History of Human Rights Commission
In 1963, the modern day civil rights movement manifested in San Francisco through demonstrations against hotels, supermarkets, drive-in restaurants, automobile showrooms and automobile repair shops which were discriminating against African Americans.
In early 1964, Mayor John F. Shelley appointed an Interim Committee on Human Relations, which subsequently recommended to the Board of Supervisors that a permanent Human Rights Commission be established. In July 1964, the Board of Supervisors passed the recommendation, and Mayor Shelley signed an ordinance establishing the Human Rights Commission.
From 1964, the Human Rights Commission grew in response to City government's mandate to address the causes of and problems resulting from prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination. The Mayor and the Board of Supervisors gave the Human Rights Commission more and broader powers and duties to address these problems, and passed additional ordinances, which were implemented by the Human Rights Commission.
In June 1990, the voters of San Francisco established the Human Rights Commission as a Charter Commission (see Section 3.699-5 of the Charter).
What We Do
- Advocate for human and civil rights;
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Investigate and Mediate discrimination complaints (when appropriate, the Human Rights Commission provides referrals to other government agencies);
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Resolve community disputes and issues involving individual or systemic illegal discrimination;
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Provide technical assistance, information and referrals to individuals, community groups, businesses and government agencies related to human rights and social services
Powers and Duties
Today, the Human Rights Commission works to provide leadership and advocacy to secure, protect and promote human rights for all people. Its broad powers and duties include:
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Mediation and conciliation of intergroup disputes and tensions;
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Enforcement of local anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action monitoring (in San Francisco, discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, color, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, domestic partner status, marital status, disability, AIDS/HIV, weight and height);
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Ensuring compliance by City departments and contractors with the provisions of the Local Business Enterprise Ordinance;
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Implementation of federal and local fair housing protection;
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Development and administration of the City's Hate Violence Reduction Program
In June 1990, the voters of San Francisco established the Human Rights Commission as a Charter Commission.
About the Committees
Advisory committees are an integral and vitally important component of the HRC, providing for community involvement and opportunity for in-depth study and exploration of issues. The Chair of the Commission assigns Commissioners and appoints members from the community to participate in these committees. The HRC currently maintains three advisory committees: the Equity Advisory Committee; the Local Business Enterprise Committee and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Advisory Committee.
Function and Operation of the Advisory Committees
The role of the advisory committees is to provide advice and assistance to the Commission by developing and examining ideas and issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission. The committees may also hold public hearings and make recommendations of positions for the Commission to take on legislation.
Advisory committees hold one meeting per month, usually averaging ten meetings per year. Each committee has a standard meeting time and all meetings are open to the public and subject to public meeting and accessibility laws.
For more information about the three Committees, click on their respective links under the Commission & Committees header. If you are interested in serving on a Committee, please contact one of the HRC staff members assigned to staff the Committee you are interested in joining. New committee members are appointed every March for a 1 year term.
