San Francisco Planning, together with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the San Francisco Entertainment Commission, has begun developing a Citywide LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy to preserve and promote LGBTQ+ cultural heritage in San Francisco. Specifically, it will provide a comprehensive series of identified projects, procedures, programs or techniques to safeguard LGBTQ+ cultural heritage.

What is Cultural Heritage?

Cultural heritage is the expression of a community's ways of living through beliefs, customs, practices, artistic expression, and significant places. It inspires community pride and awareness of local historic resources, emboldening a sense of identity and responsibility to society at large.

Cultural heritage includes both the tangible, such as a building or work of art, and the intangible, such as a dance or ritual. An example of San Francisco's tangible LGBTQ+ cultural heritage is the Harvey Milk Residence Castro Camera Building at 575 Castro Street. Intangible aspects of LGBTQ+ cultural heritage include the City's annual Pride Celebration.

An LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Working Group comprised of community members, organizations, nightlife and cultural heritage stakeholders organized in 2017 to contribute to the development of the Strategy on topics such as cultural celebration, place-making, community services, community preservation, and economic opportunities.

Timeline

September – December 2018

With direction from the Working Group, San Francisco Planning will prepare a Citywide LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy report. The purpose of the report is to:

• Identify the needs and concerns of the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco
• Articulate goals for the management of LGBTQ+ resources
• Lists projects, procedures, programs or techniques to achieve the strategy goals and will include timelines, project leads and potential partners
• Outline a process for developing and prioritizing projects that support the goals and meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community

Winter 2019

The LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Working Group and San Francisco Planning will seek adoption of the LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage by the Board of Supervisors with recommendations by the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission.

Get Involved

Committees

The LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy Working Group determined that forming committees on topics of interest to community members would help identify concerns or goals that will contribute to the development of the LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy.

Economic Opportunity and Equity:

• Tré Russell Allen: tre.e.allen.3@gmail.com

Arts, Culture and Heritage:

• Shayne Watson: sf_LGBTQ+_hp@yahoo.com
• Terry Beswick terry@glbthistory.org
• Ramona Webb ramonawebbqcc@gmail.com

Community Services and Education:

• Amanda Hamilton: amandahamilton@outlook.com
• Jennifer Hand: jennifer.hand.consulting@gmail.com

 

LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy Working Group Meetings

Date	Item
April 19, 2017	Notice of Meeting and Agenda Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2017	Agenda Committee Contact Info (PDF) Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2017	Agenda Meeting Minutes Toolkit Packet of Resources & Guides (PDF) Working Group Commitment Form (PDF) Comment Card and Feedback Form (Doc)
January 9, 2017	Meeting Minutes

Public Hearings

• Historic Preservation Commission, September 19, 2018
  LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy Case No. 2017-000465OTH

Resources

• Citywide Historic Context Statement for LGBTQ+ History in San Francisco (2016)
• LGBTQ+ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History
• Recognizing, Protecting and Memorializing South of Market LGBTQ+ Social Heritage Neighborhood Resources
• Sustaining San Francisco's Living History: Strategies for Conserving Cultural Heritage Assets
• San Francisco Board of Supervisors' resolution recommending the creation of a Citywide LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy
• Japantown Cultural Heritage and Economic Sustainability Strategy (JCHESS)
• A Cultural Heritage Manifesto

PIM Information
All properties currently identified within the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Historic Context Statement may be found on the Department's Property Information Map. All LGBTQ+ properties may be highlighted by clicking the "map" button next to the "Historic Context Statements" section on the "Preservation" tab. The corresponding page number and a link to the context statement are also provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did this come about?

Both the Western SoMa Community Planning Effort and the Central SoMa Area Plan contain policies prioritizing the development of an LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy.  The adoption of the LGBTQ+ Historic Context Statement in October 2015 by the Historic Preservation Commission provided a foundation for this effort. In 2016 the Board of Supervisors jumpstarted the process by passing Resolution No. 446-16 recognizing San Francisco's rich LGBTQ+ culture and the historic and ongoing importance of nightlife businesses as social spaces, venues for art, political organizing and places to build community.  The resolution calls for the establishment of an LGBTQ+ Nightlife and Culture Working Group tasked with developing and drafting a plan to implement a Citywide LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy to protect, preserve, and expand LGBTQ+ nightlife and cultural heritage.

What is the City's role?

San Francisco Planning will serve as facilitator, technical advisor and partner working with community members and organizations, business owners and operators, to organize and define the goals of the strategy. The strategy will identify existing City programs and services that can be expanded or adapted to assist in its implementation and opportunities where City agencies can collaborate.  Potential partners include San Francisco Travel, the Arts Commission, the Recreation and Park Department, the Department of Public Works, the Office of Small Business, and others.

How can I get involved?

Sign up for email updates on future developments and events related to the LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy. 

We'll have more opportunities posted soon!