Senator Toni Atkins Issues Statement on Today’s Announcement by LGBT Center

Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) has issued the following statement in response to the announcement today by the San Diego LGBT Center Board of Directors that Dr. Delores Jacobs will not renew her contract as CEO of the Center in 2018:

“I want to acknowledge and thank Delores Jacobs for her leadership at the helm of the LGBT Center these last 16 years. I was the District 3 City Council member when the Center’s Board brought in Dr. Jacobs at a crucial time in the organization’s history.

“Dr. Jacobs has taken our community center to new heights in terms of services, advocacy and the advancement of our civil rights. The result is easily seen in San Diego, given the active involvement by our Center and its Board, volunteers and supporters in every important issue facing our city and our region. The Center has been integral on marriage equality, support for military service members, for the transgender and immigrant communities and so many other issues. I was particularly pleased to be actively involved with the Center’s leadership in the development of Sunburst Housing for LGBTQ youth when I was a City Council member.

“It is appropriate to do a national search for our next Center chief executive, as outlined by Dr. Jacobs today. I am confident that the Board will undertake this endeavor and ensure a process that has at its heart community and stakeholder input. I look forward to being part of that important process and supporting the Board of Directors going forward.”