by Craig Wiesner – San Mateo Daily Journal – Tuesday November 12, 2024
Ten years ago I was honored to be sworn in to serve on the San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission, the first of its kind in the state, reciting these words: “I, Craig Wiesner, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California…”
I’ll be attending my last commission meeting next week, along with County Supervisor Dave Pine, who, like me, is termed out at the end of this year. It has been a wonderful experience and I am proud of what I, my colleagues on the commission, our Director, Tanya Beat, and previous directors, along with countless people working for the county, cities, state, and our federal partners have achieved during these last ten years. This time has reinforced my faith in our government, working side by side with people who truly care about service, work hard to make people’s lives better, who are honest and trustworthy, and accomplish so much. I’ll share a few things I am especially grateful to have helped make happen.
The LGBTQIA+ Commission’s first giant task was to create and launch a survey so that we could learn about the experiences and needs of the LGBTQIA+ community in the county. The results were eye opening though not surprising and led to a major initiative, the “Visibility Project.” We found that one of the biggest issues LGBTQIA+ people faced was a lack of visibility, of the community itself and of support for our community. The commission endeavored to get every city and town in the county to recognize Pride Month in June by raising a Pride/Progress flag, issuing proclamations, and hosting community events. We succeeded! The flags now fly everywhere in June and there are parades and Pride events across the county, with the biggest in San Mateo’s Central Park. Seeing thousands of people celebrating their communities at these events makes my heart sing.
Members of the commission spoke at a hearing in Sacramento, using data from our survey and our experiences in the county, to successfully gain continued funding for the San Mateo Pride Center, an organization that has been wildly successful since opening in 2017. That was YOUR voice being heard at the table, enabled by a part-time volunteer like me.
Hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance and raising the Transgender Flag each year in November have been one of the most solemn things the LGBTQIA+ Commission, along with the San Mateo Pride Initiative and San Mateo Pride Center have done. Hateful rhetoric, hundreds of harmful laws against transgender people, and acts of violence, including murder, require a visible and strong response. I’m proud of our county for taking a stand against hate.
The commission encouraged the Board of Supervisors to sign onto an Amicus Brief for a LGBTQIA+ labor discrimination Supreme Court case. The Board did and SCOTUS decided in our favor in the landmark Bostock v Clayton County decision. I want those of you reading this column to understand that I, as an appointed commissioner, was representing YOU when I and my fellow commissioners made that recommendation. YOUR voice was heard at the Supreme Court through a part-time volunteer like me.
Today, people locally and nationally are pondering what will happen now that this election is over. Many are celebrating as many are mourning. Some see bright days ahead while others are devastated. Some are hopeful while others feel hopeless. I can tell you, from experience, that hopefulness and hopelessness bear little fruit without action. Yes, take time to celebrate or grieve, and then… I’ve written before about a joyous cruise ship that makes onlookers want to get on board. We already live in a beautiful state, with great counties, cities and towns. Let’s pour our energy into making where we live even better. I know that my ten years have made a positive difference and I am so proud of all the other people I’ve worked with who have done the same. Now, there are seats at the table waiting for you. Our cities and county have boards and commissions with empty seats. Apply! There are elected positions where candidates go unopposed. Run! Our city, county, state and federal legislators, boards and commissions have many ways you can make your voice heard. Don’t let the cynics convince you that they don’t listen. They do. Say something!
I’m not speaking for the Board of Supervisors or the LGBTQIA+ Commission in this column, just myself, with the power that we, the people, have. Grab it, use it, make things happen.
Visit smcgov.org/bnc to apply to serve on a commission.