LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District

The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District may have an opportunity to construct a major piece of public art, to serve as a “gateway” to our special SOMA neighborhood.

We have had a number of excellent design submissions, and our Committee has narrowed our choices to four designs:

Please click on each submission, above,
to view it or read the description.

Then please click here to give us your opinion.

Now in its 5th year, OurTownSF LGBTQ Nonprofit Expo 2020 will once again be the world’s largest LGBTQ resource fair!   This virtual event takes place online August 15, 2020 from 12:30-4:30pm.    It is free to attend and offers Bay Area groups serving the LGBTQ community the opportunity to attract new clients, volunteers, board members and donors.

San Francisco” LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District will have its Zoom Room open to share info about the Cultural District, and to encourage folks to sign up for our mailing list or become members.  Board Members are urged to volunteer to help help staff the Zoom Room.

To sign up for a volunteer shift, please go to:  https://signup.com/go/CYNcrGp.  For information about volunteering, please write to David.Hyman@sflcd.org, or call 415-652-6790.

The annual event is a FREE expo of arts, community, fundraiser, health, athletic, legal, political, recovery, service & spiritual groups serving the Bay Area LGBTQ  community, all coming together for a day of community building.  These groups are going through tough times.  Take this opportunity to meet up with dozens of groups and help support them as a new client, board member, volunteer or donor. Warning! This event is always super queer!

After an intro by Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, plus entertainment by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and a member of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, attendees will be directed to links in order to reach participants, discounts at various Castro businesses and door prizes.  Links to several forms of health consultations and insurance registration will also be available.

For more information, please visit https://www.ourtownsf.org/nonprofit-expo or the Facebook event.

The SOMA West Community Benefit District is hosting a Community Forum with City Leaders and Stakeholders on August 26, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.

You can download the full invitation and details here.  Or go ahead and register for the free event here.

 

After a comprehensive and competitive search, the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Cal Callahan has been selected as the new District Manager.  Mr. Callahan is a nonprofit professional with more than 20 years’ experience who has been instrumental in the growth of the Positive Resource Center’s Bare Chest Calendar.  Cal is the former Director of Community Engagement for the Positive Resource Center (PRC) and was chosen for this position for his many connections in the SOMA area and his commitment to successful fund-raising efforts and volunteer coordination. He also previously served at the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund.

Mr. Callahan replaces Beth Hunt who resigned to move to the East Coast to be closer to family.  The Board thanks Beth for all her hard work and networking as the Cultural District’s first District Manager.  She worked tirelessly to network with the community, represent the District at city meetings, and implement our founding systems and procedures.  The Board wishes her all the best in her new endeavors.

Mr. Callahan is a 37 year Bay Area resident, who is known for networking, building organizations, innovative fundraising, creative event planning, leadership skills, broadening diversity, and community relations. He takes a key position at the world’s first cultural district to focus on the leather and LGBTQ communities.

“We are thrilled to name a new District Manager with such deep community connections and experience who will help lead our organization on a path to being a cultural hub in SOMA,” said Bob Goldfarb, President of the Cultural District.  “We cast a wide net in our search and believe that Cal’s management and fundraising skills will play an essential role as we work toward our goal of establishing a permanent community center in SOMA.  His connections to diverse communities will increase our organization’s diversity both internally and to the constituents we serve.”

Mr. Callahan began working for the Cultural District at the beginning of August, 2020.  Community members have been quick to express their support. Jack Thompson, International Mr. Leather 2019, the first trans POC to win that title and a founding father of ONYX Northwest, said, “Without needing to know anything about me, Cal showed me kindness and support. He shows it to everyone around him. I am so happy for him to be able to show that same kindness and support to the entire community as District Manager for the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District. I couldn’t think of anyone better suited for this position.”  Jon Ojinaga, Owner of Azucar Lounge said, “When Azucar Lounge opened 9 years ago, Cal came to welcome us to the neighborhood and has been a big supporter of local business. We’ve worked together on a large variety of events and I look forward to continuing our collaborations. Demetri Moshoyannis, Managing Director of Individual Giving at GMHC and formerly Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships at PRC, said, “He’s a great community organizer, an amazing listener, and an even better project manager! I’m sure he’ll do great things on behalf of the Leather & LGBTQ District and the Western SoMa neighborhood.”