Founded in 1971, the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club was the nation’s first registered LGBTQ Democratic club. For more than five decades, it has helped build political leadership in San Francisco and beyond, providing a forum for civic engagement, policy debate, coalition-building, and campaign organizing. Club members and leaders have gone on to elected office, judicial service, public commissions, and senior government positions at the local, state, and national levels.
In this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times and during the heart of the 2026 midterm elections season, the Bay Times highlights important moments in the history of this influential club and spotlights individuals who were leaders of the club and who have since gone on to elected or appointed office. At least two, Senator Scott Wiener and Gary McCoy, are candidates in major competitive races to be decided this November.
The Bay Times in September attempted to contact several leaders of the city’s other historic LGBTQ Democratic club, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, but did not receive a response. In terms of the heated race for District 8 supervisor, it is noteworthy that both the Harvey and Alice clubs endorsed Gary McCoy and took seriously the statement and police report of Brad Joseph Chapin concerning former District 8 candidate Manny Yekutiel. The San Francisco Democratic Party, with Chapin present, instead chose to endorse Yekutiel while Chapin—a political activist and former board member of the Milk club—and others shouted, “Shame on you.” Two additional sexual assault allegations have since come to light and Yekutiel suspended his campaign on October 1, 2026.
The incident reveals, not just how contentious San Francisco politics can be even among fellow Democrats, but also how important the respective clubs’ endorsements often are. At a time when politics are shaped seemingly more than ever by money and the visibility and prestige that money can buy, the clubs inherently maintain an approach that is reliant more upon first-hand knowledge of the candidates and issues. It has been refreshing over the years as well as now to see such grassroots efforts frequently lead to real, sustaining positive impact on governance.
The Bay Times is therefore proud to launch in this issue a new column, “What Would Alice Say?” by the leaders of the Alice Club. Presently those leaders are Rabbi Martin Rawlings-Fein and Jane Natoli, who co-chair the club and are the first concurrent transgender co-chairs in the club’s long history. The Bay Times thanks them and invites you to read this new column each month.
Pipeline to Power
Published on October 8, 2026
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