San Francisco Mayor Announces New Program To End Transgender Homelessness

san francisco trans homelessness
shani heckman from san francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced her intention to allocate $6.5 million of the city’s budget to end transgender homelessness. The timing of this announcement is apropos as June 1st kicks off “Pride Month.”

Pride Month marks the memorialization of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. These riots were demonstrations by members of the gay community protesting police raids at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

The fantastically named Mayor Breed has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the San Francisco Pride community after publicly criticizing their refusal to allow LGBTQ+ police officers to participate in uniform. Could this move to support a letter of the Pride Community be an attempt to make amends?

What’s The Plan, Mayor Breed?

The Mayor is a big fan of touting firsts in the country, and this is no different. Her initiative claims to make San Francisco the first city to commit to ending homelessness for ‘TGNC people.’

You might be getting ready to google that acronym if you are like me. Don’t worry about it; I did it for you. TGNC stands for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming. 

Her plan will include, among other things, funds for 150 long-term housing subsidies and the purchase of new housing. This site will be solely for the TGNC and LGBTQ+ youth community, focusing on ‘transition-age youth.’

RELATED: After Being Caught Disobeying Her Own Mask Mandate, San Francisco Mayor London Breed Blasts ‘Fun Police’

The Golden State Is Leading The Way…

It’s been almost two decades since the last time I visited San Francisco. While it was beautiful back then, it was already crowded with homelessness and drug paraphernalia. Unfortunately, the situation appears to have gotten worse.

Homelessness in the state of California rose 42% between 2014 and 2020. But, truly leading the way, the rest of the country only saw a rise of 9%. 

Mayor Breed said of her plan to eradicate transgender homelessness in San Francisco:

“…we can show the country that we continue to be a leader on supporting and protecting our trans communities.”

According to her office, they estimate that there are 400 TGNC San Franciscans homeless at any given time. I enjoy perspective and numbers, so let’s compare the number of homeless veterans in San Francisco.

The University of San Francisco wrote in its report Homeless Veterans in San Francisco / Housing our Heroes that 8% of the homeless in San Francisco are veterans. That hashes out to about 642 homeless veteran San Franciscans.

San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing Executive Director Shireen McSpadden said the Mayor’s proposed investments for TGNC homeless “…are critical to advancing the city’s equity strategies to improve services for our most vulnerable community members.” 

What is San Francisco doing to take care of those who served their country and are homeless? Edwin M. Lee apartments will provide 62 apartments and supportive housing to homeless vets.  

I like math; that’s about ten vets in an apartment? That sounds about right, given California’s housing market.

Land of Milk and Honey? More Like the Land of Drugs and Crime

Crime has steadily risen in San Francisco since 2021, with homicide up 36%, car theft up 36%, arson up 40%, and theft up 20%. These statistics have led to a recall effort of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. 

During his campaign, D.A. Boudin vowed “…not to prosecute cases involving quality of life crimes.”

So what is a quality of life crime? You guessed it: homelessness. This also includes prostitution and public urination. 

RELATED: Blue States Spent Covid Funds On Controversial Race Teachings

Mayor Breed’s Identity Crisis

Like most Democrats, Mayor Breed called for defunding the police after the murder of George Floyd, cutting the San Francisco police department by $120 million. However, with rising crime rates and demand for action, the conflicted Mayor flipped her script and called for more funding.

She even went so far as to say:

“It’s time the reign of criminals who are destroying our city come to an end. And it comes to an end when we take the steps to more aggressive (sic) with law enforcement: more aggressive with the changes in our policies and less tolerant of all the bulls–t that has destroyed our city.” 

Oh wow, she must be really upset to use a swear word in her public remarks. How very strong and leaderlike. 

As mentioned earlier, Breed decided against attending a Pride March after police were banned from participating. The Pride Board banned LGBTQ+ police officers from marching in uniform because “…it made people feel uncomfortable.”

The San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance wrote :

“The San Francisco Pride Committee has asked the LGBTQ+ Peace Officers to go back in the closet.”

The group that touts inclusivity seems awfully exclusive. I keep hearing how if youth can’t see people like them in positions and careers, they can’t believe they can be those things when they grow up.

Wouldn’t it be good for LGBTQ+ youth to see that they can grow up to serve and protect while being open to love and be who they are on the inside?

RELATED: Washington Post Runs Article Demanding George Washington University Change Its Name Because Of ‘White Supremacy’

Equal… But Special

This announcement by Mayor Breed isn’t about helping the TGNC homeless; it’s about her staying relevant in the Progressive Left movement.

According to a Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing survey, there were 8,035 homeless in San Francisco in 2021. Why the estimated 400 TGNC homeless are any more important than the other 7,635 is a question nobody wants to ask.

The answer is because, for all the talk of equality and equity, we’ve become a society of ‘equal…but special’. Homelessness is a problem in San Francisco and across this country, regardless of sexual orientation or other demographics. 

Equal but special. Inclusive…unless you don’t fit the narrative. The new slogan of California, and soon the United States if we aren’t careful. 

Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”

USAF Retired, Bronze Star recipient, outspoken veteran advocate. Hot mess mom to two monsters and wife to equal parts... More about Kathleen J. Anderson

Mentioned in this article: