[9][1] Achtenberg's father was Jewish and immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union, while her mother was from Quebec.

[13] During a San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, Achtenberg and Mary Morgan hugged and kissed while riding a float with their son, which generated controversy during her entrance to her federal political career.

[7] Additionally, in 1978 Achtenberg represented LGBTQ rights while in the Anti-Sexism Committee for the National Lawyers Guild.

[17] The paper outlines how to properly represent LGBTQ+ juveniles, how to tackle First Amendment issues regarding LGBTQ+ people or speech, and more.

[2][6][12][21] Achtenberg unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the 1988 California State Assembly special election to replace Art Agnos, losing to John Burton.

[24][25][26] In her tenure on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, she worked on issues from individuals' rights to small businesses to making domestic violence shelters.

[1] While still serving on the Board of Supervisors in 1992, Achtenberg was appointed to the committee drafting the National Democratic Party's platform.

In her role as Assistant Secretary, Achtenberg successfully integrated a previously all-white town in Vidor, Texas.

[6][2] Achtenberg left the post in 1995 to run for mayor of San Francisco, and placed third behind Frank Jordan and Willie Brown (who would win in the runoff).

[6][2] She served as Senior Vice President for Public Policy at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce until January 2005.

[9] Achtenberg was in charge of the Housing and Urban Development Department's Agency Review Team that assisted the Obama administration during its transition to office in 2008.

[2] On January 26, 2011, President Barack Obama named Achtenberg as a Commissioner for the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

[4] Her confirmation hearing was held in front of the Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and started on April 29, 1993.