On Wednesday, April 6th, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, and the Bay Area Reporter will co-host a debate between the Democratic candidates for State Senate District 11, Supervisors Jane Kim and Scott Wiener.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their policy positions, campaign platforms, and what their priorities will be if elected. After a moderated debate, there will be time for Q&A with the audience. Arrive promptly to ensure a seat, as seating is limited.

What: Senate District 11 Debate
When: Wednesday, April 6, 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Moderated by: 
Cynthia Laird, News Editor, Bay Area Reporter
Donna Sachet, San Francisco drag performer, spokesmodel, fundraiser, and activist
Marga Gomez, nationally touring queer comedienne 

RSVP here >> 

Saturday, March 12, 2016
10am-5pm
Location: Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
2301 Mission Street (Suite 301)
San Francisco, CA 94110

The Harvey Milk Club Political Action Committee (PAC) will meet this Saturday, March 12th to interview candidates and learn about ballot measures that will appear on the June ballot. The PAC will hold a vote to make endorsement recommendations.

All members of the public are welcome. Harvey Milk Club members in good standing who attended one qualifying meeting may vote on PAC endorsements. 

The schedule of speakers will be provided the day of the event. Interviews will begin promptly at 10am. We encourage all Harvey Milk Club members to attend for as much of the day as possible. Eligible members may vote between the hours of 12pm and 5pm, after having attended the interviews for at least two hours. Refreshments will be provided. 

For more information, contact Lee Hepner, PAC Chair, at [email protected]. 

Political Action Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
7-9pm @ La Galeria de la Raza (2857 24th Street) 
Open to the public. 

AGENDA

1. Welcome / Call to Order
2. Question and Answer period with District 11 Supervisor Candidates*. Download a copy of Kimberly Alvarenga's completed Club questionnaire here.
3. Bay Area for Bernie Sanders presentation
4. SF General Hospital Renaming (Sasha Cuttler)
5. Discussion & Review of Club Candidate Questionnaire
6. Endorsement Schedule for June Election
7. Upcoming Events
8. New Business
9. Adjourn

*At the Club's General Membership meeting in January, a motion was made to vote on an early endorsement of Kimberly Alvarenga for District 11 Supervisor at the February General Membership meeting. The motion was accompanied by a request that the Club invite both District 11 candidates to our next Political Action Committee for an interview and that the candidates complete the Club's candidate questionnaire. Kimberly Alvarenga is the only candidate who has submitted a questionnaire, which is available here. 

The following candidates have been nominated for positions on the 2016 Executive Board of the Harvey Milk Club. Candidates will also briefly present to the membership and answer questions at the election meeting on Tuesday, January 19th from 7-9pm at the Women's Building. 

Nominations are currently open for Board candidates and will be open until Tuesday, January 19th.  Please send all nominations to [email protected].  

President

Peter Gallotta

My name is Peter Gallotta and I am the current Co-President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and have served on the Executive Board of the Club since 2012, first as the Recorder and then as the Vice President of Internal Affairs. I am proud to be a part of a Club that stands for social and economic justice, that believes in working at the intersections of identity and issues, and that builds queer progressive power and leadership in San Francisco. As Co-President, I have worked with the Executive Board and membership to advocate for #CleanPowerSF, the Mission moratorium, greater regulation of short term rentals and AirBnb, and building more affordable housing. We've also worked together to hold the San Francisco Pride Board and SFPD accountable, engage and recruit new members, and implement our 2015 political program which helped get Aaron Peskin elected to the Board of Supervisors. 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the Club and a pivotal year in electoral politics. With your support, I am committed to ensuring that 2016 yields a strong, inclusive, and effective Harvey Milk Club that will do the work that needs to be done to continue to elect progressive leaders and keep San Francisco a city for all of us. When not wearing my Harvey Milk Club t-shirt, you can likely find me fighting for improved transit along the Geary corridor or helping to address hunger in my neighborhood of seven years, the Tenderloin, with Mama G's Thanksgiving Street Dinner, or in line for a cup of coffee! Contact me!

Vice President of Political Affairs

Lee Hepner

My name is Lee Hepner, and I'm looking forward to my fourth year of service on the board of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club. I'm honored to be nominated for VP of Political Affairs. I intend to use our Political Action Committee as a forum for in-depth and dynamic conversations around core issues to the club and hope to oversee an endorsement process that is thoroughly transparent, accessible, and without conflicts of interest. I currently serve as a Legislative Aide to San Francisco District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin. Previously, I worked as a civil litigation attorney handling police misconduct, free speech, unlawful termination and landlord-tenant cases. Contact me!

Vice President of External Affairs

Paulina Maldonado 

My name is Paulina Maldonado and I am running for Vice President of External Affairs. I am thrilled at the prospect of serving on the executive board again this year to make sure we make 2016 the comeback year for progressive politics in San Francisco. My passion lies in Criminal Justice reform. In 2010 I graduated from California State University, Fresno and earned my degree in Criminology, with an emphasis in Law Enforcement. Through a partnership with CSU Fresno and the Fresno Police Department, I also graduated from the police academy (P.O.S.T). After college, I worked alongside newly elected Honorable Daniel A. Flores in his criminal defense practice largely serving the Spanish-speaking community for four and a half years. In 2014, I managed his successful campaign for San Francisco Superior Court Judge. I currently serve as the Co-President of the Latinx Young Democrats of San Francisco. By day, I'm a paralegal at a p rivate criminal defense firm.

Vice President of Internal Affairs

Cynthia Crews

When I was 16, I first became an activist fighting against environmental pollution in a town home to three superfund sites. I’m excited to run for the office of Vice-President for Internal Affairs after being a Milk Club member for five years. My activism has focused on partnering with organizations that seek to empower women, people of color, LGBTQ communities, and persons with disabilities. I am proud to support progressive legislation and candidates, to work on grassroots campaigns, and to take it to the streets with direct action. For the past five years, I’ve served on the Steering Committee of The League of Pissed Off Voters, focusing on voter education, participation, and advocacy. I serve as Vice Chair of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) in the public seat where we’re pushing CleanPowerSF over the finish line. When I’m not fighting the good fight, I work as a Project Manager in the healthcare industry, focusing on communications for compliance and ethics. With a passion for politics that keeps me busy, I still find time to shake a tail feather and celebrate this amazing city I’ve called home for 15 years. Contact me! 

Executive Board Political

Nathanial Owen

Executive Board Internal

Adele Carpenter

My name is Adele Failes-Carpenter. I began my community and youth organizing work as a young queer in Portland, Oregon and since moving to the Bay Area 11 years ago, I've worked in tenant advocacy, as an outreach worker with homeless queer youth, in youth HIV-prevention research, and now (youth-focused) policy advocacy. I do work with a national anti-racist political education organization and do research and other support work for a grassroots, veteran-led anti-war organization. My partner teaches at MHS and we parent a kid together. I'm running for the Milk Club Board because I want to continue to contribute to and grow our queer progressive movement in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. I am passionate about leadership and member development, and since beginning to staff a commission three years ago, I've become somewhat of a nerd for procedure, ie bylaws, etc.  

Executive Board Organizing

Adam Mehis

My name is Adam Mehis and I am running for Executive Board Organizing. Most of my work since joining Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club has focused on organizing and strategizing the best avenues to work alongside multiple campaigns and initiatives. Besides my involvement with the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, I am a Board Member of District 8 Democrats and am newly accepted to join the Equity Advisory Committee. 

Executive Board Outreach (2 open positions) 

Mia Satya

Mia Satya is a queer and trans identified San Francisco-based community organizer with over a decade of advocacy experience specializing in youth empowerment, economic justice, housing affordability, and LGBTQ liberation.As a service provider for 4 years, Mia worked with community based organization to provide critical services like healthcare, housing, and employment for San Francisco’s most vulnerable members including homeless and LGBTQ youth.Mia now bridges her personal and professional experiences to create and implement policy solutions that will have a community wide impact.

While on the San Francisco Youth Commission Mia worked to secure Free Muni for 40,000 low-income youth and co-created the landmark 12N LGBTQ diversity training for 9,000 City employees. Mia has served on over 10 committees in 5 City departments and played many key roles in the re-authorization of the Children’s fund in 2014. Now as a Director at Transitional Age Youth San Francisco, Mia facilitates opportunities for underrepresented youth to give feedback to City leaders, so that together we can ensure all San Franciscans have successful transitions to adulthood.  

Mia is an alumna of the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, Pathways to Policy, the Anne Braden Program, the Victory Empowerment Fellowship, and the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Transgender Leadership Exchange. Mia is currently studying public policy at Mills College and is a part of the Emerge class of 2016.

In her spare time Mia supports TAJA Coalition’s effort to end the genocide of trans women of color and she, recently launched All Out the LGBTQ+ Political Pipeline to inspire, educate, and connect youth to create change. Contact me! 

Treasurer

Albany Arroyan

Correspondent

Jessica Andrepont

Recorder

Angel VanStark

My name is Angel VanStark, and I'm a young, queer POC who has formerly experienced homelessness.  Currently, I work for a tech company (*sorry*), serve as a board of directors for the LGBT Center of San Francisco, and as a board member for the company LGBT resource group pushing more inclusive internal projects and recruiting efforts.  I'm running for Recorder, because I think that the role would be perfect for me to get to know everyone and get my leadership chops more developed in a PAC world to later on be able to take on more involved roles when I'm more financially secure; I'm also hoping that by being a part of the internal team, I can bring some engagement and recruiting strategies that are aimed towards helping our progressive movement grow and hold high levels of retention. Contact me! 

Events & Fundraising

Stephen Torres

Stephen Torres is a freelance writer, bartender and organizer who lives in the Mission District and has lived in San Francisco since 1999.  I have been a part of the Harvey Milk Democratic club since 2012 and have served as Events & Fundraising chair since 2013.  We have seen many successes in this aspect of the club in the past few years and I am forever grateful to my amazing colleagues, especially my co-chair, Katy Birnbaum.  I would love to continue to offer my experience to the club once gain, especially on this, our most auspicious 40th Anniversary. Contact me! 

At Large (up to 5 positions) 

Katy Birnbaum

Northern California grown, I have been in a torrid love affair with San Francisco for the past 8 plus years. After graduating from SFSU in 2010, I've been busy filling my bag of tricks with digital communication skills, community and volunteer organizing and events management. I am the Programming and Partnerships Director at Sunday Streets, a nonprofit organization that encourages healthy living and community building through large-scale car-free events across the city. My heart causes include women's empowerment, corporate regulation, and environmental and food justice among many others. I believe that successful social and political movements start with community building and membership development. I'm excited to help build the capacity of the Club over the coming year while helping develop and support the brilliant queer leaders of tomorrow. Contact me!

Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen

My name is Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen and I would love the honor of serving on the executive board as a member-at-large. I have been a member of the Milk club for two years. My background is in youth development, youth media, journalism and public policy. I currently work as a legislative aide to Supervisor David Campos at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and prior to that, worked as an editor at New America Media (aka Pacific News Service). I am a queer/bi, mixed-race mother of two kids in San Francisco public schools and am also a board member of SFWAR (San Francisco Women Against Rape).  I am interested in running for e-board of Harvey Milk Club because I am passionate about local politics and finding ways to leverage the political and electoral process to create positive social change.

Linshao Chin

My name is Linshao Chin.  I was born and raised in San Francisco.  I work for the City of San Francisco as a Compliance Officer, enforcing labor laws in San Francisco, including the minimum wage and paid sick leave.  Previously, I've worked as an organizer at various community based organizations working on immigrant rights, worker rights, anti-gentrification and environmental justice. I am running for the Milk Club board to promote civic engagement in our communities.  When I'm not dreaming of a more just and equitable San Francisco, I enjoy crafting, fixing things, exploring the city and reliving childhood memories & chasing after my dog. Contact me!

Carolina Morales

(Bio coming soon!) 

Tom Temprano

I’m honored to be running for a seat on my sixth (!!!) Harvey Milk Club Executive Board. Having previously served as President, Co-President and Vice President of External Affairs I’m excited to share my knowledge of the club’s incredible history and experience in queer progressive politics with the new generation of leaders joining this year’s board. In addition to my work with the Harvey Milk Club I’m the proud owner of a local bar, a DJ and producer of queer community events, co-chair of the SoMA Stabilization Fund CAC and a dedicated LGBT community activist. Oh, and I had a lot of fun running with all of your support for the City College Board of Trustees this past year. Here’s to a 2016 filled with queer progressive victories! 

Ex Officio 

Laura Thomas (immediate past president of the Harvey Milk Club) 

I've served as co-president for the last two years, PAC Chair before that, starting as an at large member of the EBoard. I work as the Deputy State Director for the Drug Policy Alliance, working to end the war on drugs and reduce the harms from drugs. I've lived in SF for nearly 30 years, got my start here as an AIDS activist with ACT UP, helped found the Dyke March, and volunteer with the syringe access program, among other things. I'm excited about the opportunity to build more power for the progressive movement in San Francisco and to elect some strong women to office this year.  

January 13, 2016

Dear San Francisco Police Commission, Police Chief Greg Suhr, Mayor Ed Lee, the Police Officers Association, and the San Francisco  Board of Supervisors:

We write to you today to demand justice for Mario Woods and the countless individuals who have been unjustly terrorized and murdered by the SFPD. We stand in solidarity with the family of Mario Woods and the Justice For Mario Woods Coalition in demanding the following actions be taken immediately:

• Release of a public apology to Gwendolyn Woods;
• Payment by the SFPD and the City and County of San Francisco for the funeral of Mario Woods;
• Termination of Police Chief Greg Suhr  
• An independent Federal and External investigation into the murder

San Francisco has been a well-known leader in many social justice causes. Sadly, however, our Police Department has lagged behind implementing 21st Century Policing strategies to ensure the protection and safety of our most marginalised, vulnerable communities. Despite the fact that SFPD has adopted Community Policing strategies in its General Orders (Section 1.08 - Community Policing), these policies have no points of accountability or enforcement.  Additionally, Police Chief Greg Suhr and other leadership have continued to execute policies and support personnel that allow racism, homophobia, transphobia, and homeless persecution to proliferate within the force, instead of challenging the Board of Supervisors to vote in favor of protecting all citizens of San Francisco, and not just the most elite.

Far too many black and brown folks, people with mental and physical disabilities, and members of the LGBT community and homeless residents have suffered at the hands of the SFPD. This is not unique to San Francisco. This is a national endemic. But we refuse to let this happen here. Current leadership has proven that it either cannot or will not take action to stop the excessive use of force, abuse of power, and bigotry that is causing unjust pain and suffering in our communities. It is clear that current training and practices being deployed by the San Francisco Police Department are part of the problem, and that better solutions like anti-oppression training, de-escalation and conflict mediation are necessary.  

The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club Political Action Committee demands immediate actions be taken to ensure justice for the victims of police brutality, including Mario Woods and Alex Nieto, and for the Police Commission to aggressively pursue measures that ensure accountability, transparency and the implementation of effective Community Policing best practices.

Signed,
Political Action Committee of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

Political Action Committee Meeting
Tuesday, December 8th
7-9pm @ the SF LGBT Center (1800 Market Street)
Open to the public. 

AGENDA

1. Welcome / Call to Order
2. Presentation on "The Familial Impacts of Incarceration: An Overview and Analysis for Action" by Dr. Crystallee Crain, Coordinator, SF Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership
3. SF's Density Bonus Plan and its Impact on the Castro & Rental Housing (Tommi Avicolli Mecca)
4. Question and Answer period with State Senate Candidate and current District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim*. Download a copy of Supervisor Kim's completed Club questionnaire here.
5. Upcoming Events
6. New Business
7. Adjourn

*At the Club's General Membership meeting in November, a motion was made to vote on an early endorsement of Supervisor Jane Kim for State Senate at the Club's holiday part on Wednesday, December 16th. The motion was accompanied by a request that the Club invite Supervisor Kim to our next Political Action Committee and that she complete the Club's candidate questionnaire. A copy of Supervisor Kim's questionnaire is available here. Depending on the length of business at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Kim or a member of her team will attend. 

Local Candidates
Mayor: No Endorsement*
District 3 Supervisor: Aaron Peskin
Sheriff: Ross Mirkarimi 
District Attorney: George Gascon
City Attorney: Dennis Herrera
Treasurer: Jose Cisneros
City College Board: Tom Temprano 

Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club's
39th Annual Dinner & Gayla

Tickets & Sponsorship Info >

Keynote Speaker
Jovanka Beckles
Councilmember, City of Richmond, CA

2015 Honorees