PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Urge San Francisco to Support the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative
  1. Signatures
    165 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. Mayor, San Francisco (Gavin Newsom)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter

San Francisco's Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative designed to help transgender individuals find stable jobs that provide a living wage, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. They hold career fairs, provide classes for people looking for work, and join in collaboration with numerous organizations to talk to employers about creating safe and welcoming places of employment for transgender employees.

It's a unique initiative, and one of the only of its kind in the country. Yet because the city of San Francisco is facing budget cuts, potential funding for this crucial initiative may be cut.

What would slashed funding look like for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative? Likely the end of the road, given that more than half of the program's funding comes from the city.

Demand that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom work to keep the funding for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative. Already several politicians, including San Francisco County Supervisors and folks on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, have voiced their support for keeping this program funded by the city. It's time for the Mayor to follow their lead, and make sure this program can continue to serve as a model, both within San Francisco, as well as for others around the country working for LGBT equality.

Recent Signatures

Please keep funding the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative

Dear Mayor Newsom,

As you may know, San Francisco's Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative is a unique program providing services to San Francisco's transgender population, helping individuals find stable jobs that provide a living wage, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. The program also works to make sure employers are creating safe and welcoming workplaces for transgender employees, and work within the broader community to advance transgender rights.

In recent weeks, however, it's become clear that the city of San Francisco might cut the funding for this initiative, as the city prepares to release its FY '11 budget. Cutting funding for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative would be a huge blow to the program, since more than half of the program's funding comes from the city of San Francisco.

I urge you not to cut funding, and work to keep this program alive and well in San Francisco. The Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative is doing critical work to create safe workspaces within San Francisco, and provide transgender individuals with much needed resources for jobs. Already, at least one San Francisco City Supervisor, as well as members of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, have called for this initiative to maintain its level of funding.

Please join them in ensuring that the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative remains afloat.

Thank you for your time.

[Your name]

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