Finding Aid to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission's Lesbian/Gay Activities Office Records, 1969-1993 (bulk 1973-1977), SFH 718

Finding aid prepared by Tami J. Suzuki.

San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

sfhistory@sfpl.org

URL: http://www.sfpl.org/sfhistory

Sept. 19, 2023

Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Title: San Francisco Human Rights Commission' Lesbian/Gay Activities Office records

Date (inclusive): 1969-1993

Date (bulk): 1973-1977

Identifier/Call Number: SFH 718

Creator: Human Rights Commission of San Francisco

Physical Description: 3 cartons, 1 manuscripts box (3.26 cubic feet)

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.

Physical Location: The collection is stored off site.

Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.

Access

The collection is open for research and stored offsite. A minimum of two working days' notice is required for use. Please call the San Francisco History Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567.

Personal identifying information of complainants has been redacted.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Provenance

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

Historical and Biographical Notes

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.

Scope and Contents

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).

Arrangement

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

Related Materials

See also the Jerry Davis papers, SFH 52; and Jo Daly realia, GLC 219. Minutes of both the SF HRC and HRC Gay Advisory Committee (beginning in 1982), as well as an early HRC periodical, Notes, and other HRC documents can be found in the library's online catalog. See also the Jo Daly papers and Lesbian/Gay Advisory Committee to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission records at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

Processing Information

Processed by Tami J. Suzuk in 2022.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Human Rights Commission of San Francisco -- (San Francisco, Calif.). -- Archives.

Human Rights Commission of San Francisco -- (San Francisco, Calif.) -- Gay Advisory Committee. -- Archives.

Discrimination in employment -- California -- San Francisco.

Gay rights -- California -- San Francisco.

Human rights -- California -- San Francisco.

Series 1 Jo Daly Files, 1975-1980

Scope and Contents

Files of Jo Daly who served as the Gay Community Liaison. Includes minutes of the Gay Advisory Committee and a 1977-1978 budget request statement asking for permament staff be increased from 13 to 38, noting the expansion of both the scope and amount of work handled by the department. Notably has a facsimile of a typed manuscript by Daly, likely a speech made at San Jose State University, dated Oct. 3, 1975. At the time, the city of San Jose was grappling with the idea of a municipal proclamation against discrimination against homosexual people. Daly states, "This is simply not a matter of gay liberation in this country...it is indeed human liberation." She also noted that she had recently come out as gay to her parents as the Washington Post was about to carry a story about her job with the City and County of San Francisco, effectively "outing" her sexual orientation.

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically.

Biographical Statement

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 1980, she was named to the Police Commission by then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein, and was the first lesbian on that body. She was a long-time ally of Feinstein. Daly was a member of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club. During her battle with cancer, she fought for legalized marijuana use. Daly died in 1997.

box 1

Assembly Bill 1

box 1

AB 385, 1977

box 1

AB 489, 683

box 1

AB 607: Marriages Passed, 1977

box 1

AB 1302, 1977

box 1

AB 3124 Resolution

box 1

AB 4179, Board of Medical Quality Assurances

box 1

Adoptions

box 1

Affirmative Action, Civil Service

box 1

Affirmative Action Plan for City

box 1

Bathhouse Fire Safety Ordinance, 1978

box 1

Bill, Senate Bill 1

box 1

Boyle vs. Pacific Telephone, 1975

box 1

Briggs Initiative

box 1

Budget

box 1

California Journal

box 1

Campaign for Homosexual Equality. (CHE)

box 1

Carswell, Harold G

box 1

Channel 38, Van Name Esser

box 1

City of Seattle Department of Human Rights

box 1

Civil Service Commission, Affirmative Action in Employment

box 1

Coalition to Defend Gays in the Military

box 1

Commission on the Status of Women: Resolutions on Gay Rights, 1977

box 1

Committee Assignments, 1976

box 1

Community Contact Response List

box 1

Community Liaison Monthly Reports, 1977-1978

box 1

Community Organization Staff Function, 1976

box 1

Community Organizations, All Minorities

box 1

Conference on Race, Religion and Social Concerns, 1978

box 1

Correspondence, 1977-1978

box 1

Crime, 1976-1977

box 1

Dade County

box 1

Democratic Party: Mid-term Convention Delegate Selection, 1978

box 1

Discrimination in Employment, 1973-1976

box 1

District 5

box 1

Elderly Gays

box 1

Embarcadero Referral Service, First-Year Report

box 1

Employment Legislation

box 1

Employment Section Report, 1976-1977

box 1

Equal Opportunity in Employment, 1972-1976

box 1

Fair Employment Practices Commission, 1975

box 1

Fair Employment Report

box 1

Fair Housing Ordinances, 1978

box 1

Field Poll, Aug. 16, 1977

box 1

Foster Parents 1977

box 1

Freedman, Mark

box 1

Gail Roberts

box 1

Gallup Poll on Homosexuality, 1977

box 1

Gay Advisory Committee (GAC)

box 1

Annual Report January 1977

box 1

Community Organization Contact

box 1

Community Liaison, Annual Report, 1976

box 1

Meeting Memorandum, Phyllis Lyon, 1977

box 1

Minutes, 1975-1980

box 1

Open File

box 1

Peg's Place Incident 1979

box 1

Purpose and Program

box 1

Resolutions

box 1

Suggested Priorities, 1978

box 1

Youth and Education Committee, 1976

box 1

Gay Health Board, 1976

box 1

Gay Health Project (of Health Department), 1976

box 1

Gay Liberation Front, 1972-1976

box 1

Gay Manifesto, Wittman

box 1

Gay Republicans Update, March 1978

box 1

Gay Rights Ordinances

box 1

Gay School Workers Coalition

box 1

Gayer, Richard

box 1

Gaylord Case

box 1

Handicapped Groups

box 1

Housing

box 1

Housing Complaint Report, 1976

box 1

Housing and Urban Development Committee Minutes

box 1

HR 6666, 1977

box 1

Human Rights Commission

box 1

Human Rights: Whitman-Radclyffe File

box 1

Insurance--Non-discrimination Policy

box 1

Involvement Way Proposal

box 1

Jo Daly Presentation at San Jose State University, 1975

box 1

Job Discrimination Legislation and Court Decisions

box 1

Johnson, Julius M. [Life Struggle Research]

box 1

KGO Editorial on Board of Education Resolution, 1977

box 1

KGO Special Report on Gays, 1976

box 1

Labor Legislation

box 1

Legislation, 1977

box 1

Legislative Committee: SF Commission on the Status of Women

box 1

Legislative Summary, 1975

box 1

Lesbian Mothers

box 1

Lucia Valeska Reception Information

box 1

Marmor, M.D., Judd, on Female Homosexuality

box 1

Mental Health Advisory Board of SF

box 1

Mental Health: Community Resources

box 1

Mental Health Services: Task Force Report

box 1

Military: Coalition to Defend Gays

box 1

Monthly Reports, 1976

box 1

National Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on the Bicentennial

box 1

New York Human Rights

box 1

Ordinance on Non-discrimination

box 1

Ordinance: Harvey Milk

box 1

Ordinances in other Cities and States

box 1

Other Cities and Counties

box 1

Parents of Gays

box 1

Police Liaison Committee

box 1

Political

box 1

Population Data

box 1

Propositions, City and State, 1976

box 1

Psychology

box 1

Public Hearings, GAC, 1976

box 2

Public Hearings, GAC 1976

box 2

Quiz on Homosexuals, "Dear Abby," 1977

box 2

Religion

box 2

Rules and Regulations

box 2

Santa Clara County Resources and Services

box 2

SB 179 Affirmative Action for School Employees, 1977

box 2

Sex Discrimination and Women's Issues--Literature 1971-1972

box 2

Sexual Laws

box 2

SF "Power" Article, Russ Cone, 1977

box 2

SFPD Internal Affairs--Complaint of Harassment

box 2

SFUSD Resolution, GAC, Youth and Education, 1976

box 2

Society for Individual Rights

box 2

Transsexuals

box 2

White House Meeting

box 2

World Airways, 1979-1980

Series 2 Staff Files, 1969-1993 1973-1977

Scope and Contents

Combined files of several HRC staff members including: Lloyd Cowan, Gay Community Liaison and Contract Compliance Specialist; Carole Ellison, Liaison to Physically Handicapped Community; Wayne Redus, Coordinator of Employments; Gail Roberts, Coordinator; and Emmett Rosebrought, Contract Compliance Officer. Includes minutes of the named Lesbian/Gay Advisory Committee, 1987-1989; and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Committee, 1993.

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically.

box 2

96-72: Sexual Orientation Ordinance, 1972

box 2

AB 1, 1979

box 2

AB 1130, 1977

box 2

AB 1302, 1977-1978

box 2

AB 3124, 1976

box 2

AB 3365, 1976

box 2

AB 3823, 1976

box 2

Affirmative Action, 1976-1979

box 2

Affirmative Action, California Democratic Party

box 2

Affirmative Action Compliance

box 2

Affirmative Action Principles

box 2

Age Discrimination Complaint

box 2

Age Discrimination in Employment, 1975-1977

box 2

Aging Clippings

box 2

Agnos, Art, 1977-1980

box 2

AIDS Discrimination

box 2

Amendment to 12B--Inclusion of Physical Disability, 1975-1976

box 2

American Arbitration Association

box 2

American Psychiatric Association

box 2

Anti-violence Campaign

box 2

Arson Task Force

box 2

Bay Area Addiction Research

box 2

Big Brothers

box 2

Bishop Myers' Statement on Homosexuality,

box 2

Blind

box 2

Board of Control

box 2

Board of Education Resolutions

box 2

Budget Hearing Summary, 1977

box 2

California League for Handicapped Class

box 2

California Association of the Physically Handicapped 1975-1976

box 2

Center for Independent Living

box 2

City of San Francisco: Labor Day

box 2

City-wide Non-discrimination Ordinances, 1978

box 2

Community Agencies and Associations

box 2

Community Liaisons: Responsibilities

box 2

Community Mental Health Contracts

box 2

Community United Against Violence

box 2

Contract Compliance

box 2

Contracts Directory, 1978

box 2

Correspondence

box 2

Correspondence, Carole Ellison

box 2

Correspondence, Lloyd Cowan

box 2

Crime Unreported Study, 1977

box 2

Deaf

box 2

Delinquency Prevention

box 2

Delinquency Prevention Coordination Council, 1978-1979

box 2

Department of Public Health Intake Form

box 2

Department of Social Services: Gay Foster Care

box 3

Developmental Disabilities Council

box 3

Disability Definitions, 1976-1977

box 3

Disability Definitions of Other HRCs, 1973-1976

box 3

Disability Mailing List

box 3

Disabled Voter Registration, 1976

box 3

Discrimination against Women Educators Complaint 1975

box 3

Education and SFUSD

box 3

Elderly and Handicapped Accessibility Sub-Committee, 1975-1977

box 3

Employer List, HRC

box 3

Employment

box 3

Equal Employment Opportunity

box 3

Eugene, OR

box 3

Fair Employment Practices Committee, 1977-1978

box 3

Federal Communications Commission Petition, 1977

box 3

Federal Legislation, 1979

box 3

Fire Safety Program, 1977-1978

box 3

Firefighters

box 3

Gay Alliance

box 3

Gay Alliance: Pacific Telephone, 1972-1973

box 3

Gay Media Project: "Scoop" Journal Press Club

box 3

"Gay Power, Gay Politics" CBS News-Reports, 1980

box 3

Gay Reference Material

box 3

Grievance Procedure

box 3

Handicapped: Employment Laws, 1974-1976

box 3

Handicapped [People with Disabilities], 1972-1976

box 3

Heliotrope University: Discrimination

box 3

Homemaker Services

box 3

Homosexual Anti-defamation Committee of San Francisco

box 3

"Human Rights Commission: An Administrative Agency with Nothing to Administer?" Paper, [1987 or later]

box 3

HRC Annual Report, 1975-1976

box 3

HRC Commissioners

box 3

HRC Domestic Partnership Report, 1989

box 3

HRC Employment Committee

box 3

HRC Ordinance--Proposed Revision

box 3

International Hotel

box 3

Janus Recovery, 1979

box 3

Job Development Agencies

box 3

Legal Pamphlets

box 3

Legislation, 1975-1979

box 3

Lesbian/Gay Advisory Committee Minutes, 1986-1987

box 3

Lesbian/Gay Advisory Committee, 1987-1989

box 3

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Committee Minutes, 1993

box 3

Lesbian Task Force

box 3

Medical Quality Assurance Board

box 3

Memos

box 3

Mental Health Advisory Board

box 3

Military

box 3

Molinari 12B

box 3

Montgomery Home Hiring

box 3

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Resolution, 1975

box 3

National Gay Task Force

box 3

NGTF: Gay Rights Protection

box 3

National Legislation

box 3

Newspaper Clippings, 1975-1979

box 3

Non-discrimination in Contracts, 1979

box 3

Non-discrimination Policy, Bank of America

box 3

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, 1975-1977

box 3

Panama American Airways Maternity Policy, 1979

box 3

People with Disabilities

box 3

Physical Disability Report

box 3

Police

box 3

Prisoners' Resources

box 3

Regional Young Adult Project

box 3

Resolution on Discrimination against Homosexuals

box 3

Resolution on Housing, Displacement, GAC Housing, 1969

box 3

Resolution on Violence, 1979

box 3

Resolution Opposing Briggs Initiative, 1977

box 3

Rule of One, 1976

box 3

SF Association for Mental Health

box 3

San Francisco Bay Times Endorsement, 1978

box 3

SF Coalition

box 3

San Francisco Gay Liberation

box 3

Seattle Initiative

box 3

Senior Citizens: Downtown, 1976

box 3

Sex Discrimination

box 3

Sexual Minority Youth Coalition

box 4

Sexual Orientation

box 4

Sexual Orientation in Employment, California Executive Order, 1979

box 4

Sexual Orientation: Parity

box 4

Special Education Advisory Committee

box 4

Statistics, 1975

box 4

Sylvia Porter Articles on Rehabilitation

box 4

Television Signal Corporation, 1972-1973

box 4

Universities and Colleges, Bay Area, 1977

box 4

Viacom Cablevision, 1975

box 4

Victimless Crimes

box 4

Violence against Gays Study, 1977

box 4

Womens Caucus of Alice B. Toklas

box 4

Workforce Data, 1979

box 4

Youth Conferences

box 4

Youth and Education Committee,

box 4

Youth Guidance Center