Please attend our Candidates’ Night on August 11, 2021.
These are the folks who have nominated themselves for the open seats on the Board of Directors, and for the office of President:
Nominees for Board of Directors
Bob Brown
Residence: San Francisco
Eligibility:
Has a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision,
Has served reliably on one or more of the Organization’s committees for at least one year.
Represents: Elders and Non-Profits
Candidate’s Statement:
I am currently the Vice-President of this Cultural District and currently the Chair of the Communications Committee and I am a member of the Fund Raising Committee. I would like to be re-elected to continue this work and to work on business development within the district.
Date Submitted: July 12, 2021
Jonathan Ojinaga
Residence: San Francisco
Eligibility:
Has lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District (the “District”)
Has served reliably on one or more of the Organization’s committees for at least one year.
Represents: Businesses headquartered and operating within the boundaries of the District
Candidate’s Statement:
I’m the owner and operator of Azúcar Lounge and have served on the Economic Vitality Committee over the past year. In the committee we focused on creating a support structure to help new and existing LGBTQ businesses in the District. One of my primary interests is to continue to help small businesses in the District so they are able to grow and flourish.
Date Submitted: July 30, 2021
Byrd Bannick
Residence: San Francisco
Eligibility:
Has lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District (the “District”),
Has a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision.
Represents: Artists and Businesses within the District
Candidate’s Statement:
I want to nominate myself for the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors in order to give back to and help further develop the community I could not have built my business without. I want to recruit and center more marginalized voices, while also advocating for existing spaces and events to become more inclusive. As a gay transgender man, and the owner of a business that provides opportunities for transgender folks, I am especially passionate about uplifting the transgender community. I look forward to collaborating with community leaders from other marginalized groups to create a SOMA that truly serves and represents the next generation of increasingly diverse queer leather and kinky people. From 2018 to 2019 I served on the leadership team for Gender Blender, a trans-centering Burning Man camp that also hosts various Bay Area events and play parties. In 2020, I ran for the 2021 Bare Chest Calendar. In order to meet my fundraising goals during COVID, I started making masks. I was awarded the title of Mr. May 2021 and was one of the top three fundraisers, bringing in over $6,500 for PRC. My mask making fundraising project was so successful I decided to officially start a business. My friend Paul Hendry connected me with Angel Adeyoha, and my team and I have been volunteering to help build Folsom Street’s new community center in exchange for office space since February. Angel would be happy to provide a recommendation and vouch for my work.
Date Submitted: July 30, 2021
Nominees for President
Bob Goldfarb
San Francisco
Candidate’s Statement:
Bob Goldfarb serves as the first President of San Francisco’s designated Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District, where he strives to enhance the city’s leather organizations, nightlife, and art. He has worked with multiple city agencies to establish leather & LGBTQ placemaking in SOMA, including leather pride themed crosswalks, sidewalk plaques and leather pride themed markers on light poles. He has worked with the Planning Department, Public Works and MTA on permits and procedures in the Cultural District. He has also coordinated and collaborated with community groups and organizations in SOMA and the Mission, He has led successful negotiations with developers in the District. He led the District as President for the last two years and led the group previously as it’s chair prior to the establishment of bylaws. He is also represents the Cultural District on the Board of the Friends of Eagle Plaza where he serves as president and worked to finalize their bylaws, achieve incorporation and contract with a fiscal sponsor. He is a former president of Folsom Street Events, which produces the Up Your Alley and Folsom Street Fairs. He is a former Program Director for the Leatherman’s Discussion Group and currently chairs the Young Leathermen’s Discussion Group. He would like to continue to serve the Cultural District.
Date Submitted: July 28, 2021
Nominees: Please contact nominations@sflcd.org