5/17/15 Special Meeting Minutesheld at1PMin the San Francisco Pride officeCalled by Justin, Jose and Oliver

In attendance-Board: Chandra, David, Joey (lost Skype reception early on in the meeting and was unable to vote), Gary, Marsha, Larry, John, Oliver, Justin, MichelleExcused absence- VeronikaNon-Board: George, Joe

Called to order -1:15Agenda Approval - Motion to accept Jesse, David Seconds, Unanimously approvedChair - John Nominated by Jesse, Seconded by Jose, Unanimously approvedStack - DavidVibe - ChandraTime - Jose

AgendaFacebook SponsorshipGeorge 5 minCurrently agreed to accept sponsorship assuming they commit to quarterly meetings and participating in a community forum.

FB is not willing to change the name reporting and not willing to change their position on this issue

They are willing to engage in public meetings and a forum

FB would be willing to make a public statement in conjunction with us.

Discussion 45 minOliver updateGot all demands from various community stakeholders in writing, and checked in with community leaders. Have provided these to the board via email. #mynameis coalition is asking Facebook to eliminate fake name reporting and switch to validating identity through testimonies from other people on Facebook rather than through documentation.

A credible rumor from someone involved with FBs internal work on this is that internally at FB there is support for a policy to collect the identification of users with pseudonyms but continue to allow them to use the pseudonyms creating accountability for actions of pseudonym profiles, and that this is the main suggestion favored by FB employees themselves as far as we know. This is the alternate names proposal which seems like the reasonable compromise.

While Facebook has an exemplary record on human rights, the things they do for our community largely benefit the most privileged, people like their employees. Pride also has an obligation to the most marginalized, to trans people, people of color, those without the class privilege of a Facebook employee. Our obligation is not to treat all contingents equally, as though there could ever be equality between Facebook and a grassroots activist group! Our obligation is educate the world, liberate our people and help drive the LGBT movement forward.

Since Gary mentioned it at theTuesdaymeeting, advocates know that Mark Zuckerberg has been on the phone with us even though he apparently has not directly communicated with either City Hall or any of the other advocates, social actors, or stakeholders, pushing for changes in this policy. What does it say if all it takes is a 15-minute phone call from Zuckerberg for Pride to sell out our own community?

LarryWe have many organizations that do not have the highest quality ratings regarding their dealings with the LGBT community, and no standards of who we accept and why. Larry views removing a group from the parade to be the nuclear option and this is too extreme.

Is it better to negotiate or to force the option.

Believes we can promote boycotts and alternatives.

Oliver and others disagree that Facebook can be boycotted on the grounds that FB has what is essentially a social media monopoly. In this day and age access to it is a human right.

Joe WagenhoferCorporate participation policyMain three criteriaNo Tobacco: Per SF city regulations

Adolph Coors BrewingDirectly against LGBT

Exxon MobilDirectly against LGBT

Does FB meet this level of criteria. Is it that level of issue for our community?

Big issue back in the day was Coors

Banning someone from the Parade is a higher bar than the festival site. as it is completely covered by free speech we do not pay for permits and the like due to it being considered.

Is their policy applied to all people or just LGBT people?

Justin - What about a 15 year old LGBT kid developing their new sense of identity whether trans, not out or a budding drag queen that doesnt have the type of name recognition and cannot come up with the alternate forms of identification to prove their pseudonym? Current policy favors people like Roma who have public recognition but leaves these others in the dust.

ChandraFB could have reached out to the advocates and instead is reaching out to us. This is no different than the advocates pushing us. Why are we listening to FB PR department instead of our own community stakeholders?

FB is tech, linked to displacement and eviction crisis. The housing movement would be our allies in increasing pressure on them this year.

Michelle - Major advocacy for awareness of what we are taking on and questioning if we have the whole community behind us.

DavidWe are stuck with this process currently so we need to pick our battles.

They have done a lot of good things for the community.

They seem to be willing to move forward changes,

MarshaThis is their employee resource group in the parade. Employee Resource Groups are bottom-up and often advocate for LGBT causes within their corporations, so we shouldnt conflate them with the corporations.

Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band was the only group weve historically banned from the parade, after three warnings.

GaryThe board had due notice on this time sensitive issue prior to the last executive session meeting held after Mays general membership meeting.

This is highly equivalent to many other examples that could be requested by any advocacy group harmed by a sponsor. What would we do if an anti-sex group came and complained about a leather contingent?

GeorgeThis could put up a large red flag for future sponsors, or damage our relationship with Facebook as a sponsor. Flip-flopping is a major concern.

We still have unsigned/closed sponsorship agreements needed to make our budget for this year.

Concerned that if we ban Facebook what do other sponsors think of our parade.

OliverFacebook should be held to a higher standard because it is a global monopoly.

At minimum, we should require Mark should represent Facebook in the public forum.

If he wont do that, there are two options for changes to Facebook policy on the table: meeting the demands of the #mynameis coalition, or the compromise allowing people alternate names.

Round the room discussion continues.

Resolution 15 minBoard authorize the ED to negotiate the contract for facebook sponsorship agreement and joint press release. -Gary -2nd DavidFurther Discussion-Oliver- This is an agreement requiring less of FB then even the last decision that led to this meeting. Why are we backing down?

Call the question.FavorJohn, Marsha, David, Larry, Gary

AgainstOliver, Jose, Justin, Chandra, Michelle

Result- Tie

Board authorizes the ED to negotiate the contract for facebook sponsorship agreement and joint press release but that the press release be issued prior to the signing of the contract. -Gary amended proposalFurther DiscussionJustin - This decision is cowardly as our time frame to make a real impact on this issue will expire after we accept the sponsorship.

Chandra - Instead of giving FB the benefit of the doubt, can we provide our community the benefit of the doubt and have FB change before letting them in instead of letting them in and believing theyll change.

Michelle - Im not sure if I belong here. Im a good fundraiser but I want to be fundraising for something that really helps people instead of just running a party.

Jose - Why am I here? I am supposed to represent youth and I am a person of color but my view is never listened to on this board. Everyone under 40 opposes the Facebook sponsorship. If we arent here to take a stand, why are we even doing this? I dont care about raising money for a party, I care about making a difference.

Oliver - Many of us, Gary included, are sitting here because of the Chelsea Manning controversy: which was precisely about how internet freedom and surveillance intersect with the LGBT rights movement. We were elected by a progressive coalition to bring new leadership for Pride. How can you then sit there and support Facebooks participation over the activists from our own community?

Call the questionFavorJohn, Marsha, David, Larry, Gary

AgainstOliver, Jose, Justin, Chandra

AbstainMichelle

Result - motion passes

Marsha reminds the board that this was not a meeting done in executive session and so the minutes and voting records are a matter of public record.

Adjourned2:55