Four Questions for Peggy Moore

By Keith Boykin, in politics
Friday, March 11 2005, 9:26PM

Years ago when I graduated from law school, I planned to move to Oakland, work in a law firm for a few years, and then one day run for Congress from Oakland. The city across the bay from San Francisco seemed like the perfect place for a black gay elected official. It was progressive, pro-black and pro-gay. But I never made it to Oakland. I never even practiced law. Instead, I moved to Washington and worked in the White House.

Fortunately, there are other black LGBT people who have aspirations for elected office in Oakland. One of them is Peggy Moore. I met Peggy at a book signing in Oakland recently, and immediately I knew she was going places. Peggy, a black lesbian woman, is a candidate for city council in Oakland and she is running in an unusual mail-in election. Using my simple new interview format, I gave her 4 questions to answer.

1. Why are you running for city council?

I am poised to help lead and unite Oakland. My experience has prepared me well to connect with people from all walks to life, to understand the relationship between political decisions and the quality of our lives, to mobilize our communities, and to harness the strengths we have. In my work at Home Depot, I interacted with everyone from homeowners to renters to contractors and construction workers, and I learned about hiring good people, and building a workforce that is diverse and united. I decided to become more politically involved, and was hired as the East Bay Campaign Director for the "No on Knight" Campaign (to oppose an anti-gay California ballot initiative in the Spring of 2000). I organized and opened an Oakland office for the East Bay campaign, helped build alliances, directed a significant voter-ID and get-out-the-vote drive, networked with people of different faiths, races, orientations and backgrounds to encourage support for justice and equality, and obtained a 56% “no on Knight” vote in our area.

Since that time, I have worked as a universal healthcare lobbyist with HealthAccess, and I am deeply committed to working to obtain quality healthcare for all. I am a photographer who delights in capturing the human spirit in all of us, and documenting and celebrating our lives. I founded Sistahs Steppin’ In Pride, Oakland’s annual “dyke march” and festival. I have served on Oakland’s Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans leadership Roundtable. I currently work as an outreach specialist for Lavender Seniors, helping our elders obtain services they need, become less isolated, and connect with one another.

I love Oakland, and I look forward to being part of our efforts to build a stronger future for our city.

2. What is your campaign platform?

My central goals for the city are respect and community-conscious revitalization. (My more detailed platform is on my website at www.mooreforoakland.org)

One example of one of my goals for our city:

We need revitalization that embraces what is wonderful about Oakland right now, and improves the quality of life for our existing community. Oakland can shine when we make the most of the resources we have, and encourage the strengths of our community.

We should bring a WNBA team to the Oakland Arena for women’s basketball -- which takes place after the men’s season. This win-win-win solution could attract more business to Oakland, provide jobs in our community, help fill a facility that we already have, attract customers to a transit-accessible location, provide fun and affordable entertainment, while providing role models of health and athletics, and giving us something to cheer for.

3. How has your race, gender and sexual orientation influenced your campaign?

As the only black female in this race as well as the only out lesbian, I carry a great level of pride. I have been inspired by so many people, and I feel moved by those who set a stage for me to have this opportunity. Knowing that Oakland has the largest lesbian community in the nation is a source of great pride for me, and running for office in the city of the Black Panthers moves me. And I see the vibrancy, the unity, the leadership, and the inspiration in our community and I believe that we need to be included at the table in City Hall.

I also notice that I am living at a place and time where I, as the first black lesbian to run for office in our region, am seen more broadly as well. I am also known as a photographer, a community organizer, a health care advocate, and as the only renter running (although Oakland is 2/3 renters).

I am called to help unite our community together around marriage, being black and gay, and an active member of my church. I have approached black community leaders in Oakland, as well as being part of the dialog about ensuring our equality in the LBGT community, and have begun to take steps to build trust, help us all see that we are one community and that we need each other. One of my goals in stepping up to leadership is to be a role-model to heal these divisions, both in Oakland, and in our nation.

4. How does this special election work?

This is a very special “special election” because not only will we have an election at an unusual time, but this is also Oakland’s first experiment with an all vote-by-mail voting system. And, instead of having a year to prepare, because this election was announced unexpectedly, we have only about a month left until voting begins. Voters will receive ballots in the mail, starting on April 19th, and will have until May 17th, 2005 to turn them back in. We have just a few weeks to register new voters, and mail information to the voters of the district. It’s a challenge, but I’m up for it, and I hope you will join me in this journey.

Peggy Moore is a professional photographer/documentarian, and community organizer. She has worked to provide healthcare to the uninsured, and provides support and outreach services for seniors, and is an active member of the East Bay Church of Religious Science. Moore is the founder of Sistahs Steppin’ In Pride (Oakland’s annual LBGT women's community celebration), and she has managed educational and get-out-the-vote drives to promote social justice and equal rights. Visit her website, http://www.mooreforoakland.org, to donate to her campaign.

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