As we celebrate Pride Month, it's essential to honor and uplift the voices, cultures, and histories of our LGBTQIA+ community. At the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports LGBTQIA+ rights and acknowledges the contributions of our diverse staff. This month, we are proud to spotlight Tim Paez, who works in the SFPUC's Wastewater Enterprise.
Tim Paez knows how lucky he is to live in San Francisco, a city celebrated for its progressive ideals. As a kid growing up in New York City and New Jersey, he had learned about the Stonewall uprising, which helped launched the gay rights movement in the 1970s. The chance to live in San Francisco – the city that is home to the Castro District and elected Harvey Milk as the first openly gay man to public office in California – was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. It was one reason why he applied several times to work at the SFPUC, before finally getting hired.
Tim moved out west in October 2008 expecting a warm welcome from his new home. Proposition 8, however, quickly challenged his assumptions about California's inclusivity. Voters approved the ballot measure that fall, making same-sex marriage illegal in the state. Tim remembers the weeks leading up to the election as highly tense. “I was surprised to learn that the amendment was so controversial and had gained traction,” he said. “People around me in the workplace were vocal about their opposition to same-sex marriage and families.”
Moving Towards Change and Equality
A lot has changed in the 18 years since then. Tim started at the SFPUC as a water quality technician and has moved up the ranks to become a green infrastructure inspector. As part of the Urban Watershed Planning Division, he now ensures that buildings follow San Francisco’s Stormwater Management Ordinance, which requires all large construction projects to manage stormwater on-site using green infrastructure. This involves a multi-year inspection and enforcement process, and Tim is often out in the field visiting sites, investigating issues with the City’s green infrastructure assets, or collecting stormwater samples.
The climate around gay rights has also improved, with the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriages nationwide in 2015. At the SFPUC, Tim has noticed that workplace conversations have become more open and accepting. The Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) team, for example, holds Pride events and invites guest speakers who deepen employees’ understanding and support the exchange of diverse ideas. In the past, Tim volunteered to staff the SFPUC’s hydration stations at San Francisco’s Pride Festival.
“I appreciate that how we talk about diversity, inclusion, and belonging is changing for the better,” said Tim. “As a queer person working in utilities, I believe visibility is important. I’m proud to work at the SFPUC, which openly supports employees and finds ways for us to connect.”
The SFPUC’s LGBTQIA+ Employee Affinity Group started in 2022 and serves as a community-building, education, and advocacy space. Tim recently started participating and enjoys the opportunity to bring his full self to work.
What Pride Means Today
For Tim, Pride Month is a community gathering – and an important reminder that progress is possible. Several weeks ago, he attended the relatively new Eastern Sierra Pride Festival in Mammoth that a friend helped organize. It was a smaller celebration, but one he has been happy to support since their first event in 2022.
“The first Pride was a riot in response to police brutality. Today, Pride is still about showing up to embrace and empower each other. It’s a month of creating space and ensuring our voices are heard," said Tim. "And it’s a time to look forward and to continue building towards a future where everyone can bring their authentic selves to make their best contributions without prejudice."