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We stand with the LGBTQ community and denounce hate speech at the Human Relations Commission

We stand with the LGBTQ community and denounce hate speech at the Human Relations Commission

See our Call to Action below

In 2020, the San Diego Board of Supervisors revived the County’s Human Relations Commission, naming it in honor of former Supervisor Leon L. Williams, who worked for inclusion for all San Diegans. The Commission’s reinstatement was led by Chair Nathan Fletcher, who was awarded the Spirit of Stonewall Friend of Pride Award last year.

The mission of the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission is to promote positive relations, respect, and the integrity of every individual regardless of gender, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or citizenship status. The Commission brings together a diverse group of commissioners to work together to foster a more inclusive and equitable San Diego County.

On November 9, 2021, the Commission discussed an agenda item regarding a recommitment to end discrimination and transphobia by amplifying the visibility and voices of the San Diego transgender community. Commissioner Dennis Hodges abstained from the vote, and when asked to explain his abstention, said that he believes adamantly that “transgendereds [sic]” are “sinners” and “an abomination to God,” and that he could never and will never support this community. Later that day, Commissioner Hodges wrote a letter to Commission Chair Ellen Nash, stating, “My understanding of a Transgender is a Man dresses and behaves as a Woman and Vice Versa.” In referring to the full LGBTQ community, he stated, “those who commit such acts or should I say Practice such Behaviors in this manner are making immoral and UNGODLY decisions.”

In direct response to Commissioner Hodges’ comments, Commissioner Cara Dessert, CEO of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, called for his immediate resignation during the November 9th meeting. On November 12th, two letters were sent to the Board of Supervisors, one from Chair Ellen Nash and another from seven members of the Commission, calling for the Board of Supervisors to remove Commissioner Hodges. While the Commission does not have the power to remove a commissioner, the Board of Supervisors is empowered to so do under the Commission’s bylaws. Subsequently, in a Commission meeting on December 14th, a majority of commissioners joined in a symbolic vote, calling for his resignation; Commissioner Hodges was present and has, to date, refused to resign.

While we believe in Commissioner Hodges’ right to free speech and freedom of religion, his persistent discriminatory and hateful comments are antithetical to the mission of this Commission. Human Relation Commissioners are called to serve our region in furtherance of human rights for all, and because Commissioner Hodges stands vocally and fervently against our LGBTQ community, he is unqualified to serve as a Human Relations Commissioner.

In every community, hate speech leads to hate crimes and other harms, including acts of violence. Hate against one person is an assault against all of us and creates a culture where discrimination, violence, and murder occur, and where those who are treated with disregard towards their human life have a higher risk of suicide, mental health challenges, and face barriers to living a safe and healthy life. Data released by the San Diego County District Attorney’s office this year shows a troubling increase in hate crimes in San Diego motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender.

2021 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people; 47 transgender people were known to be killed in the U.S. last year, and most from the Black and Latinx communities. Transgender people are at a greater risk for suicide; they are twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide than other lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. 1 in 3 transgender youth attempted suicide in the past year.

To fight this violence, rooted in transphobia, we must work collectively to combat the discrimination that the transgender community faces, actively support the transgender community’s human and civil rights, stand with the LGBTQ community, and work to build a safe and equitable San Diego for us all.

The work of the Human Relations Commission cannot move forward with Commissioner Hodges remaining in his position. Allowing Commissioner Hodges to remain a commissioner will signify to others that outright discrimination and hate speech from an appointed official during a commission meeting will be tolerated in San Diego County. We, a broad coalition signed to this letter, reject this, and call upon the Board of Supervisors to stand with our LGBTQ community, stand up against transphobia and this continuing injustice that has occurred for months, and schedule a vote immediately to right this wrong and remove Commissioner Hodges from his appointed position on the Human Relations Commission.

 

Tammy Gillies (she/her)

Regional Director

ADL San Diego

 

Christopher R. Wilson

Associate Director

Alliance San Diego

 

Pastor Everett Newton (he/him)

Board President

Call BlackLine

 

Kyra R. Greene, PhD (she/her)

Executive Director

Center on Policy Initiatives

 

Angela Wells (she/her)

Alliance Founder & Co-Chair

City of San Diego LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance

 

Matt M. Morrow (he/her/they)

Executive Artistic Director

Diversionary Theatre

 

Jose Franco Garcia (he/him)

Policy Director

Environmental Health Coalition

 

Jeremy Abrams (he/him)

Business Manager

IBEW 569

 

Gretchen Newsom (she/her)

Political Director / Organizer

IBEW 569

 

Rev. Cheri Metier (she/her)

Executive Director

Interfaith Worker Justice of San Diego County

 

Brian Murphy (he/him)

Co-Chair, San Diego Leadership Committee

Lambda Legal

 

Richard Segal (he/him)

Co-Chair, San Diego Leadership Committee

Lambda Legal

 

Nicole Murray Ramirez (he/him)

Vice Chair

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Pedro Anaya (he/him)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Kate Clark (she/her/ella)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq. (she/her)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Tammy Gillies (she/her)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Julia Legaspi (she/her)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Elena Perez (she/her)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Hon. Summer Stephan (she/her)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Alex Villafuerte (he/him)

Commissioner

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

 

Lee Bowman (he/him)

Minister of Administration

Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego

 

Diana Ross (she/her)

Executive Director

Mid-City CAN

 

Max Disposti (he/him)

Executive Director and Founder

North County LGBTQ Resource Center

 

Kandi Custodio-Tan (they/she)

Director of Campaigns & Organizing

Partnership for the Advancement of
New Americans

 

Tiffany Gonzalez (she/her)

President

PFLAG San Diego County

 

The Rev. Madison Shockley II (he/him)

Pastor

Pilgrim United Church of Christ

 

Darrah Johnson (she/her)

President & CEO

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest

 

Lucas O’Connor (he/him)

Executive Director

Progressive Labor Alliance

 

Pamuela Halliwell (she/her)

President

San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition

 

Hon. Mara W. Elliott (she/her)

San Diego City Attorney

San Diego City Attorney’s Office

 

Hon. Summer Stephan (she/her)

District Attorney

San Diego County

 

Carol Kim (she/her)

Business Manager

San Diego County Building & Construction Trades Council (Title for identification purposes only)

 

Will Rodriguez-Kennedy (he/him)

Chairman

San Diego County Democratic Party (Title for identification purposes only)

 

Ben Parmentier (he/him)

Chair

San Diego County LGBTQ&A Employee Resource Group

 

Ryan Darsey (he/him)

Vice President

San Diego Democrats for Equality

 

Olga Cortes (they/them/elle)

Volunteer

San Diego Latinx LGBTQ Coalition

Fernando Z. López (they/them)

Executive Director

San Diego Pride

 

Kevin Lee (he/him)

Co-Chair

San Diego Queer APIMEDA Coalition

 

Leonard Trinh (he/him)

Chair

San Diego Regional Anti-Hate Crime Coalition

 

Crystal Irving (she/her)

President

SEIU Local 221

 

Rabbi Devorah Marcus (she/her)

Senior Rabbi

Temple Emanu-El of San Diego

 

Angelle M. Maua (they/she/elle)

Executive Director/Founder

The Gender Phluid Collective

 

Veronica N. Zerrer (she/her)

President

The Neutral Corner, Inc

 

Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq. (she/her)

Chief Executive Officer

The San Diego LGBT Community Center

 

Douglas Clark (he/him)

Co-President

Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association

 

Kathie Moehlig (she/her)

Executive Director

TransFamily Support Services

 

Evan Johnson (they/them)

Community and Youth Programming Manager

TransFamily Support Services

 

Rick Bates (he/him)

Lead Research and Policy Analyst

UNITE HERE Local 30

 

Dr. Reverend Cecelia Caldwell (she/her)

Unity Fellowship Church San Diego

 

Jason Nevarez (he/him)

Rabbi

 

Layne Rackley (he/him)

 

 

 

CONTACT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Call the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and ask that they show leadership and stand with the LGBTQ community.
  • District 1: Nora Vargas, (619) 531-5511
  • District 2: Joel Anderson, (619) 531-5522
  • District 3: Terra Lawson-Remer, (619) 531-5533
  • District 4: Nathan Fletcher, (619) 531-5544
  • District 5: Jim Desmond, (619) 531-5555
Include in your comments:
  • My name is ______, my pronouns are _____, and I am a resident of the City of _____. I’m calling in support of the broad coalition standing with our LGBTQ community and speaking up against transphobia at the Human Relations Commission.
  • The mission of the HRC is to promote positive relations, respect, and the integrity of every individual.
  • Commissioner Hodges stated that he could never and will never support the LGBTQ community.
  • Commissioner Hodges’ persistent and hateful comments make him unqualified to serve as an HRC Commissioner.
  • I ask that the Supervisors schedule this vote and remove Commissioner Hodges from the Human Relations Commission.
  • Thank you!
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