LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District

SAVE THE OASIS!
TELETHON: SATURDAY 3/6, 12PM – 12AM

For the past six years, the Oasis has been home to queer performers both locally and nationally, as well as a clubhouse for the community.  But almost a full year of shut-down has created a dire situation for them.  Innovative programming like “Meals on Heels” and Oasis TV have helped, as did PPP and SBA loans.  But the second shutdown has brought them to the brink of financial collapse.  Now, D’Arcy Drollinger, Owner and Artistic Director of Oasis, is asking for the community’s help, so Oasis can be there for everyone when the pandemic is over.  

A twelve-hour streaming “Telethon” will include live and pre-recorded performances, testimonials, interactive events, fabulous items up for auction, and a phone bank of drag queens to take your call. The event will air for FREE on the OASIS TV network and on givebutter.com/saveoasis. All funds raised go directly to business expenses for the club: rent, utilities, operations, as well as paying off debt accrued while being closed.

Hosted by D’Arcy Drollinger and her friends, the Telethon will stream live from noon to midnight on on Saturday, March 6, 2021, Expect a cavalcade of stars and San Francisco luminaries to help raise $100,000 to save SOMA’s iconic queer nightclub.

You can also donate to help save OASIS, right now through March 6th, right here!

Yes, the Woodies are back!

Nominations are now open for the Golden Gate Guards’ famous Golden Dildeaux Awards.

These humorous awards are intended to poke fun at various sexual activities while at the same time providing a unique charity fundraising opportunity.  The way it works is simple:

• • Between now and March 19, 2021, go to https://ggguards.org/gda/ and submit as many nominations as you like.  Nominating folks is free.
  • There are 25 Nomination categories, including “Best Looking Ass (the Golden Globes Award)”, “Best Impact Bottom (the Red Tail Award)”, “Best Novice Player (the Rookie Award)”, and lots more.
  • Submit multiple nominations if you like, to make sure your “friends” get enough votes to appear on the final ballot.
  • Voting runs from March 22nd to April 22nd. Each vote costs $1, with the proceeds going to the Emergency Financial Assistance fund of the Positive Resource Center (PRC).
  • You and/or your nominees should actively campaign for votes. Have fun and raise money for a good cause.  It’s a great opportunity to reward, acknowledge, and/or embarrass your friends.
  • Then, on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 7 PM Pacific Time, attend the 49th Golden Dildeaux Awards, online live on Zoom, with Masters of Ceremonies Star D. Love (Ms. San Francisco Leather 2016) and Cody Elkin (Mr. San Francisco Leather 2016).
  • So join the fun by making sure that your friends get nominated—and win!  Let’s see who gets a Woody!

Hurry:

Nominations close in

Submit your nominations today!

We sent out our February newsletter recently.  Did you get it?
If not, view it here, then sign up to get it monthly here.

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Do you own or manage a building or business in our Cultural District?  Does it have some history relevant to our queer and kinky communities?  Do you want to learn more about it?  Look here.  

And while we have your attention, building owner/manager:  Would you like a mural on your building?  We would like to make it happen for you!   Decorate The Streets

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Have you seen Justin Hall’s  “Marching Toward Pride” poster series?  They were installed in the bus stops along Market Street as part of the 50th Anniversary of the San Francisco Pride celebrations, and they illustrate six moments of SF LGBTQ history, each one colored to represent one of the six colors of Gilbert Baker’s original rainbow flag. You can view them all at Justin Hall Awesome Comics, and read the 49 Hills article about them (including an interview with Justin) here.  

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The city is moving slowly but surely towards a major upgrade to Folsom Street.  Read about it here.    

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The next online Land Use Committee Meeting is set for Tuesday, March 9, 2021, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Zoom into the meeting here. More info is here, or contact the committee co-chairs.

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The next online meeting of the Communications Committee is set for Thursday, March  11, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.  Join via Zoom here    More info is here, or contact the committee chair,  Bob Brown!

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The next meeting of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. As always, all are welcome to attend, and time is reserved for public comment.  ASL interpretation provided if requested ten days in advance. To participate, join Zoom Meeting  here, or call 1-408-638-0968 and use Meeting ID: 847 8906 0820 and Passcode: 972086.  Please note the meeting time, and contact manager@sflcd.org if you have questions.   The proposed agenda will be posted soon.  Minutes of past Board meetings can be reviewed here.

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We host an Erotic Storytelling Hour every other Tuesday, and our next one is on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, from 8 to 9 p.m.  It’s fun, it’s naughty, it’s online  Click here or here for more details and Zoom link, and click here to see videos of some of our past evenings!  (Be 18+!)   

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The next online meeting of the Arts and Culture Committee is set for Thursday, March 25, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Info at Facebook post. Join with Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89554242702 or call 1 408 638 0968 and use Meeting ID: 895 5424 2702.  The proposed agenda will be posted soon.  Please contact the committee chair, David Hyman, to get on the mailing list for  this Committee, or for more info!

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The Arts and Culture Committee has created a Walking Tour Subcommittee, whose next meeting is set for Wednesday, April 7, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Join via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88470691792 or call 1-408-638-0968 US and enter Meeting ID: 884 7069 1792. You can read all about the project here.  All are welcome to participate.  Please contact the committee chair, David Hyman, to be brought up to date, and get on the mailing list for this Subcommittee!

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The next online meeting of our Diversity and Membership Committee is set for Thursday, April 1, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Join via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87865884248 , or call 1 408 638 0968 and use Meeting ID: 878 6588 4248.  RSVP is not required.  More info is here, or contact the committee chair, Gene Edmond! We hope you can join us!

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Another queer and kinky street fair is coming to town next fall.! The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgance and the Bears of San Francisco have submitted a permit application for a Bearrison Street Fair on Saturday afternoon, October 30, 2021, at and around the corner of 11th and Harrison Streets.  They invite your participation on one of their planning teams.  Join a team at https://forms.gle/dh8ornvA14heyoki9.

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If you just learned about San Francisco’s LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District…. Welcome!

Please explore below for information about the Cultural District.  If you are not already receiving email from us, please click here to be kept informed about our meetings and activities.

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Threats to our South of Market businesses and institutions can arise quickly, and may require a quick community response.  Sign up here to join our SOMA Action network.

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Want to keep up with all our upcoming Board and Committee meetings.  They are all on our Calendar, or check out our our new (beta) Events page!

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This is a great time to become a full Voting Member of the Cultural District!  If you are already a member, this might be a good time to renew your membership.   Click here to get started!  And, during the current COVID-19 crisis, anyone whose income or living situation has been impacted by it is eligible to receive the low-income dues waiver, regardless of other circumstances.  All memberships last one full year.

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We are actively seeking community input on ways to preserve and improve our special South of Market neighborhood.  We invite you to submit your own ideas, suggestions, and thoughts on a number of important topics: 

Give us your Input!

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Do you have opinions?  Sure you do, but we mean specifically do you have opinions about SOMA and kink and the future of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?    Please share your opinions using our Community Input form! 

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To see a video about our CHHESS report by Julia Sabory, from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), please click here.  

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The city of San Francisco needs volunteers to help deliver meals, deliver medications, connect with elderly residents, and all sorts of help for our community. Info is at https://sf.gov/be-emergency-volunteer

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Remember:  You can text “COVID19SF” to 888-777 to receive official updates on how San Franciscans can best cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

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If you have not yet seen it, please read our Statement of Solidarity, and consider what you personally can do to fight racism, injustice, and abuse of police power.

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SF Catalyst is expanding to better serve leather, queer, and kink organizations and individuals!  But it will need your help. Find more details and donate to ensure SF Catalyst remains a thriving community space here.

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A Governance and Legislation Committee meeting will be scheduled shortly. Please contact the committee chair, Bob Brown, to sign up, or for more info!

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The next meeting of the Board of the Friends of Eagle Plaza is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

To be added to the “Friends of Eagle Plaza” mailing list, click here.  To make a donation to the Friends of Eagle Plaza, click here,  To stay up to date, like and follow them on Facebook.  To learn more about the Plaza’s design, construction and stewardship, click here or write to info@eagleplaza.org. 

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Great work, everyone!

Thanks in large part to the outpouring of community support, the Land Use Committee unanimously recommended the SF Eagle’s landmark designation to the full Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors in turn have also voted unanimously in favor. Now the application goes to the Historic Preservation Committee.

Submit your photos and stories of the SF Eagle! They will be sent to the Historic Preservation Commission to help achieve landmark status for the bar. We are working with the Planning Department to support the effort. We are particularly looking for these stories or photos, especially from the 80s and 90s:

• • • Notable events/parties/meetings/gatherings which occurred on the premises and may have helped shape/define SOMA’s Leather/LGBTQ community.
    • Significant people associated with the venue (performers, patrons, etc.).
    • Photos (interior/exterior, historic/current).

If you have any contributions toward the effort, you can go to our Facebook event and click the “Discussion” tab to post them there, or email them to manager@sflcd.org.

Thank you for your help!

Please consider joining our Save SOMA Action Network now, to be kept informed when we need you again.

Click here for links to media coverage.

The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District’s leadership is deeply pained by the racist violence which continues in this country.

We stand in solidarity with Black and Brown people and their allies worldwide who are peacefully expressing their outrage at racism, injustice, and abuse of police power.

We stand in solidarity with the protesters engaged in powerful actions to demand justice, accountability, and systemic change.

Only by standing together will it be possible to put an end to the senseless brutality we have witnessed for too long.

The Leather and LGBTQ communities have a long history of collective strength in times of crisis and now we invoke that strength to call for freedom and fairness for all oppressed communities.

We call on the entire community to work together to dismantle ingrained systems of inequality wherever they are found.  It will be a long journey to the end of institutionalized racism, but our community will act with strength, purpose, and solidarity until we see that day.

Black Lives Matter.

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Community members have encouraged contributions to some of the organizations listed below.  Although the Cultural District has not reviewed these suggestions, and cannot specifically endorse them, we do urge our community to support the hard work of achieving safety, freedom and fairness for all oppressed communities.

• • National Bail Fund Network
  • Bay Area Anti- Repression Committee Bail Fund
  • People’s Breakfast Oakland
  • San Francisco’s Transgender District Fund
  • Anti Police-Terror Project
  • The Bail Project™ National Revolving Bail Fund 
  • Protest & COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Community Bail & Bond Funds 
  • Minnesota Freedom Fund 
  • Reclaim The Block
  • Black Visions Collective
  • Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project
  • Center for Black Equity

Other Lists of Resources:

• • SF Queer Nightlife Fund
  • Northstar Health Collective
  • Website Planet: List of Black-Owned Businesses

Plan are under way for a new Street Fair in the District:  the Bearrison Street Fair, to be held on Harrison Street at 11th Street on Saturday, October 30, 2021.

You can read all about it on their web site, or on their Facebook page.

You could just sit back and wait for it to happen, or you could help make it happen.  Sign up here to join a “Bearrison Team”.

Folsom Street Events — the producers of the Up Your Alley and Folsom Street Fair — have announced the opening of their new facility: the Folsom Street Community Center for Alternative Sexualities, at 145 Ninth Street.  

Check out this article from 48Hills.org, which includes quotes from FSE Interim Director Angel Adeyoha, and a video preview of the new space.    Additional info is in the BAR article here.

Watch for more details soon, and a gala opening in July (conditions permitting).

 

Hi.  Thanks for your interest in the “LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District”, created by the City of San Francisco to honor, support, and protect the unique and special culture that has flourished in the South of Market area.

We encourage anyone with an interest in the leather or kink community to learn about this project, and participate however they can.

There are lots of ways to get informed and involved:

• Read this brief introduction.
• View our brochure.
• Visit our “About us” page.
• Become a Member of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District – or at least get on our mailing list – to be notified of meetings and other events, join a committee, or volunteer your skills.
• Attend one of our semi-annual  Membership Meetings.
• Attend (as a guest) one of our monthly Board Meetings.
• Consider joining one of our important Committees, including the Arts and Culture Committee, the Communications Committee, The Governance Committee, the Land Use Committee, or the Diversity and Membership Committee.   
• Share your opinions about our community’s needs, and our organization’s priorities, either using one of our open surveys, or by participating in a Focus Group or personal interview. 
• Read the Resolution as approved by the Board of Supervisors, and signed by the Mayor on May 9, 2018, here.
• Read the Vision and Mission Statements for the Cultural District here.
• Read our full organizational Bylaws, here.
• See a list of our current Board of Directors, here.
• View a map of the Cultural District here.
• Check out our calendar of Cultural District meetings and events, here.
• Like and follow the SF LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District on Facebook.  
• Join our Group on Fetlife.
• Follow @sfleatherdist on Twitter or Instagram.  
• Write to our group’s elected President, Robert Goldfarb, using the email address president@SFLCD.org or more generally to info@SFLCD.org.  

Let’s see what we can do to make this happen, and make it happen right!

As reported on SFGATE and NBC Bay Area, Supervisor Matt Haney has proposed creating a recovery fund to save ‘the heart and soul of S.F.’ —  its nightlife.

According to Haney, the San Francisco Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund is desperately needed as many of the businesses are facing permanent closure as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

“What this pandemic has done to our economy and our way of life has been nothing short of a nightmare, and for our city’s venues, there has been no reprieve. They were the first to close and will likely be the among the last to reopen,” Haney said in statement.

 

The GLBT Historical Society has announced a new program series for 2021:  the “Queer Culture Club,” a monthly series on the second Thursday of each month that focuses on LGBTQ people who are defining the queer culture of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

These programs feature GLBT Historical Society executive director Terry Beswick as he interviews queer culture-makers, including authors, playwrights, historians, activists, artists and archivists, to learn about their work, process, inspirations, hopes and dreams.

In this first installment, legendary San Francisco gay “radical sex” photographer Mark I. Chester will discuss his forthcoming new book of contemporary photography, “Street Sex Photos”(2021).

The event will take place online, on Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 7:00 to 7:30 pm. It is free, with a suggested donation of $5.00. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and instructions on how to join the Zoom webinar as an attendee. The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook and then archived on YouTube.

For full information on the event, visit the event page on  Facebook or on the GLBT Historical Society website.

Registration and tickets are here.

We are pleased to let you know about an upcoming Next Generation Manufacturing training session which begins on January 18th, 2021.

This is a free 12-week program where participants get hard skills related to 3D printing or CNC, and get soft skills training and assistance with resumes, cover letters, and other job readiness. Additionally, participants get full access to the shop so there are plenty of other skills and machines to learn such as the laser cutter, vinyl cutter, wood shop, metal shop, 3D printers, industrial sewing and much more.

Priority will go to applicants who are low income, women and people of color, but our only eligibility requirements are that applicants be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and fluent in English. The language requirement is flexible and is included because class instruction and the materials are only available in English.

More info is in the video below, and at https://www.humanmade.org/workforce-development.

If you or someone you know might be interested, fill out this interest form or reach out directly to Brenda Orellana, Humanmade Client Support and Outreach Coordinator, 510-227-4451, at brenda@humanmade.org.

 

Members of LGBTQ+ communities in the Bay Area have formed a Friends of the Lyon-Martin House group to preserve the longtime home of pioneering lesbian activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon on Duncan Street in San Francisco, which recently sold for $2.25M. Lyon and Martin purchased the property in 1955 and lived there together until Del Martin’s death; Phyllis Lyon lived on in the house until her passing earlier this year.

A “Friends of the Lyon-Martin House” team has been created, including Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the GLBT Historical Society, and San Francisco Heritage, to ensure that this property is designated a San Francisco Landmark and preserved as one of San Francisco’s most iconic cultural sites.

Check out the new website for the Friends of the Lyon-Martin House: https://www.friends-of-the-lyon-martin-house.com/.

While on the site, you can sign a letter to the Board of Supervisors and Historic Preservation Commission, which will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors in advance of their 10/19 hearing.

Please share the website and letter — created by Grete Miller — with your communities.  Thank you.

Thanks for attending our Town Hall!

If you missed it, OR if you did not get a chance to give input on all the topics you care about, please use our
Community Input form !

This meeting was a key step in the creation of our District’s Cultural History, Housing and Economic Sustainability Strategies (CHHESS) report, which will guide our organization’s efforts — and help shape San Francisco city policy and priorities — for the next 3 to 5 years.

The Town Hall included this presentation about our CHHESS report by Julia Sabory, from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD):

 

The meeting also included breakouts session, with focus groups on the following topics:

Historic Preservation
Preserve and develop cultural and historic buildings, businesses, organizations, traditions, arts, events, & district aesthetics.

Tenant Protections
Protect tenants from displacement and promote affordable housing & homeownership.

Arts & Culture
Attract and support artists and cultural enterprises.

Economic & Workforce Development
Promote jobs, tourism and economic opportunities that stabilize the district’s economy.

Land Use
Create City regulations, tools and programs that support businesses & industries that advance the cultural district.

Cultural Competency
Promote culturally and appropriate City Services, policies, and narratives.

 

At our Diversity / Membership Committee meeeting on 4/2/2020, it was agreed that, during the current COVID-19 crisis, anyone whose income or living situation has been impacted by it is eligible to receive the low-income dues waiver, regardless of other circumstances.  Your free membership is good through December, 2020.

That makes this an excellent time for you to head to our Membership Signup Page.  Members get to vote on Directors at the annual elections in August, and vote on critical matters presented at Special Membership Meetings.  Of course, anyone is welcome to attend and speak at our monthly Directors meetings and Committee meetings.  (Meeting dates and time, and online meeting log-in information can be found on our Calendar.)

If you can afford to pay the full annual membership dues of $15 per year, we hope you will do so, to help cover our administrative costs and to show your support for the Cultural District’s work.  But the important thing is for you to be a member, to add your voice to ours when we discuss community needs and priorities with project developers and city leaders.  

So join today.  And if you do happen to be stuck at home with nothing to do, feel free to explore this Web site — there’s lots of interesting stuff here!

For over three years, SF Catalyst has provided a social and educational space to the SF bay area kink community. Now, SF Catalyst has taken a leap of faith and signed a lease, expanding Catalyst into the rest of the property located behind the existing play space.

This will allow easy wheelchair access to the main space, expand maximum capacity, create additional event space, and provide a secure outdoor area. Once permitted to reopen, SF Catalyst will be able to provide the community with options to hold two or more events simultaneously and to provide meeting space for more smaller groups than it can currently accommodate. They will also be able to host cigar socials and other outdoor community activities.

As an entirely volunteer-run venue, operating as part of the non-profit SF Bay Area Leather Alliance, Catalyst will need the community’s support to make it happen, and ijdeed to survive through the difficult times we are now in.

You can help make sure that SF Catalyst is there for us then, by making a monthly donation now, through their Patreon campaign.  For full info and to make your donations, please visit www.patreon.com/sfcatalyst.

For more info about SF Catalyst, visit www.sfcatalyst.org.