LGBTQ

The future is bright for LGBT elected leaders in San Mateo County

San Francisco Dyke March 2016

Bay Area Reporter - Matthew S. Bajko

While no LGBT candidate ran to succeed him, Rich Gordon believes the power of the LGBT community on the Peninsula will continue to be strong. Both gay Mountain View City Councilman Chris Clark and lesbian San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan won re-election earlier this month, ensuring there is a farm team of LGBT elected leaders to run for higher office in future years.

Gordon noted, "There never were that many out electeds in San Mateo County; I was often the only one at the party." Yet in recent years he said there has been "a greater emergence of an LGBT community" in the area, pointing to the establishment of a countywide LGBT commission to ensure there is local funding for LGBT programs.

"I think the future is very bright in San Mateo County," he said.

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.

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.