Committee forwards plan to add ‘Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’ street signs in SoMa

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 13 to forward to the full Board a resolution to install placemaking street signs reading “Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District” at 26 intersections in the South of Market neighborhood.

Brian Dahl, legislative aide to Supervisor Matt Dorsey, told the committee the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District was established in 2018 to recognize and promote the neighborhood’s cultural and commercial history. He said the signs would be installed beneath existing street signs and coordinated with Public Works and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

"The signs … will be similar to those within the Japantown, Calle 24, and American Indian cultural districts," Dahl said, arguing they establish a sense of place in culturally rich neighborhoods.

Several speakers from the district urged the committee to approve the resolution. Bob Brown, president of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District board, said the district has already made "inroads" through placemaking projects and welcomed international interest in the neighborhood. David Hyman, chair of the district’s arts and culture committee, told the committee that wayfinding and signage help locals and visitors identify distinct queer cultural sites. Resident Steven Okay said the municipal signs matter because "it will be up 365 days of the year," not just during festivals or parades.

The committee’s vice chair, Supervisor Dean Preston, moved to forward the resolution with a positive recommendation. The clerk recorded President Aaron Peskin and Vice Chair Preston voting 'Aye' and the motion passed to send the item to the Board docket, where items acted upon at the committee are expected to appear on the Nov. 28, 2023 Board agenda unless otherwise stated.

If the Board adopts the resolution, Public Works and SFMTA will coordinate installation and exact locations for the 26 intersections in the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District. The committee made no changes to the proposal; the item advances for full Board consideration.