Where is the war on drugs headed today? And what role will San Francisco and the LGBT community play in the war’s future escalation or resolution? Join the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club as they come together for a panel discussion on drugs, drug policies and their impact on our community.

Monday, August 12, 2013
6:30pm
San Francisco LGBT Center (1800 Market St)
Ceremonial Room

Panelists include:

+ Laura Thomas of the Drug Policy Alliance. Thomas serves as a deputy state director who oversees the alliance’s Model City Initiative for San Francisco.

+ Michael Siever, PhD. Michael is the former director of behavioral health services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Stonewall Project.

+ Micaela Davis, Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Attorney, ACLU of Northern California 

+ John Lorenz, San Francisco Drug Users Union

Did you know the war on drugs began in San Francisco? We were the first city to prohibit drug use. 

The Harvey Milk Club’s Annual Dinner and Gayla on July 24th was a huge success! We want to thank everyone who attended, including our keynote speaker Lt. Dan Choi, and all those who contributed to this magical evening of San Francisco queer progressive politics. We would like to take a moment to specifically acknowledge all of the generous sponsors of this year’s event, without whom we would not have had such a memorable night:

Hero

Instigator

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano

City Attorney Dennis Herrera

Senator Mark Leno

Assemblymember Phil Ting

Fair Drug Pricing

Organizer

Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club

Supervisor David Campos

Treasurer Jose Cisneros

Peter Donohue

Drug Policy Action

Supervisor Eric Mar

National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW-CNA)

Platinum Advisors

The Sierra Club, San Francisco Bay Chapter

Tom Temprano

Trumark Urban

Activist

50+1 Strategies, LLC

Judge Gail Dekreon

Bob Dockendorff

Veronika Fimbres and Randy Dolphin

Eileen Hansen

United Educators of San Francisco, AFT#61/CTA

Betty Yee for Controller

For Immediate Release (PDF Download) 

U.S. Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, staunch advocate for the successful repeal of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy affecting LGBT service members, will be the keynote speaker at the Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club’s thirty-seventh Annual Dinner and Gayla at Roccapulco Supper Club on Wednesday, July 24th from 7-10 pm. Choi repeatedly chained himself to the White House’s fence in protest against this repressive policy. Tom Temprano, Milk Club President, said of Choi “Lt. Dan Choi’s use of direct action to demand justice for the queer community is reminiscent of the actions of Milk Club leaders past and inspiration to our current generation of leadership. It is an honor to have him address our club.”  

Lt. Dan Choi’s selection as keynote speaker draws attention to the Milk Club’s long-standing commitment to ensure more accountability and transparency from the U.S. military and government. In addition to supporting Choi, the Club has been an outspoken supporter of U.S. Army intelligence officer Bradley Manning, who is currently facing court martial for exposing truths about the U.S. military’s actions during the Iraq War.

We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Jazzie Collins. This post is dedicated to the memory of Jazzie: stalwart Milk Club member, fierce trans activist, and committed human rights advocate. The Milk Club will not be the same without her. 

CLICK HERE for Jazzie's obituary in the SF Bay Guardian. We miss you, Jazzie!

What is happening to Central Market?

New high-rise developments, tax breaks for Twitter and other tech companies, rising rents for tenants, and long-time community organizations and residents being displaced. And that's only part of the story. 

Join the Milk Club on Tuesday, July 9th from 7-9pm at the San Francisco LGBT Center (1800 Market St) for a panel discussion on the State of Central Market featuring community members and neighborhood activists who are working to keep Central Market a space for all. 

Come find out what's really happening along Central Market and what we can do about it!

Join the Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club as we celebrate 37 years of queer progressive leadership with awards and eats

 

Sponsorship Levels and Ticketing

{$1000}          {$600}            {$350}            {$200}

CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIPS, TICKETS & INFO

We are the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and we are here to recruit you for PRIDE. 

Given the controversy surrounding this year's Pride parade, we feel it is particularly important for queers and queer progressives to come together, be visible, and be heard during this year's festivities. Interested in marching with us? Complete this brief survey.  

We hope you can join the Milk Club at the following Pride weekend events:

Dear Ms. Adams,

The youth that are served by Larkin Street Youth Services are among our most vulnerable residents and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club has long stood alongside you in your dedication to assisting them and fighting for their rights. You may remember that last year we partnered with the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club in successfully lobbying the Mayor to restore $500,000 worth of funding that had been cut from your budget that was intended to serve young people with HIV.

We are however troubled by recent actions by your organization to infringe upon the rights of your own dedicated employees who have expressed interest in forming a union with Service Employees International Union Local 1021.

The employees at Larkin Street Youth Services are dedicated to creating a better quality of life for their clients and deserve the ability to advocate for their own quality of life as well. The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club has always stood with unions and we feel particularly strongly that those workers who are dedicating their lives to social justice, as yours are, deserve the opportunity to have a voice and to feel secure in their workplace. Teachers, nurses, and social workers in San Francisco have organized to improve the size of classes, nurse-to-patient ratios, and caseloads in the interest of those that they serve as well as their own working conditions. This is true in the case of your workers at LSYS as well.

Given the critical needs of the clients that you serve, it is troubling to us that you would spend your agency’s precious funds on your current anti-union campaign. Your workers, your clients and the San Francisco tax payers who help to fund your work deserve better.

The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club asks that you immediately cease your anti-union campaign, stop using agency funds for anti-union efforts and accept the results of the mail ballots currently being circulated.

Our club respects the crucial service that your organization provides to our city’s youth and hope that you show the workers who provide these vital services the opportunity to organize that they rightfully deserve.

Sincerely,

Tom Temprano

President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

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Sign the Change.org petition asking Larkin Street Youth Services to remain neutral.

Read the SF Bay Guardian article by Steve Jones about the use of LSYS funds in anti-union efforts.