs. Designees should be prepared to update the larger body regarding their work group’s efforts as part of line item #6 Scriber’s note: The 3 working groups splintered off into their respective groups for 30 minutes to discuss the status of their 2015 work plans and related efforts. Audio was suspended during this time. 6. Work Group Report Back- Each group co-chair(s) or designee(s) will provide a brief update on the status of their 2015 programming and work plans. a) Trans Health “Making it Happen” (LGBTAC Member Danielle Castro reporting) this group is continuing its effort in developing a “survey/ questionnaire” for providers of healthcare services for Trans people and other general practitioners. Ideal is to examine the experiences of the Trans community when accessing healthcare under the “Affordable Care Act and now with Transgender Health Services. This group anticipates producing a “summary of findings” along with a “series of recommendations.” Commissioner Pappas suggested to the group that they consider convening a panel discussion as he believes this would benefit both the AC membership and the community/public at large. LGBTAC Member Fayaz Rajani echoed this sentiment. b) Adm. Accountability “Re-Form” (LGBTAC Member Mark Snyder reporting) this group has reviewed some documents (and have more to do) and is continuing its effort toward examining other “best practices” documents. The goal is to have a letter and a set of best practices recommendations. Ideally the Board of Supervisor and the Mayor’s Office would distributed these best practices recommendations to agencies in the City. The group anticipates that that best practices recommendations will look at categories such as race and ethnicities, ability, LGBT families, sexual orientation, gender, etc. The thought is to have a comprehensive set of “best practices recommendations” that would foster greater cultural competent in how to ask questions and collect data on forms. Commissioner Kelleher suggested that the group reach out to the Department of Human Resources. Commissioner Pappas suggested the City Assessor’s Office and other municipalities across the country. c) LGBT Housing & Homelessness- (LGBTAC Member Megan Rohrer reporting) this group is looking at the information and resources that are available and how to create a better method for easier and better access. This group’s focus is on the creation of a “portal hub” that would provide this information and resources in a user friendly and centralized matter as exampled by a portal already in place that provides similar information and resources referral for the senior community as curated by Bridge Resource Finder. Rohrer is also working on an effort to create a comprehensive study that would look at the variables between “general population” housing issues and that of LGBTAC Housing issues and subsequently quantify these needs so that the city can “target” funding to for direct address of these identified LGBT housing and homelessness issues.