COVID-19 Links

In compliance with a request from the Mayor’s Office, the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District is actively involved in sharing up-to-date information about how the State of California, the City of San Francisco, local public and private institutions, and our own leather and kink community are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

Local Kink Community Response

First, here are two documents regarding the Bay Area leather and kink community’s response to COVID-19.

The San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ Leather, Kink and Sexuality Communities Resources Guide is a good basic guide to Relief Efforts, Online Events and relevant Information.
San Francisco Bay Area Kink Community COVID-19 Response is a deeper dive, and also a record of community leaders’ online discussions, as well as a larger list of resources.

Local Kink Community Fund-Raising

These are some of the many local folks raising money for those affected by COVID-19:

Bay Area Leather Lifeline – A fund to help kinksters and leather folk in the SF Bay Area who need immediate help during the COVID-19 crisis.
SF Queer Nightlife Fund – A collective of nightlife organizers, producers, entertainers, venue owners, and nonprofit community leaders providing direct gifts of aid to workers from LGBTQ nightlife groups in the SF Bay Area.
SF Catalyst – This community space needs our support, and our community will need this space even more after the COVID-19 crisis ends.
SF Citadel – Currently offering online classes and safety information on their Web site. Watch for info on how to support the venue directly.
The Edge – All donations will go directly to the staff of the bar and assure they can afford the forced seven weeks of unemployment.
SF Oasis – Donate (and receive a perk!) to keep OASIS afloat amidst COVID-19 closures.
SF Eagle Staff Fund – Fund to help the employees at the SF Eagle.
The Stud – “The Stud Collective wants to prioritize support for our staff — our bartenders, coat check, security team and amazing janitor — all donations will go directly to them.”
Raven’s List “Fundraising for Community” – A list of GoFundMe and Patreon type efforts which support fetish/kink businesses local to San Francisco.
Daddy’s Barbershop Barber Fund
Bay Area Reporter – Fundraising to preserve this vital journalistic resource for our community.

General COVID-19 Information

Governmental Orders

Resources for Small Businesses and Employers

SF Resiliency Fund for Small Businesses
Small Business Association Disaster Assistance Loans
Deferral of SF Business Taxes and Fees
SF Paid Sick Leave
Unemployment Claims
OEWD/Main Street Launch: Emerging Loan Fund – Loans to small and emerging businesses
US Small Business Administration: Economic Injury Disaster Low Interest Loans
OEWD: COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund– (Not currently taking applications)
SF.gov: Info about Construction Projects
CA Employment Development Department: COVID-19 Updates
US Internal Revenue Service : Coronavirus Tax Relief
SF Heath Care Security Ordinance/Fair Chance Ordinance– Cancellation of 2019 reporting requirements
SF Mayor: Moratorium on Commercial Evictions
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights: Legal Assistance for Entrepreneurs
Facebook Small Business Grants

Resources for Workers

OEWD: Paid Sick Leave- Workers and Families First Program – Funding to provide an additional five days of paid sick leave to workers beyond their existing policies. Employers apply here.
SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development: Rapid Response Services for impacted employees
CA Employment Development Department: COVID-19 FAQs about health care, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.
CA Employment Development Department: Partial Claims – For employers that want to keep employees when there is a lack of work.
CA Employment Development Department: Work Share Program Unemployment insurance for employers to help minimize the need for layoffs when there is lack of work.
SF OEWD: Job Opportunities — A number of companies are hiring for full and part-time work.
One Fair Wage Emergency Fund – Cash assistance to restaurant workers, drivers, personal service workers, etc.

Resources for Utilities

Resources for Nonprofits

Resources for Families & Students

Grants for Artists

SF Mayor’s Office: Arts Relief Fund – $2.5M available in grants & loans for artists & art organizations
San Francisco Arts and Artists Relief Fund – Grands and loans to artists and arts & cultural organizations
UNTITLED, ART Emergency Fund – Financial assistance for freelance, hourly, and wage working artists
Performing Arts Worker Relief Fund – For performing arts workers facing loss of income due to the crisis
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts – Links to COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Nonprofits
SF Arts Commission– Other Resources for Arts Organizations & Artists During COVID-19 Emergency
Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative – Grants

Resources for Adults

Give2SF Fund for Housing Stabilization: financial assistance to households who cannot afford their housing costs due to COVID-19.
Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Support for People Who Use Drugs
Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners is offering food to whoever needs it because they are out of work. Please call Michael J Gagne at (415) 584-3252 (no texting) or email him at TenderloinTessie@yahoo.com.

Resources for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Volunteer Services

SF.GOV: Be an emergency volunteer: Healthy adults are needed in several important programs
SF Food Friends: Matching volunteers with folks who need help buying groceries and other items
TurnOut: Multiple volunteer opportunities, including their own COVID-19 Rapid Response Team
TogetherSF: Neighbors helping neighbors
Lavender Seniors: Making Face Masks at Home
SF Chronicle: Ways to Help