Championing Equality: Highlights from the Human Rights Summit

The Saint Francis Foundation is proud to have sponsored the recent Human Rights Summit, an inspiring event during San Francisco Pride that brought together advocates, leaders, and community members dedicated to advancing human rights. The summit showcased the ongoing struggles and triumphs within the LGBTQIA+ community through a series of impactful sessions and keynote speeches.

The summit featured notable speakers such as Honey Mahogany, a performer and activist who spoke on San Francisco’s history of queer activism, and Michelle Meow, who moderated discussions on the global state of pride with representatives from Kyiv Pride, Shanghai Pride, and PRIDE SV. Suzanne Ford and Nguyen Pham of SF Pride also contributed their insights, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the summit.

One of the sessions, “Healing by Design,” moderated by Bia Vieira, CEO of Women’s Foundation California, explored the creation of joyful and safe spaces for gender-expansive communities. JM Jaffe, Director of Lyon-Martin Health Services, shared their personal journey and the transformative work of their organization in providing comprehensive care and support for transgender and non-binary individuals. The Saint Francis Foundation is proud to support Lyon-Martin and funded their capital campaign this year, reflecting our commitment to their mission.

Our very own Dr. Heidi Wittenberg, a board member of the Saint Francis Foundation and Medical Director at the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Gender Institute, participated in a fireside chat with Dr. Alexis Petra of Transclinique. Their discussion on building safe spaces and providing comprehensive care for the TGNC community underscored our foundation’s dedication to supporting pioneering work in gender-affirming healthcare.

Overall, the Human Rights Summit was a success, demonstrating the dedication and collaboration needed to advance human rights. The Saint Francis Foundation is honored to support initiatives that align with our mission of fostering inclusivity, equity, and justice for all. We look forward to continuing our partnership with organizations and advocates committed to creating a better future for everyone.