Candidates Statements 2020

Nominees for Board of Directors

These are the folks who have nominated themselves for the open seats on the Board of Directors, and for the office of President.

If you missed the “Meet the Candidates” Night on August 12, you can click here to view a video recording of it.  (Don’t worry; the zoom-bombing episode has been edited out.)

Online voting opened immediately following this meeting, and will close at 5:00 p.m on Monday, August 17, 2020. All voting must take place during this five-day voting period.

Results will be posted on the site as soon as possibly (probably Monday evening), and will be formally announced a the Annual Membership Meeting of August 19, 2020.  Please see our Nominations page for more details.

Nominees:  Please contact nominations@sflcd.org if you wish to make any changes or corrections, or if you wish to add a photo or short video to accompany your statement.

Eric See
Berkeley CA
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision. 
Have served reliably on one or more of the Organization’s committees for at least one year.
Represent: NonprofitsEric See is the current secretary of the SF Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District after being elected to the board in 2019.  He is also the current chairman of the 15 Association. Eric has served on many non-profit boards over the past several decades including as treasurer for Leathermen’s Discussion Group and other social justice organizations.  Eric’s professional life is working for a national peace and disarmament organization as a senior director of fundraising and grassroots development.  Eric would be honored to continue in service to the mission of the SFLCD for another term.
6/11/2020

 

 

 

Val Langmuir
San Francisco
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represent:  Nonprofits
My name is Val Langmuir. I’m queer. My pronouns are she and they. I was born in California, grew up in England, returned to the Bay Area in 1996, and have been here ever since. I am running for the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District board based primarily on my activism and community membership. I’ve been in the leather / BDSM community, as an activist, an educator, and a player, since the 1990s in London, where I worked on one of the first SM Pride marches. In San Francisco I continued volunteering, including serving on the board of the Exiles for a decade, working on leather alley at pride for many years, earning the title of Ms SF Leather 2013, and later being on contest staff in various capacities, including emcee, which I particularly enjoy.

I’ve been interested in the District from its inception, but I was only able to attend one of the meetings before the District was formally constituted, due to other commitments. I have gotten a little more involved during the last year; I have recently become a member of the District, and I’m currently serving on the diversity & membership committee. I’d be honored to be considered for a board position.
Respectfully, Val Langmuir
6/16/2020

Stephan Francisco Ferris
San Francisco
Have lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District.
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Have served reliably on one or more of the Organization’s committees for at least one year.
Represent: Residents, Youth, Nonprofits

I am a writer, educator, and activist in the LGBT, leather/kink, and HIV/STI prevention realms.  Additionally, I am admitted to the California State Bar and earned my JD from UC Hastings, where I served as President of the LGBTQ student group OUTLAW and Managing Editor of the Hastings Women’s Law Journal.

Currently, I serve as Co-Chair of the New Lawyers’ Committee of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (‘BALIF’) and am approaching the end of my first year as a Leather Cultural District board member.  Leather and Kink are at the core of my identity, and I seek re-election to the Leather Cultural District because I am passionate about our culture and our spaces, and I wish to build the momentum established in the board’s inaugural year with my prior direct experience. 

Throughout my fifteen years in San Francisco, I have worked at the intersection of many diverse communities and have been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion within the District specifically in relation to hiring practices, bylaws, and committee formation (with much more work to be done).  I know what it takes to be an effective and fair board member, and I kindly thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.
6/17/2020

Gene Edmond
San Francisco
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represent:  Artists, Youth
Gene EdmondMy name is Gene Edmond, and I am running for the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors. I moved to San Francisco in 2017 and have loved being a part of the leather and BDSM community.I started playing in the Chicago leather scene.

Since moving to the Bay Area, I have cultivated invaluable relationships through Leatherman’s Discussion Group, the LDG Mentoring Program, Young Leatherman’s Discussion Group and GearUp. These community members have become integral to the man I am today. I am committed to the Cultural District’s mission of community activism and protecting the contributions of our predecessors while elevating the district in any way I can.

I have been lucky to come up in the Leather and BDSM community of two different cities and hope to bring that perspective and experience as a young Person of Color to broaden the variety of voices in the district. I also bring my experience in Social Networking and Program Development from SOMA based nonprofits I have worked with. This community has given so much to me, and I would like to use this opportunity to give back. Thank you for your consideration.
7/19/2020

Patricia Collins
San Francisco
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represent:  Elders, Nonprofits

I believe it is very important that the LCD Board reflect the full diversity of the community for which it exists. I am a leather dyke/boi and have been in this community for 6 years now. For the last five of those years I have been a member of The Exiles, the only surviving leather women’s’ club in San Francisco. I have held various officer positions during those years including co-coordinator, treasurer, recorder, newsletter editor and currently website manager.

During my life I have always held that I am responsible for what type of world and community I live in and it takes my choices and actions to make that world. I am a cis female. I am also part Cherokee and grew up in both the Native American and non-Native American culture. I am a member of a well respected polyamorous leather family. I think I bring a diverse view of the community and broad sensibilities.  I have held many managerial positions in life science high tech companies and am now retired and finally have the time I need to concentrate on community and change. It would be an honor to serve on the board and work together for betterment of the community.
7/21/20

Dominique Leslie
San Francisco
Have lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District.
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represent:  Artists, Elders, Nonprofits
 


I’m Dominique Leslie; pronouns are she, her, they, and them. I’m a poly, queer, elder sub trans woman living in San Francisco since 1977 when I first became involved in the SOMA Leather, Kink scene. I’ve been involved in the LCD since the first meeting held on the Eagle patio. As a Trans Elder, I carry a unique voice that must stay part of the Leather, Kink scene, and represented in the LCD.
7/23/2020

Nominees for President

Dominique Leslie
San Francisco
Have lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District.
Have a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represent:  Artists, Elders, Nonprofits
I’m Dominique Leslie; pronouns are she, her, they, and them. I’m a poly, queer, elder sub trans woman living in San Francisco since 1977 when I first became involved in the SOMA Leather, Kink scene. I’ve been involved in the LCD since the first meeting held on the Eagle patio. As a Trans Elder, I carry a unique voice that must stay part of the Leather, Kink scene, and represented in the LCD.
7/23/2020

 

 

 

Bob Goldfarb (He/Him/His)
San Francisco
Continuing Board Member – Candidate for President
I have led the Cultural District for more than two years, for the last year as President and prior to that as the Group’s elected chair before our incorporation.  I am a 22 year San Francisco resident and have been active in the Leather/Kink scene for more than 30 years.  I have held numerous leadership roles in the Leather/Kink community including President of Folsom Street Events.

I have done the following with the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District:

    • Coordinated drafting of the legislation to establish the Cultural District
    • Lobbied City Supervisors and their aides to ensure passage of the legislation to establish the Cultural District
    • Worked with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) on grant proposals to secure the District’s current funding source
    • Currently negotiating with various city agencies to include leather themed features in coming streetscape improvements on Folsom & Howard including:
      • Leather Pride themed crosswalks,
      • Sidewalk plaques to commemorate iconic community establishments
      • Painting light poles with Pride themed colors
      • Street signs acknowledging the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District
      • Leather & LGBTQ themed Gateway
    • Established accounting systems and coordinated finances with our fiscal sponsor SOMArts
    • Worked with city-paid consultants to establish space need for an eventual District-owned building to act as a community center
    • Successfully negotiated with developers to help mitigate gentrification
    • Coordinated work on our three year strategy report including currently ongoing community outreach efforts
      • Come to our Town Hall meeting, Tuesday, August 25, 6p, on Zoom (See SFLCD.org)
      • Initiated outreach via focus groups to traditionally marginalized communities
    • Networked with other cultural districts on best practices

I believe my extensive experience as the Cultural District President can serve the District well over the coming year.  I am committed to increasing the appeal of our programs and events to diverse communities which will in turn attract more interest from those communities to take on District leadership roles.  I am excited to continue serving on the board (my term expires in 2022) and feel I can build on our successes as our annually elected President as well.  I would appreciate your vote when you are selecting your choice for board President.  Thank you!
7/31/20202

Election Information