From the President

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Rainbow Flag in front of SCOTUS Letter from the President

LGBT Rights After Masterpiece

| by Jennie Lehua Watson in LGBT Equality

Federal Law Protecting LGBT People is Realistic and a Long-Overdue Goal

Supreme Court decision shows the work of protecting LGBT families from discrimination is not done.

We have made significant progress for LGBT equality in our country in recent years. Many of us hoped last week’s Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop decision would help blaze another trail to end the discrimination t…

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Crissy Field Letter from the President

Love, Unity, and Respect

| by Jennie Lehua Watson

Let’s Show the World the Same Spirit that Restored Crissy Field

Haas, Jr. Fund Interim President Jennie Watson reflects on the meaning of Crissy Field, and expresses her hopes for a safe weekend.

As many of you have heard, there will be a Patriot Prayer rally at San Francisco’s Crissy Field on August 26th.The San Francisco event was confirmed after hate groups rained down mayhem and violence in Charlottesvil…

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Girl with flag on father's shoulders Letter from the President

From Inspiration to Action

| by Jennie Lehua Watson in Fund News

Summer 2017 Letter from the Interim President

The Haas, Jr. Fund continues to engaged in deep, ongoing conversations with our many partners about what we can and should be doing differently to address the challenges and the opportunities of this moment.

It was six months ago when I stepped into my current role as Interim President of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Since then, I have been inspired by the amazing upsurge of leadership and activism across this…

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window of we are orlando Letter from the President

After Orlando

| by Ira Hirschfield in LGBT Equality

The next steps for LGBT equality

While marriage equality was a huge win for gay and lesbian rights, discrimination remains an enormous and deeply pervasive problem throughout the country.

As we mourn the victims of the Orlando shooting—shown above in window images on the Haas, Jr. Fund offices in San Francisco—let’s pledge to continue the work of making our country live up to its highest values and i…

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Sylvia Yee Letter from the President

VP of Programs Sylvia Yee to Step Down

| by Ira Hirschfield

A brilliant and committed champion of equity, opportunity and social justice for 23 years

From the very beginning of her time here, Sylvia has played an indispensable role in the evolution of the Fund’s work and the growth of our ambitions and reach.

I am writing to announce that Sylvia Yee will be stepping down at the end of August as Vice President of Programs with the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. A brilliant and committed champion of equity, opportuni…

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Citizenship fair Letter from the President

Working Together for Progress

| by Ira Hirschfield in Fund News

Spring 2016 Letter from the President

As the Presidential election sparks heated debate about the future of our country, the Fund remains committed to supporting the incredible work of our grantee partners.

The Presidential election has surfaced deep differences and sparked heated debate about the future of the country. It is against this backdrop of change and uncertainty that I find hope and inspiration in the steadf…

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Marriage Equality Celebration Letter from the President

Marriage Equality from Coast to Coast

| by Ira Hirschfield in LGBT Equality

Winter 2015 Letter from the President

President Ira Hirschfield reflects on how marriage equality is a fitting reminder of what it takes to achieve real and lasting progress in advancing rights and creating opportunities for all people.

The past year will go down in the history books as a year when fairness and justice prevailed for gays and lesbians across the country. It was a year when a movement of hundreds of thousands of people across the cou…

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