LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District

The Redistricting Task Force voted down their final draft map that would have diluted the voices of marginalized communities in San Francisco. We now have another chance to convince this Task Force to adopt fair and just new district lines that reflect the needs of communities of color, LGBTQ+ residents, and working-class families. Please join us this Thursday, April 21, 2022, in giving public comment, in person at City Hall Room 406 or remotely.  (Direct link:  https://ccsf.webex.com/ccsf/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=24909061875)

This weekend, April 23-24, 2022, is a very special one out on 12th Street at Harrison:

On Saturday, April 23, from 4 to 6 pm, join us on Eagle Plaza (398 12th Street, in San Francisco) to celebrate the Leather Pride Flag, in an event co-sponsored by leather titleholders Ghee Phua and Tammy Lg Hatter, along with the Cultural District, the Friends of Eagle Plaza, and the SF Eagle Bar.

This inaugural event aims to bring together the SF Bay Area leather/kink community to celebrate the creation of the leather pride flag and the life of its creator, Tony DeBlase. It is also a fundraiser for the upkeep of the leather pride flag in the Eagle Plaza. Finally it is a send off for the local IML contestants.

There will be 2 speakers who will provide a historical perspective on the creation of the leather pride flag and share stories about Tony DeBlase. This event will be streamed during IMsL/IMsBB.  Find more details here and here.

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Then, on Sunday, 4/24, from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm, it’s the SF Eagle’s 9 Year Anniversary Big Block Party!  It’s back and bigger than ever! With Dj’s Sergio Fedasz, Kelly Naughton, Phil B, Paul Goodyear and Russ Rich, performances by Pollo Del Mar and Suppositori Spelling, and much more.

The beer bust will run from 12:00 noon to 7 pm, with proceeds to Folsom Street; those folks will also have a booth where you can pick up hard-to-find merchandise from past Folsom Street Fairs.

Look for more info here and here.

Amidst Loss of Faith in Redistricting Process, LGBTQ & BIPOC Communities Speak Out Opposing Final Draft Map

SAN FRANCISCO — In a shocking and sudden move, four members of the San Francisco Redistricting Task Force walked out in protest around 2 AM on Sunday April 10th, after meeting all day Saturday. The remaining five Task Force members voted to pass the draft map anyway, and have faced increasing criticism for the lack of transparency and consensus. This occurs on the heels of increased public scrutiny on the Task Force and a special hearing held on Friday by the Elections Commission, which raised concerns and questions about whether the Task Force is making fair, impartial decisions on public input. The four Task Force members who walked out were Chema Hernandez Gil, Michelle Pierce, Jeremy Lee, and Raynell Cooper.

 This latest turn of events occurred at the Saturday meeting to approve the final draft map. The four members walked out shortly after Vice Chair Reiner rescinded her previous vote that stopped Portola from being moved into District 10. In the first vote to move Portola into District 10, the motion failed 4-5 with Vice Chair Reiner as the 5th vote. However, after coming back from a short recess the Vice Chair rescinded her vote and voted to move the Portola despite overwhelming public comment asking to keep Potrero Hill whole and together with the Bayview in District 10. After members Hernandez Gil, Pierce, Jeremy Lee, and Cooper walked out of the meeting, the audience of approximately 30 people also walked out in support. Many Black community leaders spoke during public comment that adding the Portola to District 10 would dilute the Black population and harm the community.

The conduct of the Task Force to date has raised questions about political influence and disregard for public input. The four Task Force members’ decision to leave the meeting abruptly also showed a loss of faith in the process. Communities representing a diverse spectrum of San Francisco residents are hosting a joint press conference denouncing the final draft map, and demanding that the Task Force adds more public meetings to the calendar, even if it means going past the April 15 deadline.

WHAT: Press Conference and Rally

WHO:  Leaders from LGBTQ, Black, Latino, Asian, American Indian and Labor organizations will be speaking. 

WHEN: Monday, April 11, @ 4:30 pm (SF Redistricting Task Force will meet at 5:30 pm in Room 416, City Hall)

WHERE: City Hall main steps at 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco

Despite hundreds of us giving public comment and submitting our input to the Redistricting Task Force, they have moved forward with maps that separate the Tenderloin from SOMA and D6, split Japantown Cultural District, add Sea Cliff to District 1, separate Potrero from D10, among other damaging changes. This Redistricting Task Force has ignored the public input and shows no concern for keeping marginalized communities together.

Come out to the Elections Commission emergency meeting today, Friday April 8th at 1:30pm. We’ll be mobilizing in person, but if you can’t make it to City Hall, join us remotely on WebEx.

Community members turned out in big numbers to voice their concerns to the Election’s Commission yesterday about their appointees on the Redistricting Task Force. And they heard our calls, which is why they have called a special emergency meeting tomorrow to investigate their appointees and if they are not abiding by their responsibilities, to remove them from the Task Force.

The district lines that are being proposed will tear apart our communities for the next 10 years. We must hold Task Force members accountable for not fulfilling their duty of taking COI testimony into consideration. Not sure what to say? We’ll share a talking points doc before tomorrow’s meeting.

Please share the attached flyers far and wide.