These are the folks who have nominated themselves for the open seats on the Board of Directors, and for the office of President:
Below are the Candidates’ written statements.
Visit Board Elections, 2026 for full nomination and election details.
Nominees for Board of Directors
Name: MamaBear
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
About 5 years
Why do you want to be a board member?
I believe that the board can benefit from my fundraising experience, as well as my community contacts and outreach. I also believe that I can benefit from serving on a board that has opportunities for growth, and that appreciates the service of its board members.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
I have been involved in the leather community for more than 30 years. I love my community and want to engage them in critical thinking about how we as a community can help to move the needle on policies and decisions that impact us. I also want to start to think about not just our history, but our stories NOW. Who are we, and where are we going? I have raised millions of dollars for the LGBTQ communities through various effort and events and I look forward to bringing those skills to the Leather and LGBTQI Cultural District.
Date Submitted: 7/14/2026
Name: Tina Beachy
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
I am currently an associate board member. I work at all of the district events educating the public about the Leather District and promoting district membership. I always have District event bar cards in my pockets.
Why do you want to be a board member?
The Leather LGBTQIA+ community is my home and I enjoy building the communities that I love
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
I have been participating in the SF Leather Community for almost 20 years. I have worked with several organizations that provide Leather and BD/SM education and visibility including LDG , BLUF SF and Foundations and the Citadel.
Date Submitted: 7/20/2026
Name: Darius (Daddius ONYX) Taylor
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
My involvement with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District has grown through both volunteer service and community leadership. I have served on the District’s Safety Committee, where I’ve contributed to conversations and initiatives focused on harm reduction, community care, and creating safer, more welcoming spaces for everyone in our diverse leather community.
Outside of the District, I’m an active member of Onyx Northwest and currently serve as its Road Captain, where I help strengthen community engagement and foster connections among members. As a queer Black leather man and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, much of my work centers on building community, promoting mental wellness, and ensuring that historically marginalized voices are represented and valued. I see the Cultural District as a powerful steward.
Why do you want to be a board member?
I want to serve on the Board because I believe the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District plays a vital role in preserving our history, supporting our present-day community, and ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come. I hope to bring a collaborative leadership style, thoughtful decision-making, and a strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
Professionally, I lead clinical programs and operations in higher education, giving me experience with organizational leadership, strategic planning, and community partnerships. I believe those skills can help strengthen the District’s work while supporting its mission to celebrate, protect, and grow our leather community. I’m especially passionate about expanding opportunities for engagement, fostering leadership development, and ensuring our spaces remain welcoming to people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
I believe strong communities are built through service, authenticity, and a willingness to listen. Whether in my career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and clinical leader, through my leadership in Onyx Northwest, or as a volunteer with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, I’ve consistently sought to build spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected.
As a queer Black leather man, I understand the importance of representation and preserving the rich diversity that makes our community so vibrant. I value our traditions while embracing thoughtful growth and innovation that keeps our community accessible and relevant.
If elected, I’ll approach every decision with integrity, curiosity, and a commitment to collaboration. My goal is to help ensure that the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District continues to be a thriving home for education, celebration, advocacy, and belonging for everyone who calls this community their own.
Date Submitted: 8/3/2026
Name: Rio Spooner
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
I have been a leader in the local leather community for almost 20 years, in the Exiles, Bay Area Sober in Leather (BASIL), and the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance. In addition, I was on the Board of Folsom Events for one year, co-organized Leather Alley at Gay Pride, and have volunteered at Dore Alley, Folsom, and beverage busts for numerous organizations.
I’ve been a member of the District off and on since its inception, and have always had a keen interest in what’s going on with LCD activities and events.
Why do you want to be a board member?
Until recently I’ve been involved with other projects which precluded my time to be more involved with the District. Now that I have the time, I want to have a more hands-on involvement and influence on how the District operates and what its priorities are. The District, being the first one in the country, is incredibly important, and I want to play a role in it.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
For almost 20 years, I’ve been a leader in the Bay Area leather community, through the Exiles, Bay Area Sober in Leather (BASIL), and the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance. I served on the Board of Folsom Events, co-organized Leather Alley at Pride, and have volunteered at Dore Alley, Folsom Street Fair, and beverage busts for numerous organizations in our community.
I’ve been a member of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District on and off since its inception, and have always followed its activities and events closely. Until recently, other commitments kept me from deeper involvement. Now that I have the time, I want hands-on involvement in how the District operates and shapes its priorities. As the first district of its kind in the country, LCD carries a responsibility that extends far beyond San Francisco — and I want to play a role in carrying it forward.
I would bring to the Board:
• A long history of activism and leadership in the leather community
• Experience working with disparate groups within the community, and deep ties across it
• Connections and access to resources across the country as a local (Ms. San Francisco Sober Leather 2016 ) and regional (Northwest slave 2023) titleholder
• Many years of teaching experience
• A passion for leather and for community service
I am a firm believer in the leather values of honor, respect, and integrity, and I try to live those values every day. I would be honored to bring that same commitment to the Board of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District.Date Submitted: 8/6/2026
Name: Apaulo Hart
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
I have been on the board as an associate member for a year.
Why do you want to be a board member?
I feel I could accomplish more as a member.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
I am committed to my community, as a queer leather artist I thrive helping spread awareness through inspiration and education.
Submitted: 8/7/2026
Name: Hal Mayo
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
I have been involved with the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District as a member of the 2024 LCD Entrepreneur Training Program and as a small businessowner/vendor. Through the program and participating in District events, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs, community members, and organizers, and become more engaged with the District and its work.
Why do you want to be a board member?
I aim to bring a fresh perspective to the Board as someone in my mid-thirties, a small business owner, active vendor, and community member who regularly attends District events. I’d like to strengthen connections with local vendors, help grow our markets and events, and support recruitment for future Entrepreneur Training Program cohorts. I also have experience with Instagram and digital outreach and would love to help expand the District’s social media presence and community engagement.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
As a small business owner and graduate of the 2024 Entrepreneur Training Program, I’ve experienced firsthand the impact the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District has on our community. The District played a major role in helping me get my business off the ground. I’m running for a position on the Board because I want to pay that support forward and help create those same opportunities for others. I hope to bring fresh energy to the Board by strengthening connections with local vendors, supporting the growth of events like the Holiday Market and Ringold Anniversary Block Party, and helping bring back Second Saturdays Play on the Plaza. I’d also love to support future Entrepreneur Training Program participants by helping recruit new candidates and offer vendor mentorship.
Many in the community know me as Stained Glass Mommy through my work as an artist. I’m dedicated to investing in this community and creating opportunities for people to gather. My current focus is hosting a monthly sliding-scale stained glass workshop where people can connect through art in an accessible and welcoming queer space. Through vending, teaching, and regularly attending District events, I’ve built meaningful connections across our community. I see an opportunity to bring even more people together through revitalized markets and gatherings. I’d be honored to serve on the Board and help connect our community of vendors with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District in a meaningful way.
Submitted: 8/7/2026
Nominees for President
Name: Alicia Bee
How have you been involved with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District?
I came to the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District as a volunteer, looking for a way to give back to a community that has meant so much to me. Since then, every opportunity to serve has deepened my commitment to the District and the people who make it so special.
I began by volunteering on the Arts & Culture Committee before serving as Co-Chair of the Communications Committee. In 2024, I was elected to the Board of Directors and appointed Secretary, and in 2025, I was honored to serve as Vice President. Each role has strengthened my understanding of the District, expanded my relationships within our community, and reinforced my commitment to its future.
Why do you want to be Board President?
I want to serve as Board President because I believe in the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District and the incredible community it represents.
Serving in a variety of volunteer and leadership roles has given me the opportunity to learn from our staff, volunteers, fellow board members, and the community we serve. Those experiences have given me a deeper understanding of what makes the District successful, the challenges we face, and the opportunities ahead.
I want to build on the strong foundation we’ve created by supporting our volunteers, partnering with our Executive Director and staff, strengthening the Board, and serving as a steward of the District’s future—helping ensure it remains a vibrant, welcoming, and sustainable organization for years to come.
Candidate Statement – What do you want voters to know about you?
For much of my life, I was searching for places where I truly belonged. That experience shaped the leader I am today and inspires me to help ensure our leather and queer communities remain welcoming, affirming places where people feel seen and know they belong.
Originally from Flint, Michigan, I found my voice and my kink community in Chicago. There I fought for radical body and fat liberation, organized with sex workers, led sex-positive events, and built spaces where queer, kinky, and gender-diverse people could gather, connect, and support one another. Whether through activism, nonprofit leadership, or my professional career, I’ve always believed that strong communities are built by being curious, listening to one another, showing up, and leading with kindness – and a little food goes a long way!
I started as a volunteer with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District because I wanted to give back to a community that has meant so much to me. I care deeply about preserving our history while creating opportunities for future generations to find connection, belonging, and joy within our leather community. It would be an honor to continue serving the District and the community that has given so much to me.
Date Submitted: 8/5/2026
Nominees: Please contact nominations@sflcd.org