Tech, Queers & Progressive Politics: A Panel Discussion To Disrupt The Divide
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Come tech workers, come queers, come progressives, come allies, come all - it’s time to collaborate on solutions for our city’s most pressing issues! Eager to help foster a more constructive dialogue between San Francisco’s booming tech community and the city’s long-standing progressive base, the Harvey Milk Democratic Club is excited to host this important panel discussion and start the conversation about what’s been holding us up.
With a vibrant panel reflecting both the diversity of the Bay Area and tech industry, the discussion will focus on:
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The intersection of the tech industry and the progressive community, highlighting members with shared affiliation and the organizations that marry technology & social engagement
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Identifying how to change the communication dynamic between the communities to foster more open dialogue and collaboration
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Strategizing how we can shift the “us vs. them” paradigm to one of shared thriving
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Unpacking the barriers making it difficult for tech workers to engage with issues such as housing affordability, homelessness, racial justice, public transportation, and more
CLICK READ MORE FOR PANEL DETAILS
SF Tenants Rights Fair 2015: Knowledge Is Power
San Francisco faces a new surge of evictions by landlords seeking any excuse and pretext to remove existing tenants and profit from the city’s out-of-control market rents. In response to this crisis, organizations of the San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition are joining together in an unprecedented effort to inform tenants of their rights and to support families, seniors, and working people in their attempts to keep their homes and stay in San Francisco – because if we know our rights before a crisis comes knocking, we will be better equipped to assert our rights in a time of need. Knowledge is power.
Join us for this important day of organizing and education - stay in your home!
Lexington Club Commemorative Street Plaque
We're honored to have been able to write the resolution for a Commemorative Street Plaque for the beloved Lexington Club. Thank you to our members the Lexington family for including us in the process and providing vital input. It's a bittersweet happiness, but we're excited to announce that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the installation last week. We look forward to celebrating the legacy of the Lex on April 22 at our monthly happy hour. In the meantime, check out the resolution and feel free to share your memories of this vibrant community space on our Facebook page.
March 2015 PAC Meeting Recommendations
The PAC voted to recommend that the Club sign on in support of the following bills:
Votes on these items will take place at our upcoming General Membership meeting on Tuesday, March 17th from 7-9pm at the Women's Building (3543 18th Street).
To vote on these recommendations, you need to be a member in good standing. To join or renew your membership with the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, click here.
Queer #BlackLivesMatter : A Call to Action in Castro -- Saturday, Feb 28th
Come join the Castro demonstration celebrating Black History month to affirm and celebrate the lives of Black LGBTQ people.
San Francisco's recent increase in violence against transgender women with the deaths of Anastasia and Taja de Jesus and the anti-black racism of local establishments like Toad Hall have led us to take collective action.
We are planning for community building, music, performances, and brief community leaders' speeches. Following the celebration, we will have a moment of silence for our fallen family members as we march in solidarity down Castro street to Toad Hall to declare that all #BlackLivesMatter. Afterwards, we will continue the dialogue and community building at The Mix.
We invite you to join a celebration! We invite you to build community! We invite you to find safe spaces for us! Help us call out Castro and celebrate black queer and trans lives in our community. #CalloutCastro #TransLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter
During the event, we ask that you please abstain from using any and all substances. We want everyone to be present for this movement, both physically and mentally.
Organizers
Darin Conley
Mahnani Clay
Shaun Haines
Thea Matthews
Kin Folkz
Organizational Partners
SPECTRUM Queer Media
Bayard Rustin Coalition
San Francisco Black Leadership Forum
Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
CUAV (Community United Against Violence)
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
Transgender Law Center
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco Young Black Democrats
Important links:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/28850-mourners-for-black-queer-and-trans-lives-attacked-by-castro-bar
http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/02/02/op-ed-why-black-lives-should-matter-all-lgbt-people
http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/02/rip-taja-gabrielle-de-jesus.html
http://hoodline.com/2015/01/homeless-castro-trans-woman-found-dead-on-new-years-eve
Hump Days With Harvey Happy Hour - Gangway Edition
WHAT: Humps Days With Harvey Happy Hour - Gangway Edition
WHEN: Wednesday, February 25th, 2015 | 6:30-9:30pm
WHERE: Gangway, 841 Larkin St.
Calling all queers, progressives, allies, and friends! The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club is holding its first Hump Day with Harvey Happy Hour! In honor of this month of love and friendship, we are inviting all of the club’s friends to join us in the heart of the Tenderloin at the storied Gangway.
Come throw a few back with your favorite queer politicos and in the spirit of the season, bring a pal to join the fun! Maybe they’re new in town, maybe they want to get involved in local politics or maybe they just want to grab a beer - whatever the case, all are welcome to a cordial evening with friends and the first of many occasions to toast the 85th anniversary of the birth of our namesake himself, Harvey Milk!
Please RSVP here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hump-day-with-harvey-happy-hour-gangway-edition-tickets-15825756263
PLUS - 642 Hyde St. Fire Donation Drive
We'll also be accepting donations for the families displaced by the fire at 642 Hyde Street just a few weeks ago. Please give a helping hand and donate some cash directly to them or bring a few items to the happy hour.
The most needed items (besides money) are:
• Housewares: cups, plates, silverware, pots and pans
• Beds/Bedding: full and queen size sheets, comforters, pillows, blankets, towels
• Toiletries: soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toilet paper, razors, tampons and pads for women
• Baby supplies: size 4 diapers, diaper cream, baby shampoo, clothing size 12 months
• Kid clothing: boys size small, medium, and large shirts/sweaters/jackets and girls size 5T shirts/sweaters/jackets/pants
• Adult clothing: size 30x30, 32x30, and 32x32 pants/jeans/pajama bottoms for men. Medium and Large shirts and sweaters for men and women
• Shoes: size 9, 9.5 Men’s, 7, 10 Women’s, 5 Boys, 4 Girls
#BlackLivesMatter - United We Win!
A discussion about the role of the queer community in the fight for racial justice
Tuesday, January 20th
7:30pm at the Women’s Building (3543 18th Street)
“Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.” - Alicia Garza, co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter
Get to know the panelists:
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Alicia Garza is the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. In 2013, Alicia co-founded #BlackLivesMatter, an online platform developed after the murder of Trayvon Martin, designed to connect people interested in learning more about and fighting back against anti-Black racism. She has been the recipient of multiple awards for her organizing work in Black and Latino communities, receiving the Local Hero award from the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the Jeanne Gauna Communicate Justice award from the Center for Media Justice in 2008. She has twice been honored by the Harvey Milk Democratic Club with the Bayard Rustin Community Activist award for her work fighting gentrification and environmental racism in San Francisco’s largest remaining Black community. |
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Neva Walker is a long-time youth worker, community organizer and political leader from Minneapolis who recently relocated to the Bay Area. She has organized intensively around community demands for affordable housing and opportunities for youth. At age 29, Neva was the first African American woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature in the state’s history. She ran a precedent-setting grassroots election campaign that involved young people of color at every level of leadership. She served 8 years as a legislator before stepping down to return to her organizing roots. She’s a former Board member of the Progressive States Network. Since coming to the Bay, Neva spent time supporting the Black Organizing Project at the Center for Third World Organizing, and has been organizing workers in the labor movement. |
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A San Francisco native, Thea Matthews is a re-entry, first generation college student at City College of San Francisco; her major is sociology. Matthews is also president of CCSF’s Black Student Union; and she is an active participant in the Black Lives Matter movement. Matthews helped organized the Millions March SF, Queers come for #Black Lives Matter, and the SF Black Lives Matter Community Building Symposium. She continuously strives for the advancement and empowerment of all Black/ African American students and marginalized communities. She envisions people of all races to gain a keen awareness on the pervasiveness of systematic racism and oppression; and with this newfound consciousness, work towards the eradication of it. |
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Janetta Louise Johnson isan Afro-American Transsexual from Tampa, Florida. She moved to San Francisco in 1997, where she has worked in various capacities at non-profits and social service agencies. She recently survived 3 years in federal prison and is committed to developing strategies and interventions to reduce the recidivism rate of the transgender community. Janetta’s involvement with TGI Justice dates back to 2006. She served as Interim Organizing Director in November/December ‘08, planned vibrant grassroots fundraisers, and later put her skills as a community organizer, trainer, and activist to use inside as she fiercely and tirelessly advocated for her rights as a transgender person in jail and prison. |
PAC Meeting -- Tuesday, January 12th
Agenda
1. Welcome
2. Letter to BART Board regarding #BlackFriday14
3. NUHW & Kaiser Mental Health Clinician Strike
4. Sullivan Funeral Home and LGBT Historical Sites.
5. New Business
Assembly District Delegate Elections 2015 - Jan 10th & 11th
This weekend is the San Francisco Assembly District Delegate Elections! Delegates represent us in the California Democratic Party and vote to endorse candidates for statewide, legislative, and congressional office. These endorsements hold huge sway in elections which is why it is critical that we elect progressive candidates who share our values and will advocate for the causes we want to see the Party support.
Two of our very own Harvey Milk Club Executive Board Members are running to be delegates and they are asking for your support.
Mahnani Clay, AD 17
AD 17 election is on Saturday January 10, 2015
Mahnani Clay is running as part of Tom Ammiano’s progressive slate.
Vote the progressive slate for AD 17:
Mary Marzotto Matt Haney
AD 19 election is on Sunday, January 11, 2015
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM @ the Pacelli Event Center - Merced Room (145 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City 94015) You must arrive before 1:30 in order to vote.
If you’re not sure which Assembly District you are in, type your address here.