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Bob Goldfarb speaks at Commonwealth Club

Bob Goldfarb was invited to join a panel called “Lavender Talks: The State Of San Francisco’s LGBTQ Cultural Districts” at the Commonwealth Club, on May 28, 2020.

The program explored the status of San Francisco’s LGBTQ cultural districts. How and why did they come into being? How are they used today? What’s next? It featured leaders from the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, the Transgender District, the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, and the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

The program was produced in association with San Francisco Pride, and made possible by the generous support of Comcast.

Here is the video:

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Dining in the District

The good news is:  there are places to eat and drink in and around Folsom Street!  Places that were completely closed are doing pickup/delivery, and now several places have got their permits and now have tables for al fresco dining.

You can also shop, get your car repaired, even do home improvement.  You just have to keep your mask on, keep your distance, and obey whatever “house rules” the management has posted to protect themselves, and you.

Our volunteers have explored, both online and on the street, and we have prepared a list of the cafes and restaurants, the bars and clubs, and the shops and services.  Check out our list here.

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Artists: Design Our Gateway

Imagine your artwork standing astride Folsom Street, welcoming visitors to the LEATHER and LGBTQ Cultural District, like these:

Gateway to Little Saigon, on Larkin Street, in San Francisco

Two of the pylons on Chicago’s LGBT Legacy Walk (photo: the Legacy Project)
 Drawing of Port Angeles Gateway Picture of Little Italy gateway

We want to construct a gateway on Folsom Street near 11th, as a centerpiece of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District.  We plan for it to be constructed as part of the SFMTA upgrade to Folsom and Howard Streets.

We want YOU to design it.  We hope you can reflect Queerness and Kinkiness, physically and/or conceptually. Themes and images for your inspiration (none required):

  • leather pride flag
  • other community imagery
  • boots
  • chains
  • a heart
  • a biker cap
  • a leather vest
  • rope
  • a fan
  • a rainbow
  • dancing
  • kinkiness
  • sexiness
  • celebration
  • freedom
  • individuality
  • rebelliousness
  • touch
  • solidarity
  • mutual support
  • equality
  • justice
  • representation

Specs:

    • Footprint: 3’ x 3’ max
    • Height: 14’ max
    • The gateway will be two pylons, one on each side of Folsom Street, each no more than 3’ square and no more than 14’ high.
    • The gateway may not extend over the street.
    • All designs must include the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District’s name and logo. 
      • (Note that there must be clear space all around the District’s logo of ½ the logo’s height.)
    • All text must be in the Proxima Nova font family.

Your creativity and vision are what we need RIGHT NOW.

Time is of the essence.  We need to get your completed submission by July 6, 2020.

All submissions become the property of the LEATHER and LGBTQ Cultural District.  One submission will be selected to receive a prize of $500. 

Revisions may be required for various reasons.  If your design is constructed under the city’s In Kind program, we will apply for an additional stipend grant for the winner, though any additional funds depend on grant approval and are highly uncertain.

We can accept most file formats (ai, pdf, jpg, png, preferred).

Send your submission (or a URL link to it), to gateway@sflcd.org.

On your mark, get set, create!

Local Queer and Kinky Artists, Artisans, and Performers in all media:  Are you on our Artists Roster?  Read about it here, or go directly to sign up here.