done nothing to take matters in your hand. i'm asking the police commissios today to take into accounted the history of cadillo. to demand chief of police he stp covering up for his officers. that he give you all the information. it's a shame chief of police tht you have murderers on your staff and the public doesn't know abot it. we need to have all the information. this police commission needs to have all the information on the background of these officers so that corrective actions can take place this sanctuary city of san francisco, these type of lack of consequences continue. should not have murderers in yor organization. he wants to deliver and enter record this report again. >> vice president mazzucco: thak you very much for translating.

>> i have a when on my be-- comt on my behalf. i work with accompanying the family. you've heard his record. he killed in 2012. he has a record in san franciscf abusing youth of color. now, he shoots oliver, a young latino man in the back. chief, you've done one right thg since you came in to office. that was to fire christopher afr he killed kayta. i'm here to ask you to again tae that strong decisive corrective action with full support from te police commission which i assums granted. again, fire joshua cadillo.

enough is enough. we will not stand for these murderers to continue on the streets. they're endangering the lives of youth in the city. youth of color. enough. we expect you to take this actin and the police commission to tae decisive action in reviewing his record and finding him accounta. thank you. >> vice president mazzucco: next speaker. >> hello. i help prepare this report. i have six copies here for the e commissioners and the chief. some of you already receive the copy. for those of you haven't, you he one. this was the one that was previously mentioned. the chief, the commission and te

entire board of supervisors received copy of this document early 2017. it recommends what i would consr the conservative reform option r the department which is that chf scott, the dpa and this commissn engage to root out entire netwok of bad cops. including the president of the . as report mentions, this approah could mirror the reform processn dallas. it's not without precedent. hundreds of reforms being propod through the d.o.j. process that other speakers have mentioned ae entirely a joke without this bae minimum commitment to justice. is this report more thorough thn the d.o.j. and if so why? also mentioned in this report in officer who lied on the stand ad is still employed with the

department. i want to be clear this is not about just joshua cadillo, the entire network of cops who are d actors. that is the conservative point f view on this matter. i would say one that takes a far more aggressive stands would acknowledge that chief scott ise highest paid chief in the nation that we have twice as many offis per capita as san jose. we continue to kill and terrorie san franciscans with enormous amounts of our budget. we can simply cut the police but and spend that money on nonviolt ways of solving problems in the city. >> i will finish my two and a hf minute time. i'll start. i ask you to do something that l prevent cadillo from hearing,

torturing or killing another pen as a cop. he must be immediately fired or short of that suspended without pay. the d.a. needs to be told by the commission to drop all charges against oliver. i agree with the last speaker. obviously this is the tip of the iceberg. it's a big problem as everybody knows. i don't really expect the commission to do anything even h its new members on board. thereeems t a reason why justice cannot be obtained. each of you are individuals. you have the power to do someth. even there are institutional barriers to complete justice. you have aform pat you have voices. and you have consciousness. by making the statement, i have done what little i can as a ranm san francisco resident without institutional power. i will not have it on mirror

conscious that i did nothing. >> vice president mazzucco: next speaker. >> my name is greg lewicki. we talked lot about transparency earlier and while transparency s good and commendable. what we need it accountability. what we had from 2016, 2015 are issues where we keep talking abt things. d.o.j. recommendations were notg done. officers who were repeat offends for gusting actions. but yet they are on the street. we need is accountability. we need some kind of real way to interfere with what's going on rather than just saying we need more transparency so that we can

keep talking about this. people are dying on the streetso don't deserve that. the poa is able to hold up issus and meet and confer the d.a. is, i guess. the independent investigations bureau does not have an moa sig. what's the hold up for that? why are we still talking about these issues that there was movement with two or three years ago. here we are and here we are with blood on the streets and blood n your hands. it's accountability. we need accountability. >> vice president mazzucco: next speaker. >> good afternoon. my name is raphael picazzo. enough is enough. i heard you earlier say that you represent the community.

the people. this is the people. represent them. we need killer cops off our streets. we don't need no more of our pee dying on the streets. scott, i been at your face befo. i talked to you before. control your officers. we got people out on the street- we got poltoce ourselves. we got to watch you guys out one streets. we got videos out there making e your officers are not killing or people. we're tired. i didn't want to see any of my nephews, nieces, sons or daught, dying because they made a mistae because they got drunk and you t overzealous trigger happy cop killing our kids. because of a mistake. represent us. you say you do. represent the people. we're tired. you guys have getting caught. videos after video.

two more cops got away with mur. let's do it. tasers, don't give them tasers. poa, we know they're the biggest mafia in this city. they control this city. we all know it. people sure know it. please don't let them destroy ay more of our lives. thank you. >> vice president mazzucco: next speaker. >> good evening. my name is terry bora. i like to welcome the new commissioners and tell you thati hope so see you tomorrow. i share the crisis intervention team work group and annual award ceremony which i'm sure you will find very impressive. the people of our city have spo. 62% voted for no on h.

it dysstressed me greatly to lok at the headline as i'm passing d walking my dog in the machine tt says, tasers on your agenda tonight. many of you know i'm not a natie of san francisco. came from maryland. i went to ballad school, i wento ballad simplification school. 62% of the citizens here said nn h. the thought of meeting behind closed doors tonight distressede greatly. most disturbing. we have had public meetings. we have worked on this legislatn on these policies on the langua. i'm really, really just implorig you that this is not what the

citizens expect of you after a e like this. thank you. >> vice president mazzucco: thak you. commissioner hirsch. >> commissioner hirsch: i want o clarify a public perception i kw exist. i heard it all week and i seen t in the papers. we are meeting in private sessin to meet with our attorneys and h the negotiators to talk to them about what our legal obligations with regard to five department general orders. the use of force around tasers s one of them. nobody on the commission is suggesting that we're going to negotiate the substance of water this commission already did mons and months ago with the poa. what we're finding out is are te any issues that affect the poa t they are legally entitled to negotiate. like impact of our policy. for example, they have a right

under california law to negotiae what kind of discipline will be issued in the event an officer s found to violate the policy that this commission already passed. we'll have an obligation to sit down with the poa and negotiate th 1-2-3 the city will. we don't do do. the poa is not coming in here. we're meeting with them. we will not authorize anybody to something that we're not legally obligated to do. prop h was defeated we know tha. we are not resuscitating prop h. >> vice president mazzucco: next speaker. >> good evening, commissioners, chief scott. i'm a police accountability consultant. i'm here out of concern for basically what commissioner hirh just talked about. it's good to hear that you're planning to meet and confer on issues that you're not requiredo meet and confer on.

that's really important to hear. i'm also concerned that jonathan yank is the city attorney that's been assigned to the commission. i've been at department head. i've worked in many cities. i know that you all can requesta different city attorney. if the attorney that you have hs conflicts and it really appears that he does have conflicts, hes represented the poa. i think he represents the poa wn the poa lost the lawsuit about meeting and conferring on use of force. i think that's a big conflict of interest. another option would be for the commission to have independent counsel. i don't think that's bad idea. it's done in other cities. again, as you just said, the pos developed really sound taser people.

the poa decided or the poa saidy in advance proposition h was gog to be a referendum on how the cy feel about tasers. i think that the city spoke loud and clear. just in the last few days, a man died after daily city officers d a taser on him. these weapons are problematic ty need to be used carefully and within policy. >> vice president mazzucco: we e supervisor cohen in the office. please come forward. >> supervisor cohen: i want to acknowledge the new commissione. good toe sue up here. we -- good do see you up here. we had a robust process. i came last week but you were in closed session. good evening and ladies and gentlemen in the public, thank u for still being vigilant and pag attention. i wanted recognize that we are n

the season of the reconciliatiof a budget. mayor farrell presented a budget june 1st. my goal is to be done with the budget by june 27th. i'm going on the record i want u to hold me to that ladies and gentlemen. i want to be done with this. june 27th. we are going to full time deliberations with department of police accountability last week. we heard from the police departt last week and i think we're goig to be hearing from folks again similar departments tomorrow and thursday. i wanted to come and give that public service announcement fore folks at home watching as well s here in the chamber. my committee and the chair of te budget committee. we will be paying attention cloy and if there are any recommendations that come out of this body, we will be listeningd ready to collectively roll up or sleeves and do the work. thank you and good luck and good night. >> vice president mazcco: tnk you for the two new commissiones they both jumped in full speed ahead. they've been in meetings all wek

since they've been sworn in everyday. thank you supervisor. any further public comment. public comment now closed. >> line 4, public comment on all matters pertaining to item six closed session including public comment on vote whether to hold item six in closed session. >> vice president mazzucco: pubc comment regarding our going into closed session. hearing none. public comment it closed. >> number five vote on whether o hold item six in closed session. san francisco alternative code section 67.10 action. >> vice president mazzucco: mot? >> i wanted to know if it's possible to raise this discussin whether or not there are portios of the agenda that already set r closed session. whether or not we can hold themn open session. i think obviously there's the

questions of conferring with lel counsel which maybe proper for closed session. i think there was some questions that carried over from last week that we put on the agenda for ts week regarding mr. yank and his work. i don't think that implicates attorney-client information. third week. i don't know if procedurally if it's possible. if this is a vote on whether to hold item six in closed sessioni would like to see if it's possie to hold a portion of it in open session. >> vice president mazzucco: you maybe one step ahead what happens at the end of closd sex, we have to vote whether ort what was discussed in closed session. however, if you like to make a motion, we can actually disclos. that's not prohibited by law

whether or not that portion can actually be disclosed to the public. there can be separate vote ton t particular part. we have done that before where e have voted not frequently to not disclose confidential matters no matter how much we like to. other matters, i'll render furtr opinion from our city attorney. >> as you voiced earlier, i'm vy uncomfortable with that. given that the only matters youn talk about on the agenda are the that are properly agendized. that is not on the agenda. i'm uncomfortable with that ide. i don't know if katy porter has anything else to add. she's saying no. >> i'm not clear because, i understood that this issue arose last week. we decided to put it over this week. we can do our due diligence, hae

discussions with the city attory office and to determine whetherr not an actual conflict exist wih mr. yank's representation or the effect proceeds conflict on his work for the city attorney's waice. put o befo this matter. i don't understand the distinctn you trying to make. >> distinction is pretty clear. on the agenda is to give directn to your negotiator. your labor negotiator. he's not part of that. jonathan yank role is to give advice to the dar. it's not legally required to put his name on the agenda. he's not a labor negotiator fore city. >> we're having a negotiation in open with our city attorney abot

rules and procedures. i think that it needs to be agendize for another time. i suggest we don't want to go io closed session and the matter wt be heard. urcte we'l d that.t we'll do we need to go into closed sessis and deal with other matters. >> commissioner mazzucco on thi. we go into closed session as wee required to do. we can have a discussion and wen vote if there's anything we wano disclose out of closed session. i think we should do that. >> vice president mazzucco: com. commissioner elias: my question was similar to his. why it wasn't on the agenda. that was just -- question that i had. >> it's not legally required for jonathan yank's name to be on te

agenda because he's not a labor negotiate for for the city. his city attorney. >> i understand that. but the question was that we [inaudible] the question is, this item of mr. yank and the appearance of e conflict of interest was an isse and we had agendized that issuet the title of le wana prestton. the issue of the conflict of interest and that issue is not agendized in the agenda that wee been provided. that is the question why it wast because that was the issue we pt

over for this week to talk abou. >> i do not determine what getsn the agenda. that's up to the vice presidento place item on the agenda and the commission office. >> vice president mazzucco: com. >> commissioner hirsch: there'sn issue and the issue being raises whether a particular attorney advising us has conflict of interest. i don't think it was clear that that specific issue was to be pt on the agenda. if it was, that's an issue for e commission office. number two, i wanted to discuss that. only way to discuss that is to discuss the background of the att then what advice that attorney has been asked to giver given to the commission. which would be privileged information. i think you'd have to get the commission to agree to waive the attorny-client privilege to discuss the type of advice he's being asked to give us in publi. if you want to do that, i guess

downing it. it's not on the agenda. you got to put that on the issue going forward with our commissin office. >> there's conversation about tt last week. the issue was there's concern at that. which i understand the commissioners have individually spoken with our attorneys. members of the city attorney ofe provided their legal opinion as your council. they become your counsel and yos the client as to whether or not that's an issue. essentially, you've been advise. that's the role they play. it's been my understanding sevel commissioners have spoken to the city attorney's office pip leard that today through an email that was sent to us regarding information that was sent to yo.

again, that's not a particular m that gets agendized. we move the item in caution last week for you to learn more about this. if there's more you need to lea, we'll move it again. that's the way i see it. >> all that said and being only three weeks in, i'm find moving forward in closed session. to the community, i'm always gog to err on the side of transpare. i'm sure i'll disappoint you as some point. as long as i have a vote up heri will try to keep things as transparent as possible. >> vice president mazzucco: do e have a motion to move into closd

session. >> so moved. >> second. >> vice president mazzucco: alln favor. aye. >> motion passes 5-0. >> vice president mazzucco: lads and gentlemen we're now in closd session.

the ethical and legal duty is in his time as deputy city attorney he has reviewed claims that he determined lack of foundation in me sound statutory authority or law. in his authority during the meet angconfer process his ethical duty requires him to identify and oppose any arguments not supported by sound authority or decisional law. he will not communicate in any

matter with the poa members or representatives outside of duties relating to these matters assigned to within the city attorney's office. the police commission recognizes the community concerns regarding assignment of mr. yankas deputy city attorney. it is the role of police commission to provide oversight to the police department and draft relevant policies and procedures. the police commission is confident it will be age to fulfill its mission. anything else you would like to add? i would like to add that i feel comfortable there is no conflict with mr. yank serving in that role. anything further? thank you very

much. >> call the next line item. >> line 8 adjournment action. >> motion? >> so moved. >> second. >> all in favor. >> thank you very much everybody.

[laughter] >> get in there. >> mayor farrell: all right. there we go. [cheers and applause] >> mayor farrell: let us get started here. first of all, i nt to welcome everyone to city hall to kick off san francisco's are judy -- lgbtq pride 2018. let's give a round of applause, everyone. [cheers and applause] >> mayor farrell: i want to thank, first of all, the incredible people that made this happen here today. not only outside of city hall, but thank you to the volunteers who are making this month exactly what it is for the city of san francisco. special thanks to our own san francisco pride team and i want to acknowledge teddy witherington who is scheduled to be here.

teddy, if you are here, or he will be here soon enough. i want to acknowledge him as well for being here. i want to acknowledge, there are a number of people up here as well. acknowledge the elected officials, alice randolph from art city officials board, carmen two, our assessor recorder, the woman of the hour, for sure. [cheers and applause] clair farley from our office of transgender services. [applause] london breed, our president of the board of supervisors. our treasured tax collector and our share of. [applause] so today, in san francisco, and throughout the month, we honour both individuals that have made a significant difference in the

past that are doing it now in the present and will in the future, for our lgbtq community. we also acknowledge all the organizations that work with our community of san francisco on lgbtq issues that make san francisco who we are as a city. you know, as civil rights are under attack throughout our country, it is so important that san francisco stands tall above every other place in america. that we, aas city, recommit ourselves to reject the ideologies of bigotry and hatred that come out of the trump administration and others throughout our country, throughout the world, at times. san francisco needs to remain a beacon of hope for everybody. i am proud to be the mayor at the city and county of san francisco that stands exactly for those principles. [cheers and applause]

in san francisco, we stand up for our principles of diversity. we stand up for equality for every single person in our city, and we make sure that our city continues to be an example for the rest of our country to follow. you know, as mayor, and before then as member of the board of supervisors, i've been able to witness the strength of our lgbtq community here in san francisco. we have fought many battles over the years. today, with what was a very narrow ruling out of the u.s. supreme court, but the rhetoric that comes with that, and what our lgbtq community must do to combat that and stand proud and stand tall. it is so important at the rest of us, as a city stand with our

lgbtq community. that is who we are as san francisco. along those lines, i want to make sure i let everyone know today, and announce officially, san francisco is joining with the rca of california and banning all business practices with the state of oklahoma. [cheers and applause] we will not -- we will not, as a city, continue to tolerate other jurisdictions that discriminate upon our civil rights, and certainly with her lgbtq community. we will continue to stand tall as a city, and stoned -- stand tall for exactly who we are as people and residents in our city. you know, i want to acknowledge the contributions of our late mayor ed lee and the things he did for the lgbtq community as well. he founded the federal mayors against lgbtq discrimination organization.

but he did so at the national level. he started the player. the first and its client in our entire country. and it has been a great source of pride as mayor to continue this legacy. last week, the supervisors and i announced that the city of san francisco and i will be backfilling the four-point $2 million for hiv and aids funding that a federal government cut. [applause] together with claire farley, we have created a transgender advisory committee here in san francisco. and legislation that our board of supervisors was proud to pass through and i was proud to sign. creating all gender bathrooms in our sros across a city of san francisco. and also signing legislation

naming terminal one for harvey milk at our san francisco airport. [applause] it is with great pride i stand here as your mayor to kick off this month. and to be part of some amazing celebrations yet to come. i would like to say a few comments about the next person who is going to be speaking. she is going to be the recipient of the teddy witherington award, which recognizes individuals for their long-standing, and lasting contributions to our lgbtq community in san francisco. kate kendall has served the executive director of the national centre for lesbian rights for 22 years. [applause] she has placed the ncl are at

the centre of the civil rights movement in our country. under her guidance, they want the landmark equality case in 2,008 and was later part of the team that secured national equaty in 2015. [applause] they have done problematic work around asylum, immigration, around lgbtq people in prisons and transgender rights, poverty, issues for those that are part of our lgbtq community, and issues that matter for lgbtq people of colour. just last year, and clr -- nclr joined court people to file lawsuit challenging trump's transgender military band. it secured a nationwide injunction. that is what we can do when we stand together for our principles. [applause]

i've gone to meet kate a number of times to get to know her a little bit, but she is a symbol of standing for social justice in our city, and it is with great pride that i welcome up kate kendall to the microphone and pronounced today, kate kendall day in the city of san francisco. [cheers and applause] the stage is yours. >> thank you. i was not prepared for that. i really thought i was just coming, just like all of you to a flag raising. i didn't realize that i was going to be acknowledged in this way. what i want to say is that when i came to san francisco, 24 years ago, to start as a legal director for the national centre for lesbian rights, i thought i was coming to be the legal

director at the national centre for lesbian rights. i never thought i would be the executive director, and i never imagined that a city could so transform a person and make them feel so embraced and so loved, and so welcome to, so supported that they could, every day, and that is me i am speaking have my reach exceed my grasp in what i thought i was capable of. this city, on the support of many people who are here, and many people who came before and who are no longer here launched me in so many ways, and i have often said, but it is so true, i get so much more than i gave and i am so grateful for this. grateful for the work i'm able to do. the fight will continue and someone else will lead nclr and they will be a bigger badass than me. that is what we know we need to. it is time to know when to lead and time to know when to step

aside and let someone else lead and i'm excited for the next chapter for nclr and for this city, and for where we go as a country and taking our country back as a place where all of us can live fully and freely and feel supported for who we are and and hate and discrimination and white supremacy and racism. thank you so much for this and for your support. [cheers and applause] >> mayor farrell: thank you kate. up next, i have the pleasure of introducing someone who is really a part of living history for lgbtq community in san francisco. someone who has been the forefront of this fight for civil rights, for decades in our city. someone who has had the opportunity to be a leader outside of city hall and inside of city hall. and at this point, it is the

only person on the board of supervisors that is part of the lgbtq community. please join me in welcoming up the great lady -- leader for our city of san francisco supervisor jeff sheehy. >> thank you kate i have a certificate from the board of supervisors for you as well. [applause] just a note, under her leadership, nclr has led on these national court battles, but one of the most moving things i experienced was i was with my husband in a small town in florida, a leian couple, the woman who had been previously married to a man was having trouble getting rights for her child and who was there? nclr. small town, big towns, big

issues, little issues, they have been there across this country. i salute you, kate. i salute nclr. the greatest. [applause] so, this is an interesting pride to kick off with a supreme court decision against our community. i recognize our acclaim this year and generations of pride and like kate, is passing down to new leadership and new activism in our community. the person who came up with that theme, larry nelson, the bonds that we need to create between those of us who are in the back of squad cars and lying down in streets, starting organizations in our community. those bonds need to be strengthened and renewed. we are at war. we are at war. when children are taken away from immigrant parents at the border and separated, when our

community, i would transgender rights have been under assault from the beginning of this administration, and now we can't even bake a cake. we can't even get a wedding cake. what is this? 7-2. we have to recognize the threat to our community is immortal, it is not just asked. we have to stand with every other community in unison as we've done over the years to fight back these threats from this administration. [applause] [cheering] >> and we all have to identify the congressional district in california that we are going to be marching and walking and fighting for with democrats this fall. we can take back the house and start to stop this, but we have to do the work. [applause] remember we one the briggs amendment way back in the day with harvey milk. we went to places, small towns

across california and showed them who we were, who we are, and show them our love. so, just to close out, i could go on and on, because that ght t the activist in me to see the supreme court decision, not that i haven't been fired up since i came into office, i do want to give a special shout out to gilbert baker. i don't know how many of you know, this pride is the 40th anniversary of the creation of the rainbow flag. the first rainbow flag. [applause] the first rainbow flag flew 14 years ago, and now you can find it in every country in the wor world. that kind of creative, passionate activism is what we are here to celebrate and to continue. thank you all, and happy pride. [applause]

>> mayor farrell: i would also like to introduce claire farley. thank you. the office of transgender initiative, lgbtq initiative, sorry. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. good morning everyone. i'm so happy to be here to celebrate and kick off pride with you all today. [cheers and applause] i'll give it a minute. as we know, 2018 has been a challenging year, as we fight for basic human rights and lgbtq rights across the country. san francisco continues to be a leader in advancing the rights for transgender and lgbtq people. as our federal administration has it under constant attack.

furthermore, our diverse communities across san francisco bring us life and honour are under siege. with all of this, it can be difficult to remember what we are here to celebrate. although, when we look back at our history, wee reminded of the movement and the changemakers that never gave up. we have stood up and fought ba back. we have fought back with our communities through our resiliency, our community power, working together across communities to develop comprehensive programs, policies and actions that make us stronger and celebrate our differences. i'm so proud to work for a city where i can be out. and where i can be part of advancing the rights for trans and lgbtq people across our great city. whether it is spanning travel are contracting with states that past policies that allow discrimination, or assuring that we have benefits for everyone in

our city, or making sure that we have all gender facilities, or developing districts that honour our san francisco culture. or that celebrate the legacy of our lgbtq leaders like renaming terminal one after harvey milk. we still have so much more work to do and i look forward to being part of this change. i am grateful for the late mayor lee for appointing me and seeing the value in transgender leadership in our city. [applause] thank you to mayor farrell, city administrators, my team and everyone on the mayor's staff in the community for supporting me over my first six months. from constant to s.f. pride, san francisco is a beacon of hope and will continue for generations to come. today, we celebrated the raising of the pride flag over san francisco city hall, and it is a

reminder of the generations of strengths that came before us. harv milk, julius truman, marcia p. johnson, and many more. and honouring the leaders of today, kate kendall, missed major, teddy witherington, cecelia chong, and many more. [applause] today i have the honour to recognize the changemaker of our future. with tensar of service for our community, he is a writer, a cultural icon, a policy strategist, she is currently the lgbtq policy advisor for the san francisco human rights commission. she was instrumental in the name and dignity act for incarcerated transgendered people. she is a policy of fellow alums for the women's foundation policy institute and lead

advocate on prioritizing safety for sex workers. she cofounded the constant cultural district, -- district the first transgender cultural district in the country. please join me in welcoming aria saiid. [applause] >> good afternoon everyone. i don't want to feel alone up here. i don't want to feel alone. [laughter] happy pride. my name is aria and i am so grateful for the acknowledgement today and this month. i've been doing this work for ten years and i'm definitely having afull circle moments. i moved to san francisco in 2010 with $60 in my bag and got off the greyhound bus and i slaps on

the san francisco bar and i used to walk maiden lane, and dream about being more than i was that time. so i am so grateful for this acknowledgement. i also want to say that my work and in particular is about the promotion of the resiliency of black trans women. i feel like... [applause] it's because -- it's because of the work of black trans women that i feel like we are free. forty-eight years ago at stonewall, it was a black trans women who was a sex worker and he was homeless. marcia p. johnson who threw the brick at the police officers that started the riot. it is because a black trans women that we are able to celebrate pride, and i am so grateful to be soaking in this moment. thank you so much. [cheers and applause]

>> aria, the supervisor has a certificate to give you as well. >> mayor farrell: i also have a certificate from the board of supervisors. thank you it so much for your years of work. thank you. [applause] >> we also want to thank tom horn for making this event possible. thank you tom. [applause] we would not be able to celebrate this annual event without your support. next, it is my honour to welcome the leader behind pride and helps make pride happen every year. please join me in welcoming the executive director, jordan -- george ridley to help me kick ide.pr [applause]

>> thank you. thank you mayor farrell and thank you supervisors. i've asked the board president to join me up here today. [applause] honestly, i couldn't do my job without the support of someone like michelle. this is her third year as our president. it's my fifth year at pride. it isui a privilege to do this. we are quite the team. again, i need her by my side. i am glad she is here today as well. so, we are pleased to be here at the beginning applied month and honoured to be part of this flag raising ceremony. san francisco is looking very proud. i don't know if you notice, but this past week we installed the rainbow flag along market street and the energy in the city is clearly building to what i expect to be an enormous expression of resistance and hope and solidarity on june 23rd and 24th. i am lucky to work, yes. [applause]

i am lucky to work with some dedicated and tireless individuals. we are a small team we are a mighty team. not everyone in the office or working on the event could be here today, they've got some work to do, however, there are some people who could join us. i would love it if you would raise your hand if you are on the team, or on the staff, and volunteering. everyone give them a round of applause. [applause] >> i think, at this point i would like to recognize our board of directors who has been incredibly supportive of me and of the organization and the vision that we have. as i mentioned, michelle is our board president. i know a lot of our board members are here today and i'm super grateful for that. our vice president is here. [applause]

our secretary is here. [applause] i'm not sure if our secretary, when -- secretary was able to ke its. all right. we have more members here with us tod. [applause] dj grey. william walker. and other board members that were not able to make it, elizabeth, yeah, -- lanyon, manuel perez, justin taylor, please give them a round of applause as well. [cheers and applause] pride is a perfect portrait of all the things that we love

about san francisco. this year, we are expecting 270 contingents in the parade. that is on par it was last year market street is going to be so filled with community groups, activists, elders, children, companies, international and local, performers, celebrities and elected officials marching side-by-side down market street. is a massive organic expression of a million voices simultaneously erupting as we march down market street and gather at civic centre. for all ofe voices building to a crescendo that calls out in the name of strengths, solidarity, and unrelenting demand for equality. [cheers and applause] our theme this year is generations of strengths. as a supervisor pointed out earlier. i think you would agree that this years grand marshals and honourees are wonderful examples

of the strength that is found throughout our communities. this is where i will ask for michelle's help. first, i want to acknowledge that kate kendall has been an incredible inspiration for me. [cheers and applause] i also want to thank you for starting out by crying, because i normally do as well. this is perfect. thank you. [laughter] with that, i will give michelle some airtime. [laughter] >> oh,, i don't know anything about airtime, but i ve it. thank you so much. i'm very honoured to be here again and thank you to tom horn. thank you to everybody. the leaders of san francisco for making this happen and to kick off pride month for a world destination city like san francisco. in three weeks we will see a lot of people come to san francisco to celebrate prideand to support the lgbtq community. i want to piggyback off of what the supervisor was talking about as far as a community being under attack. in some ways, we are at war with

the supreme court voting against us as a community. is not just one person. it is not just one organization that is going to make the equal rights movement happen. it takes all of us, and visibility as a backbone. i'm very proud to be part of a board that has made it their mission and their commitment to make sure we recognize the work of the leaders of our community who are working at the very grassroots level and changing hearts and minds. to introduce this year's grand marshals and honourees, and those being selected, keep that in mind. there are many of us who, just by attending the local churches, by being educators, by being out, that that is part of our due diligence and social responsibility, and making sure we do fight for equal rights. these are the people who are making and paving the way for us.

that was from my heart. now i will go on script. [laughter] from the little -- multilayer grassrts advocacy work that is being done in the bay area by the incredibly talented kinfol kinfolks, they are our community selected grand marshal. [cheers and applause] to the generations of? or artists that have been fostered by? or cultural centre and just honoured, steered with a loving hand by pam tennyson, from aria, founder of the queer culture initiative that is promoting cultural equity for trans women of colour, through social empowerment and cultural enrichment, to the work that community grand marshal really criticized on to develop safe spaces for lgbtq students, faculty, employees -- and employees at ucb berkeley, i could go on and on and on about the grand marshals and awardees.

they have contributed over 30 years to the lgbtq community. they have litigated and continue to fight for our community through the court system. putting out lgbtq queer and nonconforming images, and visibility, voices out there. john haines, who many of you know at city hall, he works tirelessly and volunteers and advocates for everyone here in the city of san francisco. they paved the way for freedom and libeion. the fair education act implementation coalition with our family coalition, of course, a lesbian gate freedom been, we wonot sound so amazing if not for the lesbian gate freedom

band. we thank each and every one of you for your service to our communities and i know many of you are here today and that was my script. thank you. i look forward to san francisco pride. [cheers and applause] >> thank you michelle. 2018 is a special year in san francisco for a number of reasons. as the supervisors pointed out, he was 40 years ago the rainbow flag was first unfurled and flown at the gate freedom day festivities. today it is an internationally reized mbol of unity, love and acceptance. fortwo years ago, in 1978, we saw the first performance of the gay man's chorus, who during a dark and painful moment in this history, brought to the community comfort right here on the steps of city hall. forty years ago, in 1978, harvey milk sat triumphantly atop a car and rode down market stre