Hotties, homos, drag queens and local politicians all ended up at El Rio Sunday night with hundreds of others to raise money for Lyon-Martin Health Services. The clinic announced last week that it needed $250,000 to stay alive.
“There is no point in being the queerest city in the world if we can’t save Lyon-Martin,” said former supervisor Bevan Dufty.
State Senator Mark Leno, from San Francisco, said with defiance, “The client base is unique and we must keep those doors open…. Lyon-Martin, we will survive.”
Burlesque and drag shows entertained past patients and friends of Lyon-Martin, who came to support a clinic known for its services to the LBGTQ community. Good Vibrations, Kink.com, Vixen Creations and others provided raffle prizes.
Within the first hour, more than $4,000 was collected at the door and from raffle sales. The “Hotties 4 Homo Health Care” also raised money through sliding-scale entrance donations, and 10 percent of the bar tab went to Lyon-Martin.
“I’m always amazed at how much money you can raise by raffling dildos and porn,” said emcee of the night and former District 6 candidate Anna Conda, underneath a large blond wig and single-strap dress. “I’ve always believed community is where the power is, and here is the proof, people.”
She was right. The patio was packed, and a line trailing down the street persisted through the night. Many had been patients of the clinic.
“I was broke and the Lyon-Martin clinic helped me,” said Marguerite Brown, a volunteer selling T-shirts inside. “[Their services are] not just for the gay community.”
A businesswoman 20 years ago, Brown confronted some hard times, filed for bankruptcy, and found herself turning to the clinic to get the health care she needed but could not afford. She said she would never forget Lyon-Martin’s warm and efficient services.
“I was lying in bed listening to NPR a couple days ago and I heard they were shutting down, so I immediately jumped out of bed, called them and said, ‘What can I do?’”
“I felt really heard when I was there,” said Isis Starr, who was a clinic patient in the early 90s. “At the time I was a working girl, and I had working girl needs, and they listened to me.”
Danny Resnick, who trained as a student nurse practitioner at Lyon-Martin, came to the fundraiser to volunteer as well.
“It signifies something special, that past patients are willing to come back even though they don’t use their services anymore,” said Resnick.
Leno joined fellow politicians, including newly elected supervisors Scott Wiener, Jane Kim and Malia Cohen, in praising Lyon-Martin for its contribution to the LBGTQ community and for the health care it provides to the city.
Founded in 1979, Lyon-Martin Health Services aimed to provide nonjudgmental health care for lesbians. The clinic has provided programs for low-income and uninsured women with HIV, and implemented a sliding-scale mental health service for its patients.
According to its website, Lyon-Martin offers its services to more than 2,000 patients, 14 percent of whom are transgender; 41 percent self-identify as lesbian or bisexual, and 84 percent live below the federal poverty level.
“It was the lesbians in my life who saved me,” said Brian Basinger, executive director of AIDS Housing Alliance/SF, as he held back tears on stage. “I’m here because of them.”
Basinger, a friend of the clinic who told the crowd he turned towards the LBGTQ community for support years ago when doctors gave him a week to live, donated an additional $1,000 to support Lyon-Martin.
Since the January 25 announcement that the clinic was in danger of closing, more than $100,000 has been raised. The clinic has given itself until the end of the week to raise the remaining $150,000. It’s unclear how much was raised Sunday night.
“I’ve never heard of an organization [that] raised over $100,000 and more in such a short amount of time,” said State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco before handing over a check for $2,500.
By the end of the night, $28,382 was made from the door, raffle tickets and random donations (the bar tab is still being tallied). An announcement met with cheers from the crowd, but the reality of the looming debt is still pressing down as Lyon-Martin fights back with another fundraiser, on February 13 at Heart.
Sf lady,
“Now that SF has health insurance for everyone with the “Healthy San Francisco” program, shouldn’t the public health department be taking care of all of us in their public health clinics?”.
Thanks for your post as it brings up quite a bit. First of all, not everyone qualifies for Healthy SF. Lyon Martin provides care not only to women, but the queer and transgendered community. These are groups that are horribly underrepresented and discriminated against in the healthcare system.
People come to Lyon Martin for their expertise from all over the country. It’s important to understand the unique role that this clinic fills not only in SF but beyond.
It’s a very different experience to go to SF General than to go to Lyon Martin. Ask any queer or transgendered person who has done both. It’s also important to understand that Healthy San Francisco does have its limits. If you live just outside the designated lines of SF, you do not qualify. Compound this with the fact that many free clinics are full or have shut their doors, and you can see why it is so important that this clinic stays open.
As far as non profits not paying their staff enough, that’s a huge can of worms. There are many volunteers who devote countless hours to make sure Lyon Martin runs. The staff are dedicated and understand the important roll of general practice care in the community. ANYONE who works in general practice in the U.S. generally does not get paid well, union or not. It’s the way this system is set up…and yes, that needs to change.
Now that SF has health insurance for everyone with the “Healthy San Francisco” program, shouldn’t the public health department be taking care of all of us in their public health clinics? A small little clinic shouldn’t scavenge and plead for money to stay in business when our public health department which is well funded and takes good care of its employees should be taking care of all residents. SF has health care for all, why are we encouraging non-profits like this? They don’t pay their staff as well as City employees and they don’t hire from unions. I’m sure Lyon Martin does good work, but I think SF should model true public health for all and all clinics should be public health clinics not non-profits.
Just some corrections in the numbers reported. It is my understanding that Lyon Martin needs to raise $250,000 by the end of the week ($200,000 of which has now been raised). This is to prevent immediate closure. Once that amount is raised, another $500,000 is needed by the end of the month to keep the clinic from filing bankruptcy.
Yes, thank you for another good article!
I am so grateful for all the hard work of folks this week, and for the generous people who have donated money to help Lyon Martin.
As one who is unemployed still, in this crummy economy, I am a beneficiary of Lyon Martins’ services. I depend on you right now. Rest assured, that once I am employed again, LMHS will be a regular beneficiary of donations from me. Until then, I need the members of the board to take seriously their role in assuring the continued existence of Lyon Martin. 2500 people like me depend on you.
Thank you to Mission Local for your continued excellent reporting!
Lyon-Martin raised $62,120 in donations and pledges at El Rio on Sunday ($32,000 were from community members and politicians and we received a matching grant from a local business who wishes to remain anonymous).
You can buy tickets for the upcoming “Heart” fundraiser at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/140886
and visit http://www.lyon-martin.org for more info about the clinic and a list of other upcoming fundraisers.
Thank you!