James Coleman, City Council Member, South San Francisco, on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Mental Health Advocacy
Season 1 Episode 8
Biracial. Bisexual. Unapologetically Progressive. At 21 years of age, James Coleman is the youngest and first openly LGBTQ+ member to be elected to South San Francisco's City Council.
We talk to James about the remarkable journey he's had - from growing up biracial as a child of a Taiwanese immigrant mother and Caucasian father, to having to care for and lose his father after a spinal cord injury, to finding healing and purpose in social equity and environmental justice while studying at Harvard University.
We explore how being bisexual and biracial have shaped James' view of himself and the world, and why elections aren't just about winning or losing. James shares his dream of empowering a movement of more young, Queer, BIPOC, female and AAPI folks to run for office and advocate for change together. We also talk about how expanding mental health resources, particularly for queer and BIPOC folks, could help end police killings.
Watch the full Thrive Spice podcast interview with James Coleman on YouTube
About James Coleman:
James Coleman is an elected member of South San Francisco City Council. He is their first openly LGBTQ member, their first democratic socialist and, at 21 years of age, the youngest individual ever elected to the seat. As an undergraduate at Harvard University, James was a cofounder of the Harvard Undergraduates for Environmental Justice, an organizer with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, a neuroscience researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a Director with TedxHarvard College. James recently graduated with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a minor in Government. He is expected to be appointed as South San Francisco's Mayor in 2024.
Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Resources:
CAHOOTS Mental Health First Responder Model (Eugene, OR)
TGI Justice Project - (California) TGI Justice Project is a group of transgender, gender variant and intersex people–inside and outside of prisons, jails and detention centers–creating a united family in the struggle for survival and freedom.
STAR and Marsha P. Johnson
episode music courtesy of Uppbeat [ATM - Dreamland]
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