Blog – LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District

March 26, 2026

SOMA Origins Walking Tour on Saturday

Join tour guide Wylde Honey as he leads you on our SOMA walking tour! Tread in the steps our LGBTQ ancestors took up and down the ‘hood for freedom! Best part – it’s Free!

All tips go to the Golden Dildeaux Awards gda.sflcd.org

Leather bars began opening in SoMa (South of Market) in the 60’s. Find out why, and learn about the raucous exploits of the 70’s when motorcycles lined the streets outside popular bars.

Today SOMA is a world-wide destination for kinky, queer, and leather people. Hear about today’s bar and clubs and what they used to be – including one that used to have a swimming pool.

This in-person walking tour begins at 9th and Ringold at the Ringold Leather History Walk and lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours

March 17, 2026March 28, 2026

Eagle Beer Bust Supporting the GDAs

Join us Sunday, March 29, for the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District’s Golden Dildeaux Awards beer bust! From 3 to 7 pm, at the San Francisco Eagle, 398 12th Street.

This will be a great opportunity to meet some of the candidates and cast your votes before voting closes on April 8th.

$20 gets you bottomless beer/soda and a plate of Eric See’s famous pulled pork sandwiches and cole slaw (food only for $5).

We will also be hosting our Gear Swap n Shop in Eagle Plaza during the hours of the beer bust. We will also be accepting donations (If you need a detailed donation receipt, please prepare an itemized list ahead of time, including values for your items). AND there will be gift certificates to the Gear Swap n Shop included in the raffle prizes. You may win and buy your gear right away! For more info on Gear Swap n Shop, visit https://sfleatherdistrict.org/gear-swap-info/ .

Then…

Join us for the Golden Dildeaux Award Ceremony on Saturday, April 11th, from 5 to 7 pm, also at the SF Eagle!

Is there someone in one of your favorite categories that you want to see walk home with a golden “woody”? Now’s your chance!! Each vote is $1!!!

Categories include:
Fiercest Femme
The Top of Them ALL
Best in Rubber
Favorite Non-Binary
Best Pet Handler
Best Fetish Fashionista
Favorite Silver Fox
Golden Shower Lover
…and so many more!

Interested in volunteering to support the District? We’d love to have you join us! Volunteer Sign-Up: volunteersignup.org/MBF9E

All proceeds for this fundraiser benefit the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District! The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

March 17, 2026

Seventh Commemorative Plaque Installed

The District’s seventh commemorative plaque was installed on Wednesday, March 11, at 1147 Folsom Street.

This location was the site of Folsom Street Barracks and the Red Star Saloon in the early 70s. Most recently, it went by Bloodhound, which closed in 2024.

Unfortunately, the careers of the Barracks and the Red Star Saloon were cut short by a fire in October 1976. The lot was sold, and the new owners planned to build a new hotel. However, on July 10, 1981, a disgruntled employee returned and set the site on fire. The fire quickly spread to nearby lots, and 27 buildings were consumed, and 116 people were displaced (including 27 children). Fortunately, there were no deaths. Then fire chief Andrew Casper described it as “perhaps the greatest fire [in San Francisco] since 1906.” The memory of these SOMA icons are rekindled with this seventh plaque.

Many thanks to the SF Public Works for installing our plaques as part of the ongoing Folsom Streetscape Project.

March 17, 2026

Town Hall Held March 15

Our first Town Hall of 2026 took place Sunday, March 15, at the Folsom Street Community Center. We had a great turnout and got lots of great feedback which will influence our coming year and go to the City.

Executive Director Bob Goldfarb and District Manager Cal Callahan reviewed the accomplishments since our last Town Hall in June 2025. These included the installation of seven commemorative sidewalk plaques, LeatherWalk, the return of the Ringold Anniversary Block Party, the Kinky Holiday Market, the establishment of a SOMA entertainment zone, the introduction of the Kink & Draw program, and the expansion of our popular Gear Swap n Shop.

Bob led a conversation touching on subjects like the proposed ban on smoking on bar patios, prioritization of programs as the District faces budget cuts, and how people get their information on programs and events. The feedback helps guide our efforts in the coming year as well as influencing City policies.

Join us for the next one: Saturday, June 6, 1pm to 3pm, at the Folsom Community Center, 1286 Folsom Street.