San Francisco, CA (Tuesday, August 24, 2021) —Today San Francisco Mayor London Breed officially declared August as Transgender History Month in San Francisco. Developed in partnership with the Transgender District and Office of Transgender Initiatives, today's proclamation signing at City Hall launched a month of celebrating the history and cultural milestones of transgender people in San Francisco.
The country's first Transgender History Month honors the 55th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria Riots, which occurred in August 1966 in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, marking the beginning of transgender activism in San Francisco. A response to violent and constant police harassment, this incident was one of the first LGBTQ uprisings in United States history, preceding the better known 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City.
The Tenderloin is now home to The Transgender District, created in 2018 as Compton's Transgender Cultural District, the nation's first legally recognized district dedicated to the transgender, nonbinary, and intersex community. On August 29, the District will be hosting a neighborhood block party, "The Riot Party", featuring food, live music, performances, and more. The event will also honor community members who have advanced trans rights in San Francisco and beyond.
“It was an honor to join the transgender community today at City Hall to declare August as Transgender History Month in San Francisco,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “San Francisco is, has been, and always will be a place where everyone can seek refuge, sanctuary, and safety.”
Today's event at City Hall was emceed by community icon Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The event included speaker program honoring Transgender History Month and community leaders including Tamara Ching, Camille Moran, Cecilia Chung and more. Also giving remarks was Honey Mahogany, trans activist and chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. The event concluded with the raising of the transgender pride flag over City Hall.
"Transgender History Month is so iconic! I don't think the broader public realizes how many significant contributions to history, culture, social justice, and of course, popular culture that transgender and gender non-conforming people have made," said Aria Sa'id, co-founder and President of The Transgender District. "On behalf of The Transgender District we are overjoyed to celebrate this incredible milestone."
"We are grateful to have partnered with the Transgender District and Mayor London Breed to declare August as Transgender History Month in San Francisco," said Clair Farley, Executive Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives. "San Francisco has long been a leader in fighting for trans rights and making critical investments to support our residents. This historic announcement is an important way to honor those that have paved the way for our movement and address the important work we have ahead to address the ongoing discrimination and violence facing trans and gender nonconforming communities."
During the event Mayor Breed announced several critical trans and LGBTQ community investments that were included in her recently signed citywide budget, including:
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First of its kind Guaranteed Income Project for the Trans Community, prioritizing San Francisco residents most impacted by the pandemic and those disconnected from other benefits. The proposed budget includes $2 Million for the program over the next two years.
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LGBTQ Senior Tele-mental health program and expanded digital access services. The new program, to be funded through the Department of Adult and Aging Services, will increase services LGBTQ seniors while adding much-needed mental health resources to community members who have experienced increased isolation, depression and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot project would be funded at $900,000 over the next year
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Support for small businesses and arts and cultural programs including $12 Million for the acquisition of a site to house the country’s first full scale LGBTQ Museum.
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Continuing to enact policies and initiatives that aim to break the cycle of violence and discrimination against our transgender communities, especially against Black trans women that experience disproportionate levels of violence. That is why as part of Mayor Breed’s reinvestment effort, the Dream Keeper Initiative is investing $2.2 Million for Black transgender equity programming over the next two years.
For more information about San Francisco’s Office of Transgender Initiatives, please visit sf.gov/transcitysf and learn more about The Transgender District at transgenderdistrictsf.com.