Miss Billie [Cooper], Gwenn [Craig], Honey [Mahogany], and Pat [Norman] are all great examples of leaders that have made change on local and national levels,” added Aguirre. “I am proud to partner with Serge Gay Jr. on this mural because his art is gorgeous and reflects our values on many levels.

Tina Aguirre, District Director

This information underscores the need for intentional small business support that centers LGBTQ culture and community needs in the Castro district

Tina Aguirre, District Director

A lot of good work has been done in other parts of the city to establish cultural districts. It makes sense to have a Castro LGBTQ Cultural District and be able to access the resources available in the city for cultural districts,

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman of District 8

We have seen too much displacement, gentrification, and the loss of access to resources and community activities have been profound,” Haines said. “I see cultural districts as a valuable tool and opportunity to be a positive force to push back against these issues and to bring our focus on to uplifting underrepresented demographics in the Castro

Activist, Shaun Haines

It took us a while to wake up and say, ‘Hey, these places are closing. Landlords are using this for other stuff.’ And you reach a critical mass at some point and it’s like the whole neighborhood’s changed

 Fred Baumer, docent at the GLBT History Museum

The designation of the cultural district from the city was an acknowledgment that to us, you do exist and you are important, so we need to protect you

Erick Arguello, President / Resident Chair of Calle 24 Latino Cultural District