BAYMEC Endorses Maya Esparza for San Jose City Council

BAYMEC Endorses Maya Esparza for San Jose City Council

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2018

Press Contacts:
James Gonzales, BAYMEC President (510) 551-8218

San Jose, CA — The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is excited to endorse Maya Esparza for San Jose City Council District 7.

“I am honored and excited to earn BAYMEC’s endorsement,” Esparza said.  “In my roles as a Franklin-McKinley School District board member and non-profit leader, I have been on the front lines of fighting for LGBTQ rights.  As a city councilmember, I want to make sure that the LGBTQ community is included in the decision-making process.”

“Maya has a track record of strongly supporting the LGBTQ community in all of leadership roles she has held,” BAYMEC Vice President Paul Escobar said.  “To have Maya in San Jose City Hall will be to have a resolute and important ally of our community in office.”

BAYMEC is a four-county LGTBQ political action committee that has been advocating for LGBTQ civil rights since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

######

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

Join Us for Our First Candidate Forum of 2018

Join Us for Our First Candidate Forum of 2018

Join BAYMEC for our first candidate forum of 2018 for the Santa Clara County District 4 Supervisor race. Which of these five candidates will take our co-founder Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager’s seat next year?

Learn more by visiting the event page here.

Watch the full video from the forum.

After the candidate forum, BAYMEC jointly endorsed Susan Ellenberg and Don Rocha.

BAYMEC Endorses Shay Franco-Clausen for San Jose City Council District 9

For Immediate Release
February 5, 2018

Press Contacts:
James Gonzales, BAYMEC President (510) 551-8218

BAYMEC Endorses Shay Franco-Clausen for San Jose City Council District 9

San Jose, CA — The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is excited to endorse Shay Franco-Clausen for San Jose City Council District 9.

“Shay’s race is exceptional among all races in the Santa Clara County and across the four counties we represent,” said Paul Escobar, BAYMEC Vice President.  “She would be the first LGBTQ woman of color to sit on the San Jose City Council. That is a thrilling and historic prospect.” Shay will bring her vast set of experiences to San Jose’s leadership as well as her long track record of principled policy decisions and an action oriented personality. LGBTQ residents and their families are liveing in and will continue to live in a more inclusive community because of the work Shay has done and will continue to do as our District 9 councilmember.”

“BAYMEC’s endorsement means that the vision of LGBTQ leadership is possible at all levels,” Shay Franco-Clausen said on Monday.  “I believe as a City Council Member, I will be able to work with BAYMEC and its members to establish a better line of communication.  I am certain that a strong relationship with BAYMEC will help to provide the most up to date needs within the LGBTQ community.”

######

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

BAYMEC Endorses Nancy Magee for San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools

For Immediate Release
February 5, 2018

Press Contacts:
James Gonzales, BAYMEC President (510) 551-8218

BAYMEC Endorses Nancy Magee for San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools

San Jose, CA — The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is excited to endorse Nancy Magee for San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools.

“We believe that Nancy’s bold vision and concrete plans for how to support LGBTQ students and their families–in fact, all of San Mateo County’s students–is what the county’s residents deserve,” said Paul Escobar, BAYMEC Vice President.  BAYMEC looks forward to working with Nancy to ensure San Mateo County’s schools are inclusive and stand with LGBTQ students and their families.

“I am excited and honored to have earned the endorsement and support of BAYMEC in my bid for San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools,” Nancy Magee said on Monday.  “As County Superintendent, I will fight for inclusive policies, training and support for school staff, and more opportunities for youth to be advocates and leaders so we can help students find their place in the world and lead happy, successful lives.”

The race for San Mateo County Superintendent is a very exciting one for BAYMEC and unique among the four counties BAYMEC represents because the two candidates seeking this office are both qualified LBGTQ individuals.  “To know that our community will be championed regardless the outcome of this election is extremely heartening,” said Paul Escobar. “We are fortune to be so well represented in this race.”

######

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

City of Santa Clara to Fly Rainbow Flag for the First Time

Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 21st, 2017
Contact:   James Gonzales
james@baymec.org

City of Santa Clara to Fly Rainbow Flag for the First Time

Local Governments Take a Stand in Support of LGBTQ Inclusion for Pride Month

SANTA CLARA, CA – Santa Clara will join other Bay Area cities and counties to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month by flying the rainbow flag at their city hall. This will be the first time the City of Santa Clara has publicly recognized its LGBTQ community in this way. As the White House fails to acknowledge LGBTQ Pride Month, local governments are stepping up to the plate to ensure the inclusion of otherwise marginalized communities.

Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) board members will attend this historic flag raising ceremony in the Mission City on Thursday to cheer on the city’s public show of support for LGBTQ Pride Month.

“Raising the rainbow flag in Santa Clara is significant to our community, particularly after the White House failed to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month as it has in the past, said BAYMEC President James Gonzales. “People in our community and other minority communities experience treatment emulated by our leaders and institutions. Santa Clara is publicly saying we recognize, accept and acknowledge you and your struggles will result in better treatment of LGBTQ people. The White House failing to do so will have the opposite effect.”

“I remember the first time I raised the rainbow flag in San Jose in 2001 and Santa Clara County in 2007. It still makes me proud every time I see another government building fly the flag as a symbol of support and inclusion for the LGBTQ community,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor and BAYMEC Co-Founder Ken Yeager.”

When: Thursday, June 22nd 10:00 AM

Where: Santa Clara City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave Santa Clara, CA 95050

What: LGBTQ Pride Flag Raising

Who: City and County Elected Officials, Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center, Community Leaders, and Members, BAYMEC Board Members

BAYMEC board members will be made available at the event for interviews.

######

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

BAYMEC joins an outraged America responding to transgender bullying from the White House

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2017

Press Contacts:
James Gonzales, BAYMEC President (510) 551-8218

Statement: BAYMEC joins an outraged America responding to transgender bullying from the White House

SAN JOSE, CA — The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) joins countless groups across America today condemning yesterday’s actions by President Trump rescinding the guidance from the Department of Education on Title IX protections relating to transgender students.

Even though the actions of the president do not remove any legal protections for transgender students, the targeting of some of America’s most vulnerable citizens should put to rest any illusion that the LGBT community is free from harm under the Donald Trump Administration

“Transgender students too often struggle to receive an education free from discrimination and bullying. We will continue to do everything we can to protect innocent, transgender children; especially when the rights of our transgender youth are being infringed upon from the President.”
– Santa Clara County Supervisor and BAYMEC Co-Founder Ken Yeager

Today, the California State Legislative LGBT Caucus set up the hotline 916-442-0185 to report any instances of discrimination of transgender students, and we encourage anyone who experience such to call immediately and receive assistance from our elected officials.

“While we are proud to live in California where protections and progress in the LGBT community have been strong, we will not stand by while the president attempts to play ping-pong from state to state with our students’ dignity and safety.” – Wiggsy Sivertsen, Co-Founder BAYMEC

Our community embraces all people including transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, and permissive discrimination towards anyone are an attack on everyone.

BAYMEC board members will be made available throughout the day for interviews.

######

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

SILICON VALLEY LGBTQ GROUP CELEBRATES DECISION BY U.S. SUPREME COURT THAT GUARANTEES EQUAL RIGHT TO MARRIAGE IN ALL STATES

PRESS RELEASE

June 26, 2015

Press Contacts:
James Gonzales, BAYMEC President (510) 551-8218
Wiggsy Sivertsen, BAYMEC Co-Founder (408) 859-9991

(SAN JOSE, CA) The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) will celebrate with supporters of same-sex marriage in front of San Jose City Hall today at 6 p.m., following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision extending federal protection to the right of same-sex couples to marry everywhere in the United States. The Court also required all states to recognize valid marriage licenses of same-sex couples from other states.

“I think history will view today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision as one of the most significant civil rights opinions in history. A majority of justices today rejected government sanctioned bigotry and persecution, and by doing so, they extended rights to a nation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning Americans, who obey the laws, pay their taxes, and have the same inalienable human right to marry as everyone else,” said James Gonzales, President of BAYMEC.

The high court overturned the state bans on same-sex marriage based on the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.

“Even though same-sex couples in California already enjoy the right to marry, we celebrate with couples in states who had been denied this right until today. LGBTQ Americans are freer today than ever before. There is still more to do to achieve full equal rights, but I am so happy to have lived to see this day,” said Wiggsy Sivertsen, co-founder of BAYMEC.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, also a co-founder of BAYMEC, stated: “I’ve spent most of my life fighting for the rights of LGBTQ people. While there are still many challenges ahead, marriage equality is a critical step on the road to full acceptance of LGBTQ people everywhere.  Today’s ruling is a clear victory over bigotry and discrimination.”

###

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action committee. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984.