It might be easy for folks to confuse the new “SoMa West Community Benefit District” with our own Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District: they both serve roughly the same area within San Francisco, and they are both working to make that neighborhood safe, lively, and welcoming to residents and visitors.
So it is important for us to be clear and well-informed about the differences: We don’t impose a tax on property owners and businesses; we don’t plan to power-wash the streets or hire safety patrols to supplement city services. On the other hand, they don’t plan to help struggling BDSM performance artists keep their studios open, promote SOMA as a kinky vacation destination, or build a Leather Center.
But there is clearly a great deal of overlap in our interests. So we are encouraging all members and friends of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District to do a few things:
- Take a few minutes to fill out the Soma West CBD’s Initial Services survey. so that their priorities reflect yours;
- Subscribe to their newsletter here, so that you hear about their meetings and activities; and
- Consider serving on their Board of Directors, as a formal or informal representative of the Leather Community. Full information and an application form can be found here.
Working with SoMa West CBD and other community-based Districts in the South of Market area is a priority for the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District ; you can help with that important work. Thanks!
On August 18, 2019, Sunday Streets SOMA once again transformed Folsom Street from Essex to 10th Street into open pedestrian space, including a Leather Hub between 8th and 10th Streets where the Leather Community got to show off!
