SF Pride Elects New Board Members, Selects 2016 Theme

The board that oversees San Francisco Pride is gaining several new members, as only two incumbents were re-elected during the organization's annual general meeting last weekend.

The membership of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee also selected as its theme for 2016 "For Racial and Economic Justice," which won with 36 votes.

While there had been seven seats up for election, only five candidates met the 50 percent plus one criteria for placement on the board, according to a blog post by SF Pride.

For the board seats that were up for election this year, Melanie Nathan, a former San Francisco Pride community grand marshal and a well-known global gay rights activist, was the top vote getter, receiving 104 votes.

"I'm stunned and didn't expect such a vote of confidence," Nathan told the Bay Area Reporter immediately following the election. "I'm very appreciative and excited to serve San Francisco Pride. I feel that San Francisco is synonymous with Pride and that Pride is synonymous with San Francisco."

Nathan, a South African native, has also been a grand marshal at Cape Town Pride. She is an attorney and also an advocate for immigration rights.

"I look forward to being a part of Pride's future where I hope it will continue to be a beacon for LGBT people in San Francisco and around the world," she said.

Other SF Pride board members who were elected included Joey Stevenson, who received 86 votes; incumbent Justin Taylor, 85 votes; John Weber, 82 votes; and incumbent Jesse Oliver Sanford, 77 votes.

The day's biggest surprise came from the losing candidacy of Marsha Levine, who currently serves as Pride's vice president. Levine has been involved with Pride for 31 years in various capacities, including the contracted position of parade manager.

Incumbent board member John Caldera also came up short in his re-election bid.

Prior to voting, the approximately 200 Pride members who attended the September 12 meeting at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center heard a two-minute statement from each candidate.

"This election will determine the scope of Pride for 10 years," Taylor said during his statement. "Do we put a cap on how big it gets, or do you want it to get so big that the city takes it over?"

Taylor cited his two lesbian mothers as among his personal influences. "My moms are poor and Southern," he said. "If you believe as I do to give a voice to those who have none then I'd like your vote."

Sanford said that he hopes to connect SF Pride to tech. He also said that SF Pride needs to reduce corporate sponsorship and increase the support it gets from City Hall.

Stevenson stated her support for My Name Is, the coalition of activists fighting Facebook's policy on people using their real names for accounts. The issue has angered some in the trans and drag communities.

"I'm mourning the loss of women's spaces," Stevenson said to strong applause. Stevenson recently hosted a memorial for the Lexington Club, the recently shuttered lesbian bar in the Mission.

Weber has a long history of advocacy with the Imperial Court System.

"I stand on the shoulders of Harvey Milk and Sylvester," he said, as he also pointed to his many years of fundraising experience.

"I am running to make sure that we get a measure on the ballot to insure a 10-year funding stream for this organization," Weber said as he was applauded.

Pride Theme Controversy

Controversy erupted as Pride members voted on the 2016 Pride theme. Trans Lives Matter proved to be a particularly popular theme among voters. Others felt that a trans-specific theme excluded cisgender community members, while African American Pride members felt the proposal was disrespectful to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The transgender community has been plagued by nearly 20 murders across the country this year, mostly among trans women of color, while African Americans have seen a spike in unarmed black people killed by police or while in police custody.

Mahnani Clay, who is African American and was unsuccessful in her campaign for a board seat, spoke to the B.A.R. about the use of Trans Lives Matter as a possible Pride theme.

"All five of the black folks in the room agreed: we stood up together to ask SF Pride not to dilute the message and power of the Black Lives Matter movement by removing the word 'black,'" she said. "No matter how well intentioned you are or what equally important cause you might be trying to support, it's insulting to us and dismissive of the clearly articulated will of our founders."

Clay emphasized that she is a supporter of the transgender community. "Many of us in the activist community are working together to create an alternative slogan/hashtag that supports trans liberation without diminishing black liberation," she said.

Clay also said that people needed to listen to the communities they were supporting.

"If you want to speak for us, you have to speak with us first," she said. "We need you and we appreciate your ongoing support."

"For Racial and Economic Justice" was ultimately the winning 2016 theme.

The newly elected Pride Board members will be seated at Pride's monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. Two board seats remain vacant and will be filled by appointment.

"There is no decision at this time regarding the two vacant seats on the board," Pride board President Gary Virginia told the B.A.R. "We will look at the diversity, skills, and experience of the new board composition of 11 directors, and seek what we might be missing in any possible new directors."

The board will look at other criteria as well.

"We will also look at what committees directors choose to serve on in the coming year, and see if we are missing interest, skills or depth on a particular committee," he added.