experiencing one kind of mental illness may be experiencing more than one. people who are experiencing mental-health problems are also often having problems with substance abuse, having problems with access to education, employment, housing. san francisco does a good job of providing services for young people. however, i think it does less of a good job providing services for adults. because of organizations like mission-castro, i have places to refer young people for services. i do not have a place to refer those transitioning from youth services into adult services. this has been important in being able to offer care to the youth i work with. they can meet the multiple means that they face for young people who are transgendered who need that kind of health care. there are also able to receive services around mental health,

substance use common diet, smoking cessation, and other things that lyon-martin does. there is nowhere else to refer to the young people i work with. i think the $150,000 the clinic is asking for is the minimum the city can do. i would encourage you to do as much as you can. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. next speaker, please. >> thank you, supervisors. i am laura thomas. i am a former patient of lyon- martin. i access services there about 20 years ago, when i first came to san francisco as a young woman looking for health care. i am also very proud to be a part of the amazing community response that has been the "save lyon-martin" experience. i abort in nonprofits in the city for a long time.

-- i have worked in nonprofits in the city for a long time. i have never seen this kind of response in crisis. i am proud to be a resident of san francisco, which has an amazing investment in ensuring that everyone in san francisco has access to health care and culturally-competent health care. we take cultural competency to the next level in this city, teaching the rest of the world how to provide that care. i am proud of that. i understand this is a difficult time to be keeping a safety net together. i worry that the holes in our safety net are getting larger and larger. i fear that if we lose a clinic like lyon-martin that the holes will be so big we cannot repair

are sifted that again. there are going to be a lot of strong health-care organizations facing cuts this year. we have more to lose if lyon- martin closes. i challenge the board of supervisors to come up with funds to help match with the community has come up with. i think $150,000 from the board of supervisors to match with the community has already raised would be only fair, given the work that so many people have put in to saving this important health resource. thank you. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. next speaker, please. >> i am with the trend tender law center here in san francisco. -- with the transgendered law center here in san francisco. i want to echo that the staff at lyon-martin our leaders nationally in improving access

to care for transgendered people. the clinic provides culturally competent health care services to san francisco's trans gender community. i work with low income and homeless transgendered people who live in the city. many of my clients first received mental-health services from new lease. they closed their doors. then there were reassigned to lyon-martin. a lot of those folks are facing losing the mental services they then have. the work on things like project health to train other doctors. i clear -- i fear for my clients that will not get reassigned to another clinic in a reasonable time. people are likely to not get health care at all. they face the fear of not being

able to find doctors like they have at lyon-martin. i fear people will not get primary care. they may resort to st. hormones or not get the care they need. i urge you to do all you can to support lyon-martin. >> i am victoria grace, a concerned member of the trans gender community, and a very happy patient of the tamo delaware -- tom modell help center and a client of the trans thrive center. competent health care is of utmost importance. transgendered people have a lot of trouble getting culturally competent health care. i am fortunate to get the good health care i get. tom modell is at capacity and

will be utterly swamped. we have heard about the backlog that pastoral mission -- that castro-mission already has. first new leaf, and then lyon- martin. what else? we must keep lyon-martin open. it is of the utmost importance. social safety net services are being cut across the board. it is not a matter of there is not money. it is like the top 1% have collected everything all to themselves. it is not so much the fault of the former board. i just want to ask you to do everything you can to keep lyon- martin open. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you.

next speaker, please. >> i am a patient at lyon- martin. i am fortunate to have health insurance, but i go to lyon- martin because of negative and neglectful health care i have had starting at 16. my pediatrician walked out of my room when he i told him i was gay. it continued from there. i have not gotten good health care until i moved to the city in july to work in special education in the city. when i went to lyon-martin, i learned there were essential health services that i did not know a woman at the age of 23 should have received. i am healthier now that i moved to san francisco, thanks to lyon-martin. supervisor mirkarimi: i am going to read more names. nikki bass, cheryl c. most,

ronnie jacobs. >> my name is sonya lively. i am 60 years old. most of my life, i have been going in and out of hospitals because every time i tried to get help, they would lock me up and put me on drugs. they did not try to find out why. finally, i decided to instead of killing myself come to san francisco in try one last time. somebody referred me to lyon- martin. i finally found a doctor that would listen and try to help. thank you. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. >> my name is melissa karen. i am currently the clinic director at lyon-martin. i am a nurse by trade.

i came to california three years ago. we have had a medical historian working with lyon-martin for about a year. she has been capturing the story of the clinic and patients. i want to share a couple of excerpts. i have the printout of all of those stories that i would love to give you, if you want them. the first is a trans patient who said, "i had never received biological care before, because i was so uncomfortable and ashamed of my body. i am afraid my reproductive health will suffer dramatically, as i cannot fathom letting another doctor into my body in such an intimate way." another patient said, a 49 year old who was diagnosed with kidney cancer, "i thought the financial and emotional burden would be too much to handle and no one else would be able to

help. there were many times i felt helpless and hopeless. suicide felt like the easiest option. i am a lesbian, and even though my family feels -- tries to be supportive, i felt more comfortable talking to the staff of lyon-martin. it was reassuring to know i would be treated with the utmost care and respect. i never felt ashamed there." the lead story and wanted to share was a patient who said, " not only do they provide care to those of us who have been turned away by the medical industry, they provide care to those who have been treated badly in the past by some health care professionals. to receive a gentle and non- judgmental care is tremendous. i grew up in maine and most of my friends are from the east coast. my band teacher has given to lyon-martin, my siblings have given, and people i do not even know have given money in mining. the word from the east coast is

it would be a travesty to the nation to lose this place. the provide cutting edge care. i want it to be mainstream. everybody deserves this type of care." supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. >> my name is cheryl semos. i am a former volunteer at lyon- martin, and currently a patient. i can only say that everything that has been said, i want to second. i have experience with other city-funded clinics, as well as private health care at times when i have had private health insurance. it does not matter whether it is other clinics or san francisco general or private health care. it is one of the best hospitals here in san francisco. the service and the care given at lyon-martin is exceptional.

it is completely respectful and proactive. i think someone used that word. i have had the medical staff of lyon-martin treatment concern seriously when i expressed those same concerns to medical staff in other institutions in san francisco and it was a question of, "there are limited resources, and unless it is a critical need right now we are going to have to avoid it." that never made sense to me. if you ignore something, it only becomes critical. i felt like other health care providers were waiting for me to become incapacitated before there would address something. it is the opposite at lyon- martin. they are very proactive. the other thing i would say is a think it is critical that lyon- martin for many reasons. one is that there will not turn

you away if you are unable to pay. and that is an attitude that they are clear about their. -- there. it is not as clear in other city-funded health care situations. the community has done all it can. we raised a lot of money. please give us some money. [laughter] supervisor mirkarimi: next speaker, please. >> my name is nikki bass. i am a patient at lyon-martin and have been treated there since 2009. prior to that, i spent five years going from a clinic to clinic attempting to find treatments that addressed when medical situation. during this time, i was given different forms of medication my body could not tolerate. i would always wind up being

told either you tolerate the medication are you do not, and there is nothing to do. i was told it was in my mind and was given a prescription for anti-depressant. i heard things about lyon- martin, and i found there were unlike any medical facility i have ever been in. i am comparing it to hundreds of doctors' offices in medical facilities. the medical providers at lyon- martin took a time to get a handle on my history and explore possibilities of experiments with alternative medications. they started with low-dose topical medications and hoped i would tolerate it better. after some experimentation, i was able to tolerate the medication and move forward with the treatment that address my condition. i was not deemed crazy or given in the depressants due to intolerance to medications.

i was treated as a whole person, with respect. i have made a great deal of progress after bouncing from clinic to clinic for years. lyon-martin was like treasure falling out of the sky. in conclusion, it has become a safe harbor in my life, both figuratively and literally, as well as a pathway to a whole and healthy life. if they were forced to close, i would feel my physical and emotional health would be in serious jeopardy. thank you very much for your time. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. >> my name is ron the jacobson -- ronnie jackobson. lyon-martin is like family i have needed since i lived here. they have given me the extra push i needed, whether it because care for a cold or care for my ex partner who transitioned with the help of

land martin. i got a job and continued to university. the staff was always so open and generous to helping you reach my goals. outside of being concerned with my professional goals, i think they saw me as an investment. as a person who wanted to provide care for career and transgendered folks, i was able to get a scholarship for the work i did at lyon-martin, which was able to help me pay necessary school fees. i was able to get some much experience as a medical assistant. i am now unemployed. i am relying on lyon-martin as my health care provider. i cannot imagine going anywhere

else. even if i have health insurance, i would not want to go anywhere else. i had a provider lift an eyebrow at meet in the middle of a pelvic exam for who i was and what my sexual practices were. that would never happen at lyon- martin. supervisor mirkarimi: i would like to read some more names. lisa neumann, john morgan, ronnie evanson. >> i am sick, so i am sorry. i want to cut everything that has been said. i have been a patient for about three years. the language of a medical home in san francisco is exemplified by lyon-martin. it is the only place i have ever

gone consistently. i can walk in and they know my name. it is not just for my community, but it is run by my community. it was not a big surprise when we found out it was good to get closed down. every single person i know mobilized. i know people around the world. we have gotten money and messages of support from people in israel, people in europe and south america, people i did not know cared about me and my community. i want to echo that it is an international resource. i have several close friends who have literally had their life saved by treatment from lyon- martin. a friend was not only diagnosed, but guided through treatment for cervical cancer. another friend who had the same situation with breast cancer, and a third friend who had a heart condition the would never have known about, because they did not want to go to the doctor

anywhere else -- it is something i think a lot of doctors would have missed as well. i wanted to say that. i also want to say as a community member i am committing to not actually letting lyon- martin get into this situation again. if the city gives us this money, we as a community are going to change the way these things are run and this is not want to happen again. it is an investment. i think you so much for having this hearing today. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. next speaker, please. >> my name is lisa neumann. i am an ssi recipient and a behavioral health and cognitive care client of lyon-martin. i identify with the s.e.c. said was assigned at birth. before lyon-martin, i received

adequate care at san francisco general hospital. in 2005, and left the county briefly. when i returned, i could not access health care. it became a full-time job to try to do this. i was referred to lyon-martin and by my friend and neighbor, and i became a client within one week. now i receive exceptional care. lyon-martin did save my life. it was in really bad shape when i got there. since i have been there, my health and my life have stabilized a lot. also, i have received a referral from lyon-martin to community vocational enterprises. i am currently in a work adjustment situation with the

san francisco health department. that is after being out of work since 1999 due to health issues. lyon-martin -- it seems like it would take very little to help get lyon-martin back on track. if it does, it will really help a lot of people. otherwise, they will not have that help. i agree with ms. russo. i do not believe i would be able to find another care provider if lyon-martin, and i simply will not go to the frustration. i will go back to relying on emergency room services and be in crisis mode. please grant their request for financial assistance. supervisor mirkarimi: think you. next speaker, please. >> i am the director of access of love community center, which

holds a low-income and trans women's health group. i have been the guardian of that for 10 years. i stand in solidarity with many of the statements made today. i simply do not know where else we would be able to send some of the clients of axes of love who have health concerns without this resource being available. i was a prior client of lyon- martin. as a low-income woman, i do not have health care and do not know where transgendered women are going to be able to find the health care that is necessary and culturally appropriate. i would really like the supervisors to see this as an investment in our city. if we lose health care and health care that is utilized by career women and low-income

women, and women without health care, we are looking at a lot of families being impacted, women, mothers, and care givers. this affect the entire san francisco community. for us not to invest in the preserving of a very important tradition of health care, we really lose out in san francisco. it will impact many other public services. i am very concerned, because every day we hear of another women's health issue being closed. there is nothing else that we can do that invests in our communities and protect women. thank you for calling this hearing. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. next speaker, please. >> i am here as a staff member of the community against violence.

we were founded to protect survivors of domestic violence and hate violence. the majority of our clients are low-income lgbt people, for many of whom lyon-martin is the sole provider of mental and physical health care. what you hear today is just a sliver of the panic growing in our community. in the past few years of a decreasing safety net and increasing economic crisis, a significant portion of lgbt adults in this city will be complete without health care. the panic you hear today is real. this is not just about lyon- martin. this issue and you will stepping up to support lyon-martin is a question of what you want san francisco to be. where do we invest our resources? what we see in agencies closing like new leaf is the rollback of feminist and civil-rights

movements which say we need culturally-specific and competent health care. the need for that health care has not changed over the past 30 years. we see as the economic crisis continues it is disproportionately hitting low- income lgbt people. if lyon-martin does close, we are looking forward to a future with skyrocketing rates of domestic violence and substance abuse. i am asking as a member of the anti-domestic violence community to stand on the right side of this. we are going to look back and lyon-martin is going to be a critical moment in our history. i am asking you to step up on behalf of all of us. supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. next speaker, please. >> thank you for holding this meeting. it is so important. my name is dr. barney -- ronnie

eversley. i am in mental health care provider. i am a member of the african american health committee and the naacp health task force. this is kind of a shocking time for me, having to come and defend getting my own health care, being a health-care activist and advocate. in 2006, i lost my health insurance due to my funding at ucsf, which is mostly soft money funding from teaching, dropping below 50%. it was a crisis and dramatic time, because i had also just received a suspicious mammogram result and needed follow-up care quickly to determine whether or not i had breast cancer. i transferred my care from the

uc faculty practice over to lyon-martin, and the care that i received was excellent. i luckily did not have cancer. it took a number of tests to determine that. since then, i have remained with the clinic, just for my follow- up care and keeping my blood pressure under control, keeping my weight under control, and not being judged for it. there are so many ways that might care -- my care is the highest quality possible in the private or public sector. think again. i hope you guys can help us out. supervisor mirkarimi: before the next speaker comes up, i am going to read the remainder of the cards i have. if i have not call your name and you want to speak, please file to the middle of the aisle and

come one after the other. claire bowman, yolande soler, and cynthia crews. >> my name is rick haupman. i have been active in public policy and politics in san francisco for most of my 38 years. this month, i celebrate my 30- year anniversary with the harvey milk lgbt democratic club. although i have been active in san francisco politics for almost 30 years, i have rarely appeared before you. i am here today because of the monumental importance of the issue before you. i am a long-time friend appear of phyllis lyons and del martin, for the clinic was named. this clinic provides services to the disenfranchised and

disaffected community. it is incumbent upon all of us to keep it open. lucky for me, i am participating in the community -- in the committee that has just raised more than $320,000. with your help, we will be able to keep this enormously important clinic open. a society is best judged by how it treats those among us who are the least fortunate. this is a very important clinic, and i hope to do everything in your power to keep it open. thank you very much. >> mining is clear bowman. i just got a call from a friend of mine who is having a fund- raiser to raise money for a surgery she is able to get because of lyon-martin. i wanted to come in today and talk about how lyon-martin