From nonprofit leaders to real estate pros to cultural icons, San Francisco's LGBTQ community is represented by a cross section of the best and brightest. Here's our list of those who make a profound difference everyday.
Chris Verdugo
CHRIS VERDUGO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS
JAMES WOOLLEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRAMELINE
ALLEGRA MADSEN
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING, FRAMELINE
MYLES THATCHER
DANCER, SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
REGGIE AQUI
ANCHOR-REPORTER, ABC7
SUZANNE FORD
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SF PRIDE
OKAN SENGUN
CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LGBT ASYLUM PROJECT
HONEY MAHOGANY
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE ALUM, TRANSGENDER CHAIR SAN FRANCISCO DEMOCRATIC PARTY
JETHRO PATALINGHUG
FILMMAKER, VISUAL ARTIST, BOARD MEMBER LGBTQ+ ASIAN PACIFIC ALLIANCE
CAROLYN WYSINGER
BOARD PRESIDENT, SF PRIDE
DONNA SACHET
DRAG CELEBRITY
PAUL HENDERSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SF DEPARTMENT OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
D’ARCY DROLLINGER
DRAG CELEBRITY, OWNER OASIS
CRITTY SMITTY
MULTIMEDIA ARTIST
STEFANIE ROUMELIOTES
FOUNDER AND CEO, SGR CONSULTING
RAINIER KOENERS
MANAGING DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP
Peaches Christ
PEACHES CHRIST
DRAG CELEBRITY
ARIA SA’ID
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMPTON’S TRANSGENDER CULTURAL DISTRICT
CLEVE JONES
SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER, NAMES PROJECT AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT
SCOTT WIENER
STATE SENATOR
KEVIN KOPJAK
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, PRISMATIC COMMUNICATIONS
DAN BERNAL
CHIEF OF STAFF, SAN FRANCISCO CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY PELOSI
JANETTA JOHNSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRANSGENDER GENDER-VARIANT & INTERSEX JUSTICE PROJECT
REBECCA ROLFE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SF LGBT CENTER
LAURA LALA-CHÁVEZ
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LYRIC
TIM WOODS AND ADAMS HOLLAND
OWNERS, TIMOTHY ADAMS CHOCOLATES
FREDDIE SEIPOLDT
SINGER AND SONGWRITER, OUTLOUD RAISING VOICES MUSICAL FESTIVAL 2022
NAZ KHORRAM
ACTIVIST, ARTIST OWNER, ARCANA
ALPHA ANDROMEDA
DRAG CELEBRITY, HOST SILICON VALLEY PRIDE’S QUARANTINE QUEENS TALK SHOW
ALYAH BAKER
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER, SHOW & TELL CONCEPT SHOP
BREATHLESS/HONEY B
HIP-HOP ARTIST, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, CO-FOUNDER VENUS RISING COLLECTIVE
RAFAEL MANDELMAN
SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Mark Rhoades
MARK RHOADES
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT
GREY “E” LEIFER
CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER, PLAY OUT APPAREL
CÉSAR SALZA
CONTENT CREATOR, TECH EXPERT
THOMAS E. HORN
PRESIDENT, SAN FRANCISCO WAR MEMORIAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
RACHEL HERBERT AND DANA OPPENHEIM
OWNERS, DOLORES PARK CAFE, PRECITA PARK CAFE
JEREMY NOVY
ARTIST
JEWELLE GOMEZ
WRITER AND ACTIVIST
KEN MCNEELY
PRESIDENT, AT&T WEST CORPORATE BOARD DIRECTOR, DE&I CHAMPION BOARD MEMBER, SFMOMA
CY CHIA
FOUNDER, LION DANCE CAFE
CEDRE CSILLAGI
CO-OWNER, FOUNDER, DIVING SWALLOW TATTOO
KAREN ROBERTS AND DANETTE SHEPPARD-VAUGHN
CO-FOUNDERS, HAUTEBUTCH
JACOB STENSBERG
CONDUCTOR, COMPOSER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS
RACHEL LARK
SINGER, SONGWRITER, SEX-RELATIONSHIP EDUCATOR
CLAIR FARLEY
SENIOR CONSULTANT, TRANSCLINIQUE
Marga Gomez
MARGA GOMEZ
PLAYWRIGHT AND COMEDIAN
JOHN ALEXANDER
GARDEN DESIGNER, LANDSCAPER, OWNER, ALEXANDER NURSERIES
PATRICIA NARCISO
CHEF AND OWNER, ALFAJORES NARCISO
FRANK NOLAN
CO-OWNER, VANGUARD PROPERTIES
REGAN LONG
CO-FOUNDER, CEO, BREWMASTER, LOCAL BREWING CO.
DINO BOCALA AND MARK LEAHY
CO-OWNERS, BELLA FIORA, SF PLANTS
CHANEY TURNER
FOUNDER, BEYOND EQUITY
NJERI AKOSUA
ARTIST
LEX SLOAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROXIE THEATER
AMBER SENTER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD, SUPERNOVA WOMEN FOUNDER AND CEO OF MAKR HOUSE AND EQUITYWORKS! INCUBATOR
supernovawomen.com, equityworksincubator.com
SERGE GAY JR.
GRAMMY-NOMINATED VISUAL ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, SERGESHOP
RAMEKON O’ARWISTERS
ARTIST
CRYSTAL VIELULA
ART EDUCATOR AND MURALIST, CLARION ALLEY MURAL PROJECT
KEN FULK
DESIGNER
TORY TEASLEY
FUNK AND SOUL VOCALIST, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, QUEER ARTS CENTER
Photography by: BRENDAN MAININI, PHOTOGRAPHED AT 181 FREMONT; ASH DANIELSON; COURTESY OF MARK RHOADES; BY BRENNA MERRITT;
