SF LGBTQ Community Denounces the New Homeless Ballot Measures

image from glaad

The folks over at the Coalition on Homelessness do really fantastic work. They are “working every day to expand access to housing in one of the richest cities in the country, protect the rights of the poorest people on our streets, and to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty.” Yeah, they are fighting the good fight like a motherfucker.

The most recent thing they’re fighting against is Supervisors Mark Farrell and Scott Weiner’s new homeless initiatives. According to the CoH, the new ballot measure called “Promotion Of Safe And Open Sidewalks” and “Neighborhood Crime Unit in Police Department” offer no resources, hurt those already languishing on the shelter wait list, don’t provide any more housing, and hurts our LGBT and Queer communities. Queer leaders like Cleve Jones and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club are supporting the CoH in this fight.

The CoH is asking for our help in getting these initiatives rescinded by doing these three things:

1. Call or Email these supervisors and demand they remove their ballot initiatives as they are inherently anti-LGBTQ.
–Supervisor Mark Farrell- (415) 554-7752 –Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org
–Supervisor Scott Wiener-(415) 554-6968 – Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org
–Supervisor Katy Tang- (415) 554-7460 – Katy.Tang@sfgov.org
–Supervisor Malia Cohen- (415) 554-7670 –  Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org

Here is a suggested script:
“I am calling to urge the Supervisor to do the right thing and remove their support for anti-LGBTQ measures aimed at harming homeless individuals. Criminalization of homelessness has drastic impacts on the LGBTQ community – including increased police abuse and further entrenching our community in homelessness. We need affordable housing and dignity leading our policy creation in response to encampments, not hate and stigma.”

2. Sign the petition 

Sign and share this petition broadly. They will be delivering signatures to the Board of Supervisor’s on Monday July 18th @ 10am at SF City Hall.

3. Come out to the Rally

It’s happening Monday 7/18 @ 10am at City Hall steps. Here is the FB invite so that you can stay updated and share with your friends.