Author: David Hyman

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!

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).

San Francisco Public Works (SFPW) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) held a Virtual Open House for the Folsom Streetscape Project on January 28, 2021.  The purpose of this open house was to show the final public realm design for the corridor which includes landscaping, lighting, and cultural features. When completed, the Folsom Streetscape Project will make the South of Market Neighborhood a safer and more inviting place to walk, bike, shop, and take transit.  The Folsom Streetscape Project is scheduled to start construction in 2022. 

Their presentation slides are here.  You will be able to view the recording of their presentation, and learn more about the project, here.

In compliance with a request from the Mayor’s Office, the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District is actively involved in sharing up-to-date information about how the State of California, the City of San Francisco,  local public and private institutions, and our own leather and kink community are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

• • • • Local Kink Community Response
      • Local Kink Community Fundraising
      • General COVID-19 Information
      • Governmental Orders
      • Resources for Business
      • Resources for Workers
      • Info re Utilities
      • Resources for Nonprofits
      • Resources for Families
      • Grants for Artists
      • Resources for Adults
      • Resources for Seniors and People with Disabilities
      • Volunteer Resources
      • LGBTQ Resources
      • Resources for the Sexually Active
      • Resources for Tenants
      • Miscellaneous Info
      • Videos and Articles

Local Kink Community Response

First, here are two documents regarding the Bay Area leather and kink community’s response to COVID-19.

• The San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ Leather, Kink and Sexuality Communities Resources Guide is a good basic guide to Relief Efforts, Online Events and relevant Information.
• San Francisco Bay Area Kink Community COVID-19 Response is a deeper dive, and also a record of community leaders’ online discussions, as well as a larger list of resources.

Local Kink Community Fund-Raising

These are some of the many local folks raising money for those affected by COVID-19:

• SF Queer Nightlife Fund –  A collective of nightlife organizers, producers, entertainers, venue owners, and nonprofit community leaders providing direct gifts of aid to workers from LGBTQ nightlife groups in the SF Bay Area.
• SF Catalyst – This community space needs our support, and our community will need this space even more after the COVID-19 crisis ends.
• SF Citadel – Currently offering online classes and safety information on their Web site.  Watch for info on how to support the venue directly.
• The Edge – All donations will go directly to the staff of the bar and assure they can afford the forced seven weeks of unemployment.
• SF Oasis – Donate (and receive a perk!) to keep OASIS afloat amidst COVID-19 closures.
• SF Eagle Staff Fund – Fund to help the employees at the SF Eagle.
• The Stud – “The Stud Collective wants to prioritize support for our staff — our bartenders, coat check, security team and amazing janitor — all donations will go directly to them.”
• Raven’s List “Fundraising for Community” – A list of GoFundMe and Patreon type efforts which support fetish/kink businesses local to San Francisco.
• Daddy’s Barbershop Barber Fund
• Bay Area Reporter – Fundraising to preserve this vital journalistic resource for our community.

General COVID-19 Information

• SF.gov:  Stay Home. Save Lives.
• SF Mayor:  Plan for Further Reopening Businesses and Activities (9/1/20)
• San Francisco Department of Public Health: Coronavirus Facts Here
• California Department of Public Health: Coronavirus Health Directives (Updated 9/1/20)
• California Department of Public Health: COVID-19 Updates
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19
• SF Center for Disease Control and Prevention:  Novel Coronavirus 2019
• SF Board of Supervisors:  Messages on COVID-19 (Includes Multilingual Fact Sheets)
• SF.gov: Coronavirus Safety for Essential Businesses
• SF OEWD: Resources for Businesses and Employees Impacted by COVID-19
• San Francisco Department of Public Health: COVID-19 Sexual Health Tips
• San Francisco’s COVID-19 webpage
• SF.gov: San Francisco COVID-19 Data Dashboard
• Give2SF:  Donate to San Francisco’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund
• California’s COVID-19 webpage
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Resource Toolkit
• Also:  you can text “COVID19SF” to 888-777 to receive official updates.

Governmental Orders

• Governor Newsom’s Stay at Home Order (3/19/2020)
• Mayor’s Declaration of Local Emergency and Supplementals regarding COVID-19
• San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Orders
• San Francisco Department of Public Health:  Coronavirus Health Directives
• San Francisco Department of Public Health:  Retail Tips and FAQs
• SF.gov: Moratoriums on Residential Evictions

Resources for Small Businesses and Employers

• California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
• California Small Business Development Center: Covid-19 Relief Grant
• California and the federal government assistance to small businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19
• SF Resiliency Fund for Small Businesses
• SF Shines Storefront Improvement Program
• US Small Business Association Disaster Assistance Loans
• Deferral of SF Business Taxes and Fees
• SF Paid Sick Leave
• Unemployment Claims
• SF.gov:  Reopening Guidance for Indoor Retail
• OEWD/Main Street Launch: Emerging Loan Fund – Loans to small and emerging businesses
• OEWD: Financial Resources for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
• SF.gov: Info about Construction Projects
• CA Employment Development Department: COVID-19 Updates
• US Internal Revenue Service : Coronavirus Tax Relief
• SF Heath Care Security Ordinance/Fair Chance Ordinance– Cancellation of 2019 reporting requirements
• SF.gov:  Business Eviction Moratorium
• Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights: Legal Assistance for Entrepreneurs
• Facebook Small Business Grants

Resources for Workers

• OEWD: Paid Sick Leave- Workers and Families First Program – Funding to provide an additional five days of paid sick leave to workers beyond their existing policies. Employers apply here.
• SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development: Rapid Response Services for impacted employees 
• CA Employment Development Department: COVID-19 FAQs about health care, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.
• CA Employment Development Department: Partial Claims – For employers that want to keep employees when there is a lack of work.
• CA Employment Development Department:  Work Share Program Unemployment insurance for employers to help minimize the need for layoffs when there is lack of work.
• SF OEWD: Job Opportunities — A number of companies are hiring for full and part-time work.
• One Fair Wage Emergency Fund – Cash assistance to restaurant workers, drivers, personal service workers, etc.

Resources for Utilities  

• SF Mayor:  Suspension of Water Shut-offs/Waiving Late Fees 
• SF PUC:  Response to COVID-19
• PG&E: Suspension of Gas and Electric Shut-offs/Flexible Payment Plans 
• Recology: Request suspension of your commercial waste and recycling service  

Resources for Nonprofits

• SF Controller: Guidance on Continuity of Payment to City Nonprofit Partners 
• California’s Employers Association: Webinars on Adapting and Responding to Coronavirus 

Resources for Families & Students

• Free Child Care
• SF Dept. of Children, Youth and their Families: Emergency Child Care
• SF Unified School District: Free Meals for Children 
• SF Unified School District: Student and Family Learning Resources 
• San Francisco Department of Public Health:  Preliminary Guidance for TK12 Schools
• SF.gov:  Preliminary Guidance for  Reopening Schools

Grants for Artists

• SF Mayor’s Office:  Arts Relief Fund – $2.5M available in grants & loans for artists & art organizations
• San Francisco Arts and Artists Relief Fund – Grands and loans to artists and arts & cultural organizations
• UNTITLED, ART Emergency Fund – Financial assistance for freelance, hourly, and wage working artists
• Performing Arts Worker Relief Fund – For performing arts workers facing loss of income due to the crisis
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts – Links to COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Nonprofits
• SF Arts Commission– Other Resources for Arts Organizations & Artists During  COVID-19 Emergency
• Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative – Grants

Resources for Adults

• Give2SF Fund for Housing Stabilization: financial assistance to households who cannot afford their housing costs due to COVID-19.
• Homelessness and Supportive Housing
• Support for People Who Use Drugs
• Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners is offering food to whoever needs it because they are out of work.  Please call Michael J Gagne at (415) 584-3252 (no texting) or email him at TenderloinTessie@yahoo.com.  

Resources for Seniors and People with Disabilities

• SF Department of Disability and Aging Services Benefits and Resources Hub
• SF.gov: Advice for Healthy Older Adults
• TogetherSF:  Neighbors helping neighbors
• SF.gov: Help for Seniors and People with Disabilities
• Coronavirus and Disability Rights in California
• Bedroom Accessibility Modifications: Change Amid COVID
• National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys:  Covid 19 Resources for the Elderly and Families

Volunteer Services

• SF.GOV:  Be an emergency volunteer:  Healthy adults are needed in several important programs
• SF Food Friends: Matching volunteers with folks who need help buying groceries and other items
• TurnOut:  Multiple volunteer opportunities, including their own COVID-19 Rapid Response Team 
• TogetherSF:  Neighbors helping neighbors
• Lavender Seniors: Making Face Masks at Home
• SF Chronicle:  Ways to Help

Services for LGBTQ Folks

• SF.gov:  LGBTQ Community Services During Coronavirus  Outbreak
• SF Bay Area LGBTQ COVID-19 Relief
• Meal Assistance for Bay Area Queer Community
• Legal Help for LGBTQ People During COVID-19 Crisis
• LGBT National Help Center
• Trans Lifeline

Resources for the Sexually Active

• SF City Clinic:  COVID-19 FAQ
• SF City Clinic: Sex in the Time of COVID-19 Infographic
• San Francisco Department of Public Health:  COVID-19 Sexual Health Tips (09/05/20
• Harvard.edu:   Intimacy, Sex, and COVID-19
• The Advocate: 15 Tips for Safer Sex During COVID-19
• British Columbia CDC:  COVID-19 and Sex
• New York City:  Safer Sex and COVID-19
• Public Health Agency of Canada (9/2/20)
• Huffington Post:  Single People Talk about Pandemic Sex
• The Body:  We Need a Plan to Have Casual Sex Again
• Slate:  The Glory Hole Reopens
• Bay Area Reporter: Six questions to ask before having sex again

Resources for Tenants

• SF.gov: Guidance for Tenants and Landlords Re Residential Evictions
• SF Tenants Union:  Temporary Eviction Moratorium Fact Sheet and Sample Letter

Miscellaneous Info

• Map of Pit Stops and Handwashing Stations
• Info on Narcan (for Overdose Reversal)
• SFMTA: COVID-19 Response:  MUNI, Parking Enforcement, Garages, etc.  
• SFDPH: Minimum Cleaning Standards for SRO Hotels
• SFDPH / Center for Biocide Chemistries:  COVID-19 Fighting Products
• Governor Newsom:  Brown Act Modifications (#11)
• SF Public Library Responses

Informational Videos and Articles

• “Understanding Viruses” 2017 BBC Documentary
• John Hopkins Covid-19 Briefing
• Handwashing Video with Gordon Ramsey
• Informative Video on Viruses
• Hoodline Article on Ways to Help our SoMa Nightlife Friends and Family