San Francisco Human Rights Commission' Lesbian/Gay Activities Office records, 1969-1993, bulk 1973-1977

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Summary

Creators:
Human Rights Commission of San Francisco
Abstract:
Includes subject files of staff members of the Human Rights Commission, particuarly of Jo Daly, the HRC's gay community liaison. Materials include correspondence, press releases, notes, and some minutes of the Gay Advisory Committee, 1975-1980.
Extent:
3 cartons, 1 manuscripts box (3.26 cubic feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Human Rights Commmission Records (SFH 718), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes subject files of staff members of the Human Rights Commission, including correspondence, press releases, and notes. Has some minutes of the Gay Advisory Committee, 1975-1980; as well as of the subsequently named Lesbian/Gay Advisory Committee, 1987-1989; and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Committee, 1993. Topics include access, affirmative action, contract compliance, disabilities, gay rights, mental health employment discrimination, age and sex discrimination in employment, and state legislation. Documents a few discrimination and employment complaints.

A significant portion of the collection is comprised of the work files of Jo Daly, the HRC's gay community liaison. Includes a 1975 Daly manuscript celebrating "six hard years" of work towards equal rights for homosexuals. Internal correspondence discusses the need and creation of a position of liaison to gay communities, and the job request form, in early 1975 (in Series 2, Gay Alliance: Pacific Telephone file). Also includes an academic paper analyzing the validity of the HRC's enabling ordinances, Chapter 12A, 12B, and 12C, of the San Francisco Administrtive Code; and Articles 33 and 38 of the San Francisco Police Code; in view of California preemption law (in Series 2).

Biographical / historical:

The San Francisco Human Rights Commission advocates for human and civil rights, and works in service of the city's anti-discrimination laws to further racial solidarity, equity, and healing. The HRC was established in 1964 by Mayor John F. Shelley as the Interim Committee on Human Relations, to handle discrimination matters involving race, religion, and national origin. By 1977, areas covered included age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and property agreements. By then, HRC was handling hundreds of complaints each year in employment within both the public and private sector, and was meeting growing problems involving inter-group tensions in education, youth, police, gays, and housing. The commission has since grown in response to San Francisco's mandate to address the causes of, and problems resulting from, prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, and discrimination. Currently, the department's divisions include Civil Rights, Community Engagement, Dream Keeper Initiative, Office of Racial Equity, and Office of Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention.

Jo Daly joined the Human Rights Commission in 1975, where she was believed to be the first government official in the nation to serve the gay community in a salaried position.

In 1991, the commission's Family Policy Task Force work led to successful domestic partners health benefits legislation, the second city in the country to do so (after Berkeley, CA, in 1984). In 2021, the city launched the Dream Keeper Initiative, a citywide effort to address structural inequities by reinvesting funds into San Francisco's diverse Black communities.

Acquisition information:
Transferred from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society in November 1996.
Processing information:

Processed by Tami J. Suzuk in 2022.

Arrangement:

Organized into two series: Series 1: Jo Daly's Files; and Series 2: Staff Files. Within series, organization is alphabetical.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Personal identifying information of complainants has been redacted.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Human Rights Commmission Records (SFH 718), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website