Citizen Change

By: Amos Lassen

"Citizen Change" is a new documentary about a dedicated group of LGBT activists in Berkeley and Oakland, California began the push for marriage equality and it brings to light those who stove very hard to insure that what we have today actually came into being. The names are not familiar and had this film not been made, we might never have known of them. Revolutions have to begin somewhere and here we see how this group of men and women were instrumental in the fight for marriage equality taking it from a concept that was not heard of and making it a reality. This is the vision of director James Chambers and it beautifully and sensitively presented. Here we are reminded of the LGBT rights movements of the 1970s and 80s and we hear the words of those who took part in them.

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Twelve subjects tell their stories and let us know of how a small group of individuals with dedication took the idea of domestic partnership and made it come to life. By doing so, the door was opened to other issues as well. We hear of the obstacles that they had to overcome and how they are responsible of establishing their legacy. They not only went up against city hall but against the entire world. I remember all too well how one referred to his or her other half as lover while today we see the accepted term to be partner. This came about as a result of the establishment domestic partnerships and civil unions which allowed for gay and lesbians to have secure legal rights and recognition by society. Just a few decades ago, we could not have dreamt of this.

The work that these people did was essential if we were to achieve all that we have since received (although received may not be the best word). The story we hear here is an inspiration, to say the least.

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We live in a world that is constantly changing. It may not always occur as quickly as we like and we certainly see that with the fact that the idea of domestic partnership actually was enacted into law in 1984 in Berkeley, California. The people we meet here are responsible for that when they brought the idea to attention as long ago as 1980. With all that is going on today, it is easy to forget that it has been less than thirty years since same-sex couples were allowed to register as domestic partners and have access to some of the limited resources. The first domestic partnerships did not take place in San Francisco as many think. Mayor Dianne Feinstein vetoed the measure then because of pressure from the Catholic Church. Berkeley however passed the measure in 1984 after Tom Brougham and Barry Warren pressed the issue with the University of California Berkeley where Brougham worked. He could not be married to his partner but he wanted to get him some kind of health coverage. This causes a series of issues and politics to be bandied around and eventually the city of Berkeley and the insurance companies agreed and before anyone realized it, the issue became international. However, the world survived but ant-gay rhetoric reared its ugly head.

Chambers' film lets the people who were there talk about it?"Brougham and Warren, as well as then-student leaders at UC Berkeley and members of what was, at the time, known as the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club. These pioneers for family equality speak movingly about what it was like to be gay and lesbian at a time when just being gay was considered criminal, pathological, or both".

We can never forget that we started the battle for equality with nothing more than passion for justice and legal equality and we should be very, very proud of where we are today but we must also remember how it has happened. Here is documentation of an event in our history that could be overlooked but must not be. The film is a tribute to those who laid the groundwork for what we have today; those who, in the words of the director, "endeavor to make the world a better place, not for personal ambition, but for the greater good". He looks back to lesbian anthropologist Margaret Mead who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Watching this we are again reminded of the oppression we suffered as gay and lesbian people in the 60s and 70s, of the beginnings of the gay liberation movement, the Briggs Institute which tried to outlaw us from teaching in the California schools, and the assassination of Harvey Milk. It is all so different today. Here is the story of our heroes and here are their names:
Tom Brougham is a Bay Area native who became active in Berkeley's Gay Liberation Front in the 1970s. In 1982, he was a co-founder of the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club (EBL/GDC) and later served as its president. In 1987, he was the first openly gay candidate to win election to public office in the East Bay, when elected as a trustee of the Peralta Community College board. Tom is now retired and lives with his partner of 36 years, Barry Warren.

Barry Warren moved to Berkeley in 1975 from Michigan, where he taught English in a community college. Also a co-founder of the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club, he retired from his position at the University of California and has since pursued a second career as a jazz vocalist and lyricist. He performs regularly at venues throughout the East Bay.

Kerry Woodward moved to the Bay Area from Minneapolis in 1981 and became the West Coast Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign Fund. She also served on the board

of the National Gay and Lesbian Task . Also a co-founder of the EBL/GDC, she continues in her career as a Montessori teacher. She lives in Oakland with her spouse, Mary Ann Brownstein.

Mary Ann Brownstein is a native of St. Louis, MO. After college at Rutgers University, she settled in the Bay Area in 1967, later becoming politically active with Berkeley Citizens Action. Also a founder of EBL/GBC, she continues part-time as a Montessori teacher.

Leland Traiman, originally from southern California, became active with the Gay Students Union while attending UC Berkeley. Also a co-founder of EBL/GDC, he served on Berkeley's Human Relations and Welfare Commission as chair of the Domestic Partners Task . He lives in Alameda, CA, with his partner Stewart Blandon, and their two children, Julian and Rosalinda. He operates the Rainbow Flag Health Services and Sperm Bank.

Ethel Manheimer was a school librarian elected to the Berkeley School Board in 1981. Retiring after one term, she was later recognized by the Northern California chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus for her achievements while in office. Ethel died on December 4, 2012.

Eric Hsu grew up in the Bay Area and was a student at UC Berkeley when he became a co-founder of the EBL/GDC. He is currently the scholarship chair of the eQuality Scholarship Collaborative, which funds $6,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors for their service to the LGBT community. He and his spouse Jim Chambers live in Oakland.

Ann Chandler was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 1982 and retired after four terms. She continued to be active in local politics and was recognized by the Northern California chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus for her service in office. Ann died on November 17, 2012.

Nancy Skinner was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 1982. In 2008, she was elected as a California State Assembly member and continues in office, representing the east bay.


Lana Hameister originally hails from the South. After becoming active with the EBL/GDC, she was recognized for her service as treasurer of the Campaign against the LaRouche Measure. She lives in Albany with her spouse, Jan Setchko.

Darryl Moore moved to the East Bay from Washington, DC. In 1995, he was elected to the seat on the Peralta Community College Board vacated by Tom Brougham. Since 2004, he has served as a member of the Berkeley City Council. He lives with his partner, Bradley Johnson.

Albert Lucero is originally from New Mexico. Active with the Rainbow Coalition, he was elected as an alternate delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Jesse Jackson. He has been active with a union representing University of California employees, where he continues to work. He lives with his spouse Richard in Berkeley.