25 Years of Combating LGBT Violence

San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk In 1978, San Francisco suffered a terrible tragedy with the twin assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.

The assassinations by former supervisor Dan White, who snuck through a basement window of City Hall to avoid the metal detectors at the door but then claimed the murders were not premeditated, were a double blow to San Francisco's growing LGBT community. George Moscone was our first unabashed ally in the mayor's office. And Harvey Milk was the nation's first openly-gay elected official.

From that tragedy, a new organization was born to combat the homo- and transphobic violence besetting us: Community United Against Violence (CUAV).

CUAV's Efforts on Behalf of the Community

I joined CUAV's Board of Directors almost two years ago. Never before have I worked with such a talented, selfless group of individuals who work so hard for so many and ask so little in return.

CUAV was the first organization in the country to organize specifically to protect us against violence. They began by providing support for LGBT victims of hate crimes. When I was first coming out in the 1980s, everyone I knew carried a CUAV whistle to signal for help. I still have a CUAV whistle on my keychain. CUAV operates a 24-hour hotline for victims to call for help. They provide educational programs in schools and other venues to help raise a generation of youth free of homophobia. And they deal with violence issues within the community by providing support, counseling, and safety for LGBT victims of domestic violence.

I joined CUAV's Board of Directors almost two years ago. Never before have I worked with such a talented, selfless group of individuals who work so hard for so many and ask for so little in return. Please join me in thanking CUAV and helping support their efforts.

CUAV's 25th Anniversary Celebration

This year, CUAV is celebrating our 25th anniversary on Thursday, November 4th. To honor the tragedy that gave birth to our organization, we will be posthumously recognizing Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. George Moscone's daughter Rebecca will be accepting on his behalf, and Harvey Milk's openly-gay nephew, Stuart Milk, will be accepting on behalf of his uncle.

Please join us for this very special celebration!

Please email me if you are interested in attending, sponsoring, or donating an item for the silent auction.

Community and political leaders from throughout the City will be on hand to pay their respects to CUAV and honor the memories and families of Milk and Moscone. In addition, the event will include a special silent auction that includes memorabilia from those who remember and love our lost mayor and supervisor.

Tickets to the event are $100 each, and sponsorship opportunities are also available. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring, please email me for more information. If you have anything you would like to donate for the silent auction, please let me know as well. If you cannot attend on November 4 but would to sponsor or make a donation, please let me know that as well.

Our job isn't done.

Just this month, Bryant Kirchner pleaded guilty to six accounts of felony assault and battery for a homophobic hate crime committed in San Francisco on Gay Pride weekend. And Gwen Araujo's murderers' trial ended in a mistrial just a few months ago. It's easy to feel insulated and protected in the gay mecca, but violence - from without and within - remains a very real problem in the community.

CUAV needs your support to continue to provide a safe community for us.

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