LOUISE H. RENNE
City Attorney

DIRECT DIAL (415)554-4233

SEPTEMBER 10, 1998

Re: Hess v. Peninsula Beverly Hills, Inc.,
Supreme court Case No. S072395

Dear Chief Justice George and Associate Justices:

We write on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco to urge the Court to grant the petition for review filed in the above-cited action.

It is the policy of the City and County of San Francisco to eliminate discrimination based on gender identity within San Francisco. (See San Francisco Police Code Section 3301.) City law bans such discrimination. (See San Francisco Police Code Sections 3302-3313.) Petitioner is seeking clarification that California's Unruh and Ralph Civil Rights Acts afford protections to transexuals. If those Acts protect transexuals, San Franciscans would have additional protections against unfair discrimination in housing, employment, and access to business establishments and public accomodations.

Wer have read the letter submitted to the Court by Amici Curiae Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. We concur in their arguments and join with them in urging the Court to grant the petition for review.

Yours Truly,

LOUISE H. RENEE
City Attorney

BURK E. DELVENTHAL
Deputy City Attorney

cc:
John F. Pentice, Esq. (Counsel for Petitioner)
Larry R. Schockey, Esq. (Counsel for Petitioner)
David J. Duchrow, Esq. (Counsel for Petitioner)
Raimo H. Kaasik, Esq, (Counsel for Respondents)
Timothy R. Graves, Esq. (Counsel for Respondents)
Clerk of the Court of Appeal, Second Appelate District, Division Five
Clerk to the Honorable Daniel A. Curry, Los Angeles Superior Court, Department B, Santa Monika

Taylor Flynn, Esq. (American Civil Libertries Union of Southern California)
Shannon Minter, Esq. (National Center for Lesbian Rights)
Beatrice Dohrn, Esq. (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Funds)
Jon Davidson, Esq. (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Funds)