By Derek Barnes–
It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, San Francisco opened the doors to a new chapter: the creation of a new LGBT community center. Many people were involved in this project from the idea’s inception, which had already been in the works for over a decade before officially opening in 2002. Part of what drew me and many others to the project was a vision to connect the past and future of our community in a way that would continue our healing and progress. The Center’s mission was audacious, on the edge of almost being unattainable. The Center wanted to be the one place in San Francisco where all LGBTQ+ people could feel welcome regardless of gender, race, age, or socioeconomic status.
Many naysayers questioned the relevance and need for such an institution in our community. Its promise threatened some nonprofit leaders. They were afraid that it would compete and ultimately consume other organizations providing critical services to advance the interests of, heal, and protect the city’s LGBTQ+ community. The goal was clear; build and maintain a 40,000 square foot world-class community center for future generations of LGBTQ+ San Franciscans. We did just that, and it was the first of its kind built from the ground up.
The challenges along the way were vast, and there are too many to mention in this column. Here are a few that stand out for me: conflicts with Nibbi Fine Line Construction; esthetics and issues integrating new construction with a 100-year-old Victorian structure (Fallon Building); a growing need for capital to fund an increasing project budget of $13M+; shifts in Executive Director leadership; debates naming of the building; operating economics that challenged the project in its first few years of operation; and the controversial color of the Victorian. The list from my recall is endless. Yet, the staff, board of directors, donors, City of San Francisco, and community were determined to fight for its existence. Like a sprout pushing up against its soil, earthly elements, and other unyielding forces, the doors finally opened in March 2002.
When I joined The Center’s board in 2000, I didn’t know what to expect in terms of involvement. It was clear that the project needed a working board and committees of volunteers. I was relatively new to the city and had just moved from the East Coast. It was a blessing for me to have a cohort of friends I already knew who moved here at the same time I did. However, I didn’t know many people who were native to the Bay Area or who had been here for many years but were originally from other places. Some vital context was missing for me regarding how the city “worked” and how to navigate it.
In many ways, I didn’t experience the isolation and non-connectedness of moving to a new place because I already had developed a strong network. For someone young or single, moving to a new city like San Francisco from a smaller town without having access to information, resources, activities, and guidance from others is extremely difficult. I’ve often said that San Francisco is a city filled with delightful irony. It is a relatively small and seemingly progressive town, but people can feel disconnected, isolated, and marginalized in it. It was my personal wake-up call to become more philanthropically involved. It became clear that The Center would be a vital place to start someone’s LGBTQ+ journey in San Francisco.
In addition to creating an enduring legacy and institution for the community of San Francisco to share, I have received many gifts by being part of this tremendous undertaking. It allowed me to be deeply involved in the work of philanthropy in a way that I had never before. As Chair of The Center’s Finance and Operations Committee, one of my more memorable achievements was finding this remarkably talented Director of Finance who would later become The Center’s Executive Director, Rebecca Rolfe, presiding since 2007. Along the way, I have met other remarkable people who remain close to me today. Many individuals were involved in creating this institutional pillar. The support of numerous community leaders is also extraordinary—Mayor Willie Brown, Senator Scott Wiener, Jody Cole, Mark Leno, Ken McNeely, and our own Betty Sullivan.
It’s hard to imagine San Francisco, the convening neighborhoods of The Castro, Hayes Valley, and SOMA, and the intersection of Octavia Blvd. and Market Street without the magnificent structure of The San Francisco LGBT Community Center. Over the last two decades, the development and revival within this part of town have been astonishing, including The Center’s own multi-million dollar renovation. The first place I owned in San Francisco was just blocks away and so it was easy to walk there for board meetings. The investment in this neighborhood has been unprecedented. It has truly become the city’s center that connects many different parts of the Bay Area and diverse parts of our community. This is precisely why The Center is so necessary.
The future is bright, and there are numerous opportunities that lie ahead for The Center as it continues to evolve and reimagine its mission in service to the LGBT community. That’s why it is here and why it was built. As time passes and the evolving needs of the community change, so will The Center’s space, activities, services, and programs.
It is a privilege and an honor to be part of such a worthy and ambitious endeavor. The monument of The Center stands on so many shoulders. Hundreds of thousands of people who have come through The LGBT Community Center’s doors over the last two decades have experiences, interactions, and engagement that they will not forget. We have all been touched deeply by our involvement in supporting a durable part of our community. Let’s all raise a glass to 20 years of success and many more years of possibility.
Derek Barnes is the CEO of the East Bay Rental Housing Association
(www.EBRHA.com ). He currently serves on the boards of Horizons Foundation and Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @DerekBarnesSF or on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF
Published on April 7, 2022
Recent Comments