IndyBay.com – Cecilia Chung
San Francisco, CA ? Last night, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget Committee unanimously approved a historic $300,000 commitment aimed at turning around high rates of poverty in San Francisco?s transgender communities. Thirteen years after San Francisco outlawed discrimination against transgender employees, the Committee earmarked funds to improve employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in order to overcome high rates of unemployment and underemployment among transgender people in the city.
?The Comprehensive Transgender Employment Initiative is a great investment for San Francisco,? said San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty. ?Too many well qualified transgender people who want to work or start businesses are frozen out of the market. The Initiative is a vital first step in making sure that this community can fully participate and contribute to the wellbeing of our great city.?
The unanimous support of the Committee demonstrates the importance and timeliness of the Initiative. Joining Supervisor Dufty in voting for funding the Initiative was Committee Chair Chris Daly, Board President Aaron Peskin, Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Sean Elsbernd. ?This commitment is overdue,? said Daly. ?For too long, transgender people in my district and throughout the city have been isolated from living wage jobs and career opportunities. This initial investment signals an end to that reality and a strong step forward in full inclusion.?
Community members hail the vote and the support of elected officials. ?It?s a great time to be living and working in San Francisco. This historic vote reinforces the city?s role as a national leader in the transgender equality movement,? said Cecilia Chung, Deputy Director of the Transgender Law Center. ?Just five years after the city began offering health insurance equality for city employees, this initiative will set a new milestone in transgender history by creating full and fair employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for our community.?