Q&A Sessions

The glbt community in Santa Cruz is a significant one in numbers and deserves attention and follow-through from political leaders. However, the compelling reason for seeking this endorsement is a civil rights reason. glbt people have, for far too long, been the subject of discrimination that is not tolerable in a civilized society. It's my desire to be very clear on this point and, as a government leader, to assure that all people enjoy the same civil rights and, that prejudice relating to sexual orientation not be tolerated.

My history with the glbt community has been largely in my 25 years of teaching at Santa Cruz High School. We have had numerous visits of Triangle speakers and it is always preceded by a preparation discussion where courteous and tolerant behavior is taught and stressed.

The heart of my philosophy is centered on three main points:

• Every person has a right to the same human respect and respectful treatment.
• When dealing with any member of a minority community, it’s vital to understand the oppression they have experienced and avoid the putdowns and clichés that society has made a part of that oppression.
• I practice a zero tolerance attitude about discriminatory, and insulting or hateful behavior. For me, this is most often enacted in the school environment where I challenge and question intolerant behavior immediately upon witnessing it. Often a simple comment is sufficient that "it's not ok" to behave that way.

Yes, I will.

I voted for the Council resolution in support of equal marriage and will do so again for any similar or reinforcing measure.

Whenever this subject comes up, I make it clear that I believe rights cannot be denied to any segment of the community. It seems clear that the equal protection provision of the Constitution should ultimately decide this if the courts DO actually uphold the Constitution.

Since the last election, the appointment system has been changed from direct appointment to a majority vote system.

As one Councilmember, I will seek at least two other Councilmembers to advocate for particular glbt appointments.

It's important to do some outreach so that qualified members of the glbt community apply for commission vacancies and that others make calls and send letters and emails supporting those applications.

The ideal candidate would not be single issue but would bring the glbt perspective to commission business.

Yes, the needle exchange is a good program and I support it. However, I would like to enlist those responsible participants to stop the serious occurrence of discarding needles along the river levy next to the needle exchange location. The number of needles found in that area is far disproportionate to the rest of the river area. This practice is contrary to the whole concept of needle exchange. I hope the problem can be alleviated through education and peer influence.

Yes, I will display it proudly.

Tim Fitzmaurice is a strong supporter, and I mention his name first because of his strong support of the glbt community, his participation in Triangle Speakers, and his outspoken zero-tolerance of discrimination and hate behavior. Tim is a mentor for me in this regard.

I have other endorsements almost too numerous to mention but, I will name some here who have always been supportive of the glbt community: Former Mayors: Katherine Beiers, Sally DiGiralamo, Tim Fitzmaurice, Christopher Krohn, Bert Muhly, Celia Scott, Keith Sugar, Jane Weed, County Supervisor and former Mayor Mardi Wormhoudt, Former County Supervisor Gary Patton. I have about 150 additional endorsements to date.

I am always a champion of disadvantaged groups in our society. I chose to make my career in teaching young people and trying to convey to them a vision of their own empowerment.

An example of this is my defense of a popular activity among teens: skateboarding. I find it amazing that leaders in our community see it as a blight that teens actually want to go to Santa Cruz High School and use their skateboards. Those "leaders" seem almost blinded to the fact that teens want to be on the high school campus, the very place where we want them to go! How can people be blinded and fail to see the good in that phenomenon? What is so horrible about a skateboard that our young people should be unfairly stereotyped for it?

On several occasions at Santa Cruz High School, I have had students who were obviously at least questioning their sexual orientation but had not chosen to say anything directly about that subject. I always tried to stop any harassment by classmates and create a respectful atmosphere. In one situation, even the staff showed a fear of one particular individual. It was particularly upsetting to me that they came and examined every single file that student had saved in his personal folder. If it was not so sad, it was almost humorous when they examined many photos expecting to find unacceptable imagery and, to their surprise, found numerous photos of puppies. I was quick to make the point that they had acted unjustly. At least one administrator got the point and agreed with me.

I think these are good indications of my acceptance of diversity and also of the fact that our society, however caring it claims to be, is still full of unfair and discriminatory practices. Each one of us has the opportunity to, in some small way, make progress toward a better society by righting these types of wrongs.