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This month’s newsletter includes:

• Board Meeting
• SOMA Second Saturdays
• Walking Tour
• NARCAN Training
• Pride Pop-Up Art Show
• Entrepreneur Program
• Cultural District 5th Anniversary!
• Leather Contingent in Pride Parade
• Contests
• Membership
• Donations
• Stay in Touch

Board Meeting

The next meeting of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors is scheduled for:

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Join the Zoom meeting here.
Or call 1 408 638 0968 and enter Meeting ID: 847 8906 0820 Passcode: 972086

For questions, contact manager@sflcd.org. 
View:  the agenda, minutes of past Board meetings

MPX Vaccine Popups Return to SOMA Second Saturdays Tomorrow!

• Artists! Artisans! Entertainment!
• Wear your gear, take back the day!
• Socialize, see kinky/queer art, check out the community "goods".
• The SF Eagle will be open; enjoy a beverage.

• Due to an MPX resurgence, we are partnering with the SF Department of Public Health to administer up to 300 vaccine doses.
  • First and second doses available.
    • Register here for the free vaccine.
• 12th Street, Folsom to Harrison, at the Eagle Plaza.
  • Saturday, May 13, 12 noon to 5 pm 
• Vendors include:
  • ByrdBeaks, Femmmeow, FVCK CA, Gender Monster Studios, GlamPunkArt, GOOCH Photography, House of Haven Crafts, It's Simple SF, Mauskaveli, Ram Shackle Leather, skin on skins, Spikes Leather Consignment, and Tarot by Alexandria.
• Pup Jake will sketch you in charcoal live all through the fair.
• Schedule:
  • 1 pm - The Leather Pride Contingent is meeting at the Eagle (see below).
  • 2 pm - Sumiko Saulson will conduct an erotic story writing workshop. Earn your Certificate of Smutification.
• Details:
  • Free!  Donations welcome. 
  • A joint project of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, Folsom Street, and the SOMA West Community Benefit District.  
  • SOMA Second Saturdays! will continue monthly through October.
  • This is a smoke-free event.
  • Visit the page here any time for updates, or to apply to exhibit!

Kinky/Queer SOMA Walking Tour Launches

• Join us on our first walking tour:  SOMA Origins: Bars, Bathhouses and Beyond
  • Now a world-wide leather/kinky/queer destination, SOMA (South of Market) began attracting leather bars in the '60's. Find out why!
  • Learn about the raucous exploits of the '70's when motorcycles lined the streets outside popular bars.
  • Hear about today's bar and clubs and what they used to be, including one on Folsom with a swimming pool.
• Sunday, May 21, 2pm
• Tour starts at 9th and Ringold, ends at the SF Eagle in time for the Sunday Beer Bust.  
• 90 minutes, no hills.
• Free!  Space is limited; advance registratiion required. 

Narcan Training

• Narcan Training -- Overdose Response Workshop
• Wednesday, May 24, from 6 to 9 pm.
• At Oasis, 298 11th Street at Folsom
• Presented by Kochina Rude
  • In cooperation with The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District and Oasis
  • Responding to the overdoses in our community.
• Each participant will receive a two-pack of Narcan.
• Free to anyone, however advance registration is required.
• This program continues and expands the training we have been offering to bar and club staff.

Pride Pop-Up Art Show

• See renown kinky and queer local art at a special Pride Pop-Up Art Show at Heron Arts,
  • 7 Heron Alley, near 8th & Heron (behind Mr. S Leather).
• Attend the free opening reception on June 2, from 6 - 9 pm, featuring DJ Trevor Sigler and a special performance by Kochina Rude.
• See the gallery show by appointment between June 3rd and June 14th, 2023.
• This exhibition celebrates Pride month, and the LGBTQ+ community's cultural heritage in the SoMa neighborhood. 
• Participating artists include Adam Caldwell, Aleckzander Anthony, Alex Prestia, Diego Gomez, Dorian Katz, Elliott C Nathan, Favianna Rodriguez, Gloria Polo, J Manuel Carmona, Johnny Botts, Jonesy, Josh Katz, Justin Hall, Kegan Marling, Luke Andahazy, Phil Chanin (Glitter Moonbeam), Serge Gay Jr., and Tanya Wischerath.
• Free and open to the public.  
• Heron Arts is located at 7 Heron St, off of 8th Street near Harrison. 
• Facebook event is here. Additional information is here.  

Entrepreneur Training Program Begins June 22

• The next cohort of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District's Entrepreneur Training Program begins on Thursday, June 22.
• This 9-week program helps leather community folk start and build their businesses. 
• To apply please complete this application form.  
• Click here for full info!

Hundreds Celebrate the District's 5th Anniversary!

• We hope you were able to attend our Audacious Anniversary Party on May 6. 
• Check out the pictures, here.

Leather Contingent to March in Pride Parade

• The Leather Contingent rides again in the 2023 Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
  • The contingent organizes a parade entry, open to all, gear, leather and fetish attire encouraged.
• Organizer Robert Makowka invites you to attend an organizational meeting
  • This Saturday, May 13th at 1:00 pm
  • On the patio of the SF Eagle
  • Conveniently adjacent to the SOMA Second Saturdays festivities (see above).
• Nominations for Leather Marshalls of all genders are now being accepted. 
  • Send your nominations to Robert with the subject "Leather Marshall”.
• Fund-raising is now under way to cover expenses. 
• A Beer Bust at the SF Eagle on Sunday, June 4 is being planned
• Follow all the planning (and make suggestions) at the Facebook Group here. 
• Also watch for updates here.

More Contests

Mark your calendar for these newly-announced leather and kink community contests:

• The Mr. San Francisco Bear 2024 contest is scheduled for August 17-20, 2023. 
  • Cody "Codybear" Elkin (Mr. San Francisco Bear 2008, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2016) will provide details soon.  
• The Bay Area Cub Contest will take place on Sunday, August 20, 2023, from 4 to 8 pm, during the Beer Bust at the Lone Star Saloon.
  • This will end the title year of Bay Area Cub 2023 Daniel "Huggybear" Cherry.
  • The contest, sponsored by the Bears of San Francisco promotes body positivity, community building, and philanthropy,
  • The contest is non-gendered, and all definitions of "cub" are welcome.
  • Potential contestants or sponsors are invited to contact BayAreaCubContest@gmail.com.
• Leather Alliance Weekend, September 7 - 10, 2023, will include both the Mr. SF Leather contest and the new Mx. SF Leather contest.
  • Thursday, September 7, at 6 pm, Meet & Greet the contestants at Mr. S Leather.
  • Friday, Sept. 8, evening, Contestant Introductions and Fantasy Grab Bag event.
  • Saturday, September 9, at SOMArts, the Contests! followed by an Afterparty
  • Sunday, afternoon, Titleholder Social.
  • Contestant applications will be available June 2, and due by August 2.  
  • Watch for updates here or here.  

District Membership

• Join the Cultural District now! 
• Membership is $15 (dues waiver available for financial hardship).
• Click here to join or renew.
  • Do not share this link with others; it has been customized for you, and will expire in 7 days.  
• For assistance, please contact manager@sflcd.org.

Donations

• Help keep SOMA Kinky & Queer. Make a donation today! 
• Your gift helps keep our kinky places and spaces in SOMA, and supports community events, performances and public art.  
• Thanks!

Stay in Touch

• Tell your friends they can sign up to receive this newsletter at sflcd.org/signup.  
• Please use the social media links below to follow, repost, retweet, amplify, and share everything we do!      

It's that time of year when more things are happening than a single calendar can capture.  Check out some of our favorite community calendars here.  Stay busy, and stay kinky!