lISA SANDERS
THE MAYOR'S DAUGHTER TALKS ABOUT HER ACTIVISM,
INVOVEMENT IN WOMEN'S POLITICS, AND AN
IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP
THE MAYOR'S DAUGHTER TALKS ABOUT HER ACTIVISM,
INVOVEMENT IN WOMEN'S POLITICS, AND AN
IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP
By Bixi Craig & Sally Hall
When Jerry Sanders, Mayor of San Diego, announced his support for same-
sex marriage publicly last September, he also announced that he supported
his lesbian daughter, Lisa—a move that thrust her into the limelight. As a
result, Lisa who is 24 and holds down a full- time job has become an activist
for gay equality. Lisa lives in North Park with her girlfriend of two years,
Meaghan, owner of 607 Productions
I have seen you lobbying, doing the foot work for your father’s pro-gay-marriage
stance on your own time and energy, exemplifying leadership and determination
to better our community’s legal standing. Have you considered a political career in
the near or distant future?
[Getting involved in] politics had never crossed my mind. However, I do enjoy working
with the community to strive for equality. I also really enjoyed working with LGBT
leaders to put the “Meet and Greet “at Hawthorn’s together. I think many women
enjoyed having the opportunity to voice their opinions. Events like the “Meet and
Greet” give the women in our community the chance to be involved in local politics. I
want to continue to open the door for women to be involved in our community’s
political issues.
What do you think will be your two most influential actions or accomplishments now
that you are in the spotlight?
I really want to continue to help with the marriage equality campaign as well as
increasing the amount of information available to lesbians about political issues.
What words that you expressed do you believe resounded with your father and
were later instrumental in developing the current views he holds regarding same
sex relationships?
My father has always been supportive of the LGBT community. I can remember as a
kid watching him march in the gay pride parade back in 1992 to support his gay
officers. He was the first chief of police to march in a gay pride parade. This is one
event in a sequence…many democratic politicians have not come out in support of
same sex marriage.
There were many people involved in my father’s decision to publicly support the
brief. I told him I supported him no matter what his decision was. After many
discussions with me and other community leaders, he came to this decision on his
own.
Knowing your father’s views about same sex relationships, did this hinder you from
‘coming out’ earlier?
I grew up in a household that supported the gay community even before I told them
I was gay. In addition to my father having a long history of supporting the gay
community, my step-mother worked with the community when she was a NYPD
officer.
As chief of police, he was very supportive of his gay police officers. Besides
marching in several gay pride parades, in every organization he’s led he has
appointed gay members of to top positions. In the late 1990s he was selected as
Grand Marshall in the gay pride parade.
My family loves my girlfriend, Meaghan, and treats us like any other couple. I have
always been surrounded by support.
At what age did you reveal to your family that you were gay and that it wasn’t a
phase?
I told my family when I was nineteen. And ever since I told them, I have always felt
supported and loved by them.
California gay marriage is, albeit much celebrated in the LGBT community
statewide, challenged in court by opposition groups. What are your thoughts on
this?
I think we are going to be able to successfully fight the initiative on the November
ballot. However everyone in the community needs to help and be a part of the
process. Something as simple as talking to friends and family will help. We have a
window of opportunity to successfully challenge the initiative. With the support of the
(CA) Supreme Court, Governor Schwarzenegger, my father, and many other
politicians, I believe that this is a fight we can win. I hope November 4th is the day
that history is made and California sets the tone for the rest of our country.
Do you have political interests other than gay marriage?
I am really interested in green building and green living. More importantly, I want to
help raise awareness of convenient ways to be greener. I am also concerned about
community safety. I enjoy volunteering with the Stonewall Citizens Patrol. I think
everyone should participate in a ride-along to better understand safety risks and
preventive measures.
What words of encouragement can you pass along to the readers of the Lavender
Lens about enriching our strength and leadership in light of our achievements and
set-backs?
I am a math person and I view our achievements as an exponential function: slow at
first, but beginning to grow much faster in a shorter amount of time. We are in a
critical time to make changes quickly which could change our lives forever. The good
thing is we can see instant results. Getting involved now is more important that ever.
Change is occurring as we speak. We need to accelerate the momentum of our
older leaders. We don’t want to make their sacrifices worthless by not continuing to
push the ball forward.
sex marriage publicly last September, he also announced that he supported
his lesbian daughter, Lisa—a move that thrust her into the limelight. As a
result, Lisa who is 24 and holds down a full- time job has become an activist
for gay equality. Lisa lives in North Park with her girlfriend of two years,
Meaghan, owner of 607 Productions
I have seen you lobbying, doing the foot work for your father’s pro-gay-marriage
stance on your own time and energy, exemplifying leadership and determination
to better our community’s legal standing. Have you considered a political career in
the near or distant future?
[Getting involved in] politics had never crossed my mind. However, I do enjoy working
with the community to strive for equality. I also really enjoyed working with LGBT
leaders to put the “Meet and Greet “at Hawthorn’s together. I think many women
enjoyed having the opportunity to voice their opinions. Events like the “Meet and
Greet” give the women in our community the chance to be involved in local politics. I
want to continue to open the door for women to be involved in our community’s
political issues.
What do you think will be your two most influential actions or accomplishments now
that you are in the spotlight?
I really want to continue to help with the marriage equality campaign as well as
increasing the amount of information available to lesbians about political issues.
What words that you expressed do you believe resounded with your father and
were later instrumental in developing the current views he holds regarding same
sex relationships?
My father has always been supportive of the LGBT community. I can remember as a
kid watching him march in the gay pride parade back in 1992 to support his gay
officers. He was the first chief of police to march in a gay pride parade. This is one
event in a sequence…many democratic politicians have not come out in support of
same sex marriage.
There were many people involved in my father’s decision to publicly support the
brief. I told him I supported him no matter what his decision was. After many
discussions with me and other community leaders, he came to this decision on his
own.
Knowing your father’s views about same sex relationships, did this hinder you from
‘coming out’ earlier?
I grew up in a household that supported the gay community even before I told them
I was gay. In addition to my father having a long history of supporting the gay
community, my step-mother worked with the community when she was a NYPD
officer.
As chief of police, he was very supportive of his gay police officers. Besides
marching in several gay pride parades, in every organization he’s led he has
appointed gay members of to top positions. In the late 1990s he was selected as
Grand Marshall in the gay pride parade.
My family loves my girlfriend, Meaghan, and treats us like any other couple. I have
always been surrounded by support.
At what age did you reveal to your family that you were gay and that it wasn’t a
phase?
I told my family when I was nineteen. And ever since I told them, I have always felt
supported and loved by them.
California gay marriage is, albeit much celebrated in the LGBT community
statewide, challenged in court by opposition groups. What are your thoughts on
this?
I think we are going to be able to successfully fight the initiative on the November
ballot. However everyone in the community needs to help and be a part of the
process. Something as simple as talking to friends and family will help. We have a
window of opportunity to successfully challenge the initiative. With the support of the
(CA) Supreme Court, Governor Schwarzenegger, my father, and many other
politicians, I believe that this is a fight we can win. I hope November 4th is the day
that history is made and California sets the tone for the rest of our country.
Do you have political interests other than gay marriage?
I am really interested in green building and green living. More importantly, I want to
help raise awareness of convenient ways to be greener. I am also concerned about
community safety. I enjoy volunteering with the Stonewall Citizens Patrol. I think
everyone should participate in a ride-along to better understand safety risks and
preventive measures.
What words of encouragement can you pass along to the readers of the Lavender
Lens about enriching our strength and leadership in light of our achievements and
set-backs?
I am a math person and I view our achievements as an exponential function: slow at
first, but beginning to grow much faster in a shorter amount of time. We are in a
critical time to make changes quickly which could change our lives forever. The good
thing is we can see instant results. Getting involved now is more important that ever.
Change is occurring as we speak. We need to accelerate the momentum of our
older leaders. We don’t want to make their sacrifices worthless by not continuing to
push the ball forward.
Acceptance speech of re-elected Mayor Jerry Sanders. June 3, 2008