Mayor Gavin Newsom began his second term in office Tuesday, January 8 with a stinging rebuke for those who complain about "San Francisco values" during his inaugural speech.

Standing on the staircase underneath City Hall’s Rotunda, Newsom recalled how nearly four years ago same-sex couples exchanged marriage vows on those very steps. With his ordering city officials to wed gay and lesbian couples, Newsom said, We saw how San Francisco can be a beacon for the world when we led the fight for marriage equality."

And when the city extended protections to transgender residents "it became better," said Newsom. To those who continue to attack him and the city for standing up for LGBT rights, the mayor had a response.

"They deride what they call ‘San Francisco values.’ But we know that those values inspire many more than they frighten," said Newsom, later adding, "when others were fearful, San Franciscans did not falter. … We will not stop making this city an inspiration and an example for others."

Bay Area Reporter society columnist Donna Sachet said she was struck most by the inclusiveness of the mayor’s speech.

"What other mayor in the United States would include the transgender and gay communities in the same speech, and so boldly, too?" asked Sachet.

It was a noticeable change from his first inaugural proceedings, when Newsom’s uncle, the actor Ed Asner, read a piece titled "San Francisco, City and the World." Written by state Librarian Kevin Starr at the prompting of the 2004 swearing-in committee, the narrative charted the history of immigration to San Francisco, but left out any mention of the city’s LGBT residents or the predominately gay Castro District.

With several LGBT people on this year’s inaugural ceremony planning committee, led by openly gay Matthew Goudeau, the mayor’s director of protocol, there was little chance for a recurrence of the slight.

During his speech, Newsom stressed, "We are showing the world that diversity is not something to fear but diversity is something to embrace."

In addition to his stand for marriage equality, the mayor laid out a host of new initiatives he hopes to add to his legacy. Some of the more ambitious proposals included a $500 "baby savings bond" for each child born in the city to be used toward their college education or buying their first home upon graduation from a local high school; making city government carbon neutral by 2020; building a new science and technology high school in the eastern section of town to rival Lowell High School; rebuilding all of the city’s public housing units; and revamping the city’s homeless shelters from places to sleep to centers where people can access a multitude of services.

"We are getting out of the shelter business," said Newsom. "Shelters only solve where people sleep. Housing solves homelessness."

Beyond the policy pronouncements, the start of Newsom’s next four years was a true family affair for the young mayor. Newsom’s father, retired Judge William Newsom, administered the oath of office, while his nieces, Talitha and Siena Callan, squirmed nearby. At his side was his new fianc�e, Jennifer Siebel – adorned in a yellow dress and sporting a diamond engagement ring – whom Newsom referred to as "the love of my life."

Those in attendance for the inaugural included U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California); state Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco); former Mayor Willie Brown; Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums; and District Attorney Kamala Harris, who was also sworn in to her second term Tuesday afternoon. [See story, page 3.]

Asked about the mayor’s agenda, Migden said, "It is broad. I guess inaugurals are loaded down with a requirement to mention everything. It is therefore a little hard to extract highlights."

Migden, faced with her own tough re-election campaign this year, added that, "We wish him well. Certainly, he is on the ground working."

Reaction to the mayor’s speech from LGBT community members in the audience was overwhelmingly positive. Morningstar Vancil, a member of the Pride Committee board and outreach chair for the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, said while the mayor’s plans sounded "great … I hope he will be able to fulfill it."

"I hope he reaches out to the gay community and does not forget it was the gay community that got him into office," said Vancil, who identifies as two-spirit and gender queer.

Pink magazine associate publisher Mark Rhoades said he was especially impressed with the focus on green initiatives in the mayor’s speech.

"I thought it was amazing and really inspiring for the city," said Rhoades. "I also like how he is such a family man. It reminds me of the Kennedys."

Others were more restrained toward Newsom’s policy proposals. Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who has been on the outs with the mayor over his pushing for the resignation of out lesbian Susan Leal as head of the city’s Public Utilities Commission, had little to say about the speech.

"It sounded fairly consistent with his State of the City speech. There were no real surprises," said Dufty. "We are going to work issue by issue to evaluate his proposals."

Supervisor Tom Ammiano joked, "It was a long speech," and echoed Dufty’s reaction to it.