Author: AdminSFLD

The city is moving slowly but surely towards a major upgrade to Folsom Street.  Read about it here.  You might also want to attend a Virtual Open House about the San Francisco Public Works / San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Folsom Streetscape Project, at 5pm on Thursday, January 28, 2021.   

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We sent out our January newsletter earlier this week.  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.  

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We host an Erotic Storytelling Hour every other Tuesday, including our next one on Tuesday, Febryary 2, 2021, from 8 to 9 p.m.  It’s fun, it’s naughty, it’s online  Click 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 meeting of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, February 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: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84789060820?pwd=MWJibExLMEN3VGgzUGgrTm41WURRUT09, 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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The next online meeting of the Arts and Culture Committee is set for Thursday, January 28, 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 and meeting notes from last month 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, February 3, 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 view the proposed agenda here, or 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, February 4, 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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The next online Land Use Committee Meeting is set for Tuesday, February 9, 2021, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Zoom into the meeting a href=”https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86510850238?pwd%3DaTdvMFhVdjdXSDRFblpJNzc2ZDRBdz09″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>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, February 11, 2020 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.  Please note the new time, to avoid conflict with the GLHS event.  Join via Zoom here    More info is here, or contact the committee chair,  Bob Brown!

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Were you bothered by the way the Stud’s mural was painted over?   This will interest you: https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/artists-sue-building-owner-whitewashing-stud-mural-15732095.php

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Attention artists: the Contemporary Jewish Museum has a new “Artist Studios at The CJM”, program, providing studio space, resources, and cash to a couple of artists in need.  Learn more here.  

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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 pemit 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!  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.  Your free membership is good for one 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, January 13, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofeagleplaza/ or http://www.eagleplaza.org/friendsofeagleplaza, or write to eagle.plaza.mailing.list@sflcd.org.  

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Oasis  — the Drag Destination Venue at 11th and Folsom in the heart of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District — just celebrated its sixth anniversary, still surviving even without on-site, in-person dining, drinking and dishing.  Now, they are thrilled to announce the launch of OASIS TV, a digital streaming platform created exclusively for Oasis premieres.  It kicks off at 7pm on Sunday January 17th. with a LIVE birthday drag show hosted by D’Arcy Drollinger.  Subscribers to OASIS TV will be able to stream all of Oasis’ fabulous archived content, including Sex and the City Live, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Live, Katya Smirnoff-Sky, Bitch Slap, and new weekly episodes of HOT TRASH!, plus exclusive content like Patty’s Playhouse, Talkin’ Snacks with Snaxx, Drag Queen Aerobics, “Girl Talk” with Mary Vice & Friends, Glamamore’s GOOD DRAG, new episodes of The Golden Girls Live, Three’s Company Live and more, for a monthly subscription of $19.99.  We hope you will subscribe, and help keep Oasis alive until we can all party together again.

Full info and subscribe here.

 

 

Community participation is essential to the success of the Cultural District.

All our meetings are free and open to all.

During the COVID-19 Shelter in Place, all Board and Committee meetings are being held online, via Zoom.

Please visit the Timely Reminders page for upcoming meeting dates, times, agendas, and logon links.  Our Calendar also lists our meetings and other important dates and events.

Absent shelter-in-place restrictions, all meeting locations are ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.  See more info at the bottom of this post.

Come participate, help out, and be a part of our historic Cultural District!

Board Meetings
Community Meetings
Membership Meetings
Minutes of Community Meetings
Committees
General Information

Board Meetings

Meetings of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors are open to all, and your attendance and participation is welcome.  Time is included on each agenda for public comment.  When necessary, Executive Sessions may be held during which non-Directors will be asked to leave.  

Board meetings are normally scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month.  Please refer to the Timely Reminders page or Calendar for details.

For future reference, note that The SF LGBT Center is fully ADA compliant. Please use public transportation to access the Center. Street parking is limited. The SF LGBT Center is accessible by MUNI J,K,L,M,N or F, as well as bus lines 6,7,61,71. Please be considerate of our neighbors and do not block driveways or park in blue, yellow or white zones.

Minutes of past Board meetings can be reviewed here.  Board minutes are posted once they are approved (typically at the following Board meeting).  Unless otherwise noticed, Board meetings are not recorded or live-streamed.

Community Meetings

Prior to the election of the Board of Directors, Community Meetings were held monthly; since the adoption in August 2019 of the Cultural District Bylaws and the election of a Board of Directors, there are now “Membership Meetings” held at least once each year, most recently on August 19, 2020, plus other community-wide events, including “Open House” and “Town Hall” events, as appropriate.

Our last Open House was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the SF LGBT Center in San Francisco. You can view the video of that event here!  Our latest

Our most recent Town Hall for the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District was held on August 25, 2020, and welcomed 97 participants.  Details are at https://sfleatherdistrict.org/town-hall/.

 

Membership Meetings

Although anyone is welcome to attend and speak at our monthly Directors meetings, only Voting Members get to vote to elect Directors at the Annual Membership Meeting in August, or to vote on critical matters presented at Special Membership Meetings.

Please click here for more information about our elections, and click here to become a Full Voting Member of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District.

Minutes and Videos of Past Community Meetings

The minutes of the August 21, 2019 meeting can be viewed here.  A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the July 19, 2019 meeting can be viewed here. A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the June 19, 2019 meeting can be viewed here. A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the meeting of May 15, 2019 can be viewed here.  A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the meeting of April 17, 2019 can be viewed here.  A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the meeting of March 20, 2019 can be found here. A live-stream of that meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the meeting of February 20, 2019 can be found here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.

The minutes of the meeting of January 16, 2019 can be found here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.

The minutes of the meeting of December 19, 2018 can be downloaded here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting in two parts, here and here.

The minutes of the meeting of November 14, 2018 can be downloaded here.  You can view a live stream of the last 90 minutes of) that meeting here.

The minutes of the meeting of October 17, 2018 can be downloaded here. You can view a live stream of (the first 45 minutes of) that meeting here.

The minutes of the meeting of September 19, 2018 can be downloaded here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.

The minutes of the meeting of August 15, 2018 can be found here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.  (Note:  The recording starts with about 8 minutes of dead air, and is cut off abruptly after roughly 2 hours.  Apologies for these glitches.)

The minutes of the meeting of July 18, 2018 can be found here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.

You can view the minutes of the meeting of June 20, 2018 here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.  The Board Structure that we approved at that meeting can be seen here.

The minutes of the meeting of May 16, 2018 can be found here.  You can view a live stream of that meeting here.

Minutes of the Community Meeting of April 18, 2018 can be found here.

Notes from the Community Meeting of March 14, 2018 can be seen here.  You can view the live-streamed video of that meeting here.

Notes from the Community Meeting of February 19, 2018, are available here.  You can view the live-streamed video of that meeting here

Notes from the Community Meeting of January 6, 2018, can be viewed here.  You can view the live-streamed video of that meeting here

Notes from the meeting of November 29, 2017, are available here.  Another set of notes are available here.

Notes from the meeting of November 20, 2017 can be viewed here.

Notes from the meeting of November 14, 2017 can be viewed here.

You may view video of the community meetings — live streaming or recorded — at our Facebook Group here.

Committees

At the Open House event on February 12, 2020, the Board presented its new list of Active Committees, and invited interested folks to sign up.  Full information on those new Committees can be found here.

To join any Committee, just attend any meeting and ask to join.  To receive emails announcing meetings, and other important information, please click here to join the mailing list. If you are already on our mailing list, you can click here to adjust which Committees you wish to be kept informed about.

General Information

All our meetings are free and open to all.  Unless otherwise noted, all meeting locations are ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.

For all General Community meetings, and most Committee meetings, ASL interpreters will be provided if requested at least ten days in advance.  Please send requests to the Committee Chair, or President@sflcd.org.

All Board, Membership and Committee Meetings, and other events of importance to the Cultural District, are posted on our Calendar. (Information on importing and using this calendar can be found here.)

We also invite you to like and follow the Cultural District’s Facebook Page, drop by our Web site from time to time, join our Group on Fetlife, follow @sfleatherdist on Twitter or Instagram, and contact us any time with questions, suggestions, or just to keep in touch.

Come participate, help out, and be a part of our historic Cultural District!

Community participation is essential to the success of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District.

We therefore strongly encourage all interested folks to join the Cultural District’s various committees.  All our meetings are free and open to all. 

During the current emergency, ALL Cultural District Committee meetings are being held online using Zoom. Interested community members are urged to obtain the Zoom app for their phone or computer, although dial-in phone participation is also an option.  

For log-on information about online meetings, please refer to the “Timely Reminders” post (normally near the top of this Web site), OR to the Cultural District Calendar, OR to our Event List, OR to our Facebook Events page.

Here are the currently active Committees that could really use your involvement:

Arts and Culture Committee
Communications Committee
Diversity and Membership Committee
Economic Vitality Committee
Finance Committee
Governance and Legislation Committee
Land Use Committee
Other Groups
General Information about Committee Meetings and Membership

Arts and Culture Committee

This new committee advocates for creative activity in the Cultural District, organizes events, performances, public art, gallery shows, and walking tours, and explores opportunities to attract and support leather and LGBTQ artists in the Cultural District.

The Arts and Culture Committee normally meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, (e.g. February 25, 2021) from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Check our Calendar for logon information.   Agendas are posted on this Web site, and sent to sign-up Committee members, in advance of each meeting.

Please contact the committee chair, David Hyman, for more info!

Communications Committee

This committee handles the Cultural District’s social media and digital presence, public relations, branding, event promotion, and outreach to clubs, organizations, and individuals.

Their Committee normally meets on the second Thursday of each month, (e.g. February 11, 2021) from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.  Please contact the committee chair, Bob Brown, for more info!

Diversity & Membership Committee

This committee recruits individual members and works with other committees to ensure diversity of membership, programs and participants.

The Diversity and Membership Committee normally meets on the first Thursday of each month (e.g. February 4, 2021) from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  An agenda will be available in advance of the meeting.  Please write to the committee chair for more info!

Economic Vitality Committee

This committee works to prevent displacement of existing leather and LGBTQ community groups and businesses as well as attracting new ones to the District. This also includes facilitating connections to existing city services and assistance to navigate those services.

No meetings are yet scheduled for this Committee.  If you are interested in serving, please write to info@SFLCD.org and asked to be kept informed.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee oversees budgeting and accounting for the Cultural District, and conducts audits when necessary.  Membership is currently restricted to Directors, but for more information, contact treasurer@sflcd.org.

Governance and Legislation Committee

The Governance and Legislation Committee advocates with city planners, departments and agencies for legislation and procedures benefiting the District’s constituents.  The committee also monitors bylaw compliance and maintains the District’s policy and procedures manual, proposing and drafting any changes.

No meetings are yet scheduled for this Committee.  Please contact the committee chair, Bob Brown, to sign up, or for more info!

Land Use Committee

This committee has been in existence for over a year now, tracking construction projects and developments in the District, and working with developers and city agencies to mitigate the effects of gentrification.

The Land Use Committee also works to preserve and develop culturally and historically significant buildings, businesses, organizations, traditions, arts, events, and aesthetics, to protect tenants from displacement, and to promote affordable housing in the District.

The next Land Use Committee normally meets on the second Tuesday of each month (e.g. February 9, 2021) from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

An agenda is distributed advance of each meeting.  An outline of the functions and structure of the Land Use Committee can be viewed here. Please contact the committee chair, Lexx King, for more info!

Other Groups

In addition to the above committees, our mailing list includes additional “groups” called Artists and Save SOMA Action Network.

Please check the “Artists” group if you wish to be kept informed about opportunities and programs of potential interest:  murals, commissions, grant possibilities, etc.

Please check the “Save SOMA Action Network” to be advised of opportunities for concrete action to protect our local businesses, amenities, and institutions.  If possible, make sure that your profile allows us to contact you by text or phone, so that we can reach you at short notice.

General Information 

All our meetings are free and open to all. Unless otherwise noted, all in-person meeting locations are ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.

For all Membership meetings, and most Committee meetings, ASL interpreters will be provided if requested at least ten days in advance. Please send requests to the Committee Chair, or President@sflcd.org.

For dates, time, and log-on information about online meetings, please refer to the “Timely Reminders” post (normally near the top of this Web site), OR to the Cultural District Calendar, OR to our Event List, OR to our Facebook Events page.

To receive emails announcing meetings, and other important information, please click here to join the mailing list. If you are already on our mailing list, you can click here to adjust which Committees you wish to be kept informed about.

Minutes of most meetings are distributed to Committee members, and are available to others upon request.

Please like and follow us using the links below, and contact us any time with questions, suggestions, or just to keep in touch.

Come participate, help out, and be a part of our historic Cultural District!