President Dave Pine's LGBTQ Commission Press Release

Thank you San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for establishing California's first county/city LGBTQ Commission.

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Sabrina Brennan's June 3, 2014 comments to the Board of Supervisors

Thanks you President Pine and Supervisor Tissier and your staff and all the LGBTQ leaders and straight lays for working together to establish the first county/city LGBTQ Commission.  

We have three LGBTQ families on my block in Moss Beach and we appreciate the support.

I'd like to say a few words about pervasive discrimination impacting the lives of transgender members of our community. And I'd like to note that anti-transgender bias in combination with racism is especially devastating.

Many transgender people live in extreme poverty and many experience homelessness.  

A recent Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that a staggering 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide compared too 1.6% of the general population, with rates rising to 55% for those who lost a job due to bias.

It was reported that 51%, were harassed/bullied in school, and 61%, had low household income, or were victims of physical assault, and 64% were victims of physical or sexual assault.

These number are staggering. I'm hopeful the new San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission will find ways to improve the lives of transgender families.