Susan Kathleen Jester

Susan Jester is a 3rd generation Californian from Palm Springs. She moved to San Diego in the early 60’s to attend San Diego State University and began her professional and community activism in 1978. In 1983 Susan came out as an openly gay woman and quickly became a trailblazer and well-known activist for LGBTQ and HIV equality and advocacy. Susan was the first openly gay San Diego city commissioner appointed in 1984. She mobilized the LGBTQ community and numerous straight allies and officials founding the first AIDS Walk San Diego in 1985.  She later led the statewide California effort to defeat Prop 102, a discriminatory anti-AIDS/HIV initiative.  She moved to the east coast in 1991 where she continued her activism at the Human Rights Campaign, and in 1994 was Executive Director of Stonewall 25 NYC International March On The UN. Susan returned to San Diego in 2011 where she has continued to serve on various boards and commissions including SD Pride, The Sheriff’s LGBTQ Advisory Council, The City Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission, The AIDS Memorial Task Force, The California Advisory Committee to the US Civil Rights Commission.  Susan currently serves on the staff of San Diego’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral where she is a Licensed Lay Minister of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and advisor in the creation of LGBTQ and other intersectional social justice community partners.