Please attend our Candidates’ Night on August 10, 2022.
Visit https://sfleatherdistrict.org/nominations/ for full nomination and election details.
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
Gayle Rubin
Residence: San Francisco
Eligibility:
Having lived or worked within the boundaries of the District
Having a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision,
Having served reliably on one or more committees for at least one year.
Represents: Elders
Candidate’s Statement:
I have been involved in Leather South of Market since the late 1970s, when I came to San Francisco to do research on San Francisco’s leather populations, with a special focus on the gay men’s leather community. I have been an activist who helped found the first organization for SM lesbians, and have been an engaged member of several others. I have lived in the neighborhood for almost two decades, and have been involved in the process that would eventually result in the establishment of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District since 2017. I currently serve on its Board, am a member of the Board of the Leather Archives & Museum, and serve on the Selection Committee of the Leather Hall of Fame. I have published in Drummer, DungeonMaster, Leatherfolk, and Coming to Power. I have presented programs for Samois, The Society of Janus, the Outcasts, the Exiles, and the Leathermen’s Discussion Group.
My service to the leather communities has been recognized by many awards, including the Leather Leadership Award of the National LGBTQ Task Force, the Race Bannon Advocacy Award of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance Philip M. Turner Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Key to the Folsom Street Fair, from the Board of Directors of Folsom Street Events. And the Exiles honored me with their patch.
I care deeply about SOMA, and have worked for decades to preserve the leather, kink, and queer presence here. I hope to continue that work.
Date Submitted: June 15, 2022
JConr B. Ortega
Residence: San Francisco
Eligibility:
Having lived or worked within the boundaries of the District
Having a history of activism in alignment with the Organizations’ Mission and Vision,
Having served reliably on one or more committees for at least one year.
Represents: Residential tenants, Nonprofits
Candidate’s Statement:
My name is JConr B. Ortega and I am a 26 year old, Berkeley Born, SF Raised, Bi-sexual male. I am a Leatherman, Pup and here at the behest of my desire to serve the Leather and LGBT Cultural District as a Board Member.
What drew me to the SF Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District out of many others in the country, is the love and family our cultural district creates.
Working with the board and the community, I see what the great purpose of our Cultural District is. It is to cultivate and preserve the family-like community that people need. Allowing people to come from all walks of life to share in a vulnerable state a chance at connection. Participating in events ranging from SOMA second Saturdays to the Anniversary Party to more events, all I see are smiling friends both old ones and new ones.
And while San Francisco grows, our community must always grow and that is why I my time and invest what I can into our community. I sat at our booth reaching out to people who are interested in Us and every time I pointed our map, I was reminded of the various Leather and LGBTQ shops that have disappeared and it saddens me. My goal as a Board Member will solely be the Rebuilding and Growing of Our Culture. I look to reignite the desire to not only to beautify our district, but to re-invest in our district. Bringing back all those who have left. Cultivating a new generation, whom we all will pass the ropes to keep up the play!
And if I am voted to become a Board Member that’s just what I will do.
I can never fill the shoes of those who have come before me, but take what work has been completed and push it further than before. Together we will achieve the Vision of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District, A Growing and Lively Cultural. Thank you for the time hearing me today, and I ask for your support.
Date Submitted: June 25, 2022
David Hyman
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, Nonprofits
Candidate’s Statement:
I have been a patron of South of Market businesses since I moved to San Francisco in 1976, but I was never truly involved in the leather or kink community until I retired in 2014. I first joined the Rubber Men of San Francisco, eventually becoming “”Steward”” of that organization. I served on the Board of the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance until I stepped down in December of 2020. I have also been active with the Golden Gate Guards, the Bears of San Francisco, the Castro Ambassadors, the Friends of Eagle Plaza, and numerous other groups. I created the Yellow and Black Group in 2018, hosting kinky parties and games at SFCatalyst and other locations.
I have been involved with the Cultural District since before its formal creation, attending almost every meeting during its long gestation, and I was elected to its first Board in 2019. Since then, I have managed the Cultural District website and membership database, chaired the Arts and Culture Committee, served as a co-host to the Erotic Storytelling Hour, helped to organize numerous events, and provided, to the best of my ability, both technical and moral support.
During my next term, if re-elected, I would like to complete the creation of a “”Walking Tour”” app for the District, to continue to support the artists and craftspeople of our community, and to strive to see our Organization acquire a physical space within the District. I will also work towards the long-term goal of creating a permanent Leather Cultural Center here.
Date Submitted: June 28, 2022
Sumiko Saulson
Residence: Oakland
Eligibility:
Has lived or worked within the boundaries of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District.
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: Families, Artists, Nonprofits
Candidate’s Statement:
Sumiko Saulson (ze/hir) has been the host of the Erotic Storytelling Hour for two years, helping the Leather and LGBTQ District bring entertainment and public service announcements to our constituents throughout this difficult pandemic. Ze also volunteered with the LCD during the 2020 online-only Folsom Street Fair, and have been a regular vendor with their kinky craft paddle business as Mauskaveli. Ze is on the leadership council for ELSE, a community group of kinky non-cis people (trans, nonbinary, intersex, etc.) Ze is a member of BABKA (Bay Area Bi/Pan Kink Alliance),KPOC (Kinky People of Color), TAA (The Alpha Academy) and Society of Janus.
Sumiko is deeply invested in seeing kinky people of color, members of the noncisgender community, and other marginalized people in the San Francisco Leather and LGBTQ District represented, and in seeing the diversity of the district celebrated in our art, our culture, the tellings of our histories, and all that we do.
Date Submitted: July 14, 2022
Name
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:
photo here
Candidate’s Statement:
Date Submitted:
Nominees for President
Bob Brown
Residence: San Francisco
Candidate’s Statement:
I am the current board President and I am seeking your support to continue this work during the coming year. In addition to my duties as board President, I also have been the Chair of the Communications Committee; participated on the Fund Raising, LeatherWalk and Anniversary Party committees. Most recently helped in the implementation of our Entrepreneur Training Program and represented the District at various public events.
Date Submitted: July 20, 2022
Nominees: Please contact nominations@sflcd.org