Board of Supervisors Approves Mayor Breed's Legislation to Purchase New, Permanent Home for Nation's First LGBTQ History Museum

San Francisco, CA - Today, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve legislation sponsored by Mayor London N. Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman that will allow for the purchase of 2280 Market Street in the heart of the Castro neighborhood to serve as the permanent home of the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives.

The announcement last month by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Mandelman that San Francisco had identified a permanent home for the Museum is the result of years of collaboration between Mayor Breed's Office, Supervisor Mandelman's Office, the City's Real Estate Division, the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and local non-profit partners, including the GLBT Historical Society.

"Today's vote marks a monumental step in our decades-long work to find a suitable space that will preserve the City's LGBTQ history and culture and pay tribute to those who have fought for equality and justice not just for San Francisco, but for the entire nation," said Mayor London Breed. "What better place for a permanent home where this museum will welcome visitors from around the world than the Castro district, a destination beloved and renowned by so many. I thank Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, Senator Scott Wiener, our LGBTQ leaders and allies for their dedicated work and advocacy to make this moment a reality."

In 2021, Mayor Breed dedicated $12.5 million for the acquisition of a site of a future LGBTQ History Museum and in 2022, through the work of Senator Wiener, the State of California allocated an additional $5.5 million to move this project forward.

With the approval of this legislation, the City can now enter into a purchase and sale agreement for 2280 Market Street. Once the sale in finalized, the City will enter into a lease agreement with the GLBT Historical Society and Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), a community-centered, arts and culture-focused real estate organization that works to secure and steward affordable spaces for non-profit arts and culture organizations in San Francisco.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Supervisors Connie Chan, Matt Dorsey, Joel Engardio, Myrna Melgar, Dean Preston, and Catherine Stefani.

"Mayor Breed deserves enormous credit for committing budget resources for this acquisition back in 2021 and preserving those funds in our City budget each year since then," said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. "During that time, we have explored a number of different sites in the Castro and beyond, had our hopes variously raised and dashed. In the end, I believe we have found an ideal location, in the heart of the Castro with space for the museum to make its permanent home now, and with plenty of room to expand in the future. Thanks to Senator Wiener, the museum will enter that space with a solid start on the fundraising that will be needed to make it the first-class celebration of LGBTQ history the Castro and the queer community deserve. The future of America's best gayborhood is getting brighter all the time."

"At a time when right-wing forces are attempting to erase LGBTQ people, one of the most powerful things we can do is tell our stories," said Senator Wiener. "This amazing museum will finally provide a space to tell that story in a compelling and comprehensive way, right in the heart of the neighborhood that gave the LGBTQ rights movement so much progress. I'm thrilled to see this project advance and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come."

Located in the intersection of Market and Noe streets, next to the iconic and newly renovated Fisch & Flore restaurant, the property at 2280 Market Street consists of a 14,640 square foot parcel with a two-story, 22,330 square foot building, and a 33-space parking lot. The building's second floor will be vacant when acquired and will provide an approximately 11,165 square foot space for the upcoming museum.

The City anticipates that the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives will explore expanding into the ground floor space as current tenant leases expire over the course of the next several years. The current GLBT Historical Society Museum is located in the Castro at 4127 18th Street; the facility is one level and 1,660 square feet.

The acquisition of a new space for the GLBT Historical Society Museum was welcomed news among the City's LGBTQ community, including many local leaders who for decades have advocated for a suitable permanent space that would preserve the City's LGBTQ's history in the Castro. Last month, Mayor Breed joined Supervisor Mandelman, Senator Wiener, City officials, as well as leaders from the GLBT Historical Society, CAST, and hundreds of people from the LGBTQ community in San Francisco for the official community celebration to mark this new milestone.

"Today marks a pivotal and historic moment for the LGBTQ community and for San Francisco. We extend our deepest gratitude to Mayor Breed, Supervisor Mandelman, Senator Wiener, and former Supervisor Dufty for their leadership and Board President Peskin and the full Board of Supervisors for their unwavering support in securing a permanent home for the GLBT Historical Society's museum and archives at 2280 Market Street," said GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana. "This milestone resonates nationally, preserving our community's stories and struggles for future generations. Together, we celebrate this progress and look ahead to creating a vibrant, enduring home for LGBTQ history and culture in the heart of the Castro. We call on our community and allies to support the next planning phase to bring this vision to life."

"We are thrilled that the GLBT Historical Society has sailed through the next stage of City approvals and that the Board of Supervisors recognize the importance in creating a permanent home for this important cultural institution," said CAST CEO Ken Ikeda. "CAST is excited to now turn our attention to our partnership with GLBT and the work of readying the facility to be the sustainable and transformative space they have envisioned."

The City will establish a public-private partnership with the GLBT Historical Society and CAST for the purposes of managing and operating the property, the assumed leases, and the museum; The Real Estate Division will lease the property. The lease and sublease agreements are anticipated to be brought to the Board of Supervisors for approval in mid-2025. Ultimately, the City and CAST share the GLBT Historical Society's goal of owning the property.

As one of the first gay neighborhoods in the United States, the Castro is recognized internationally as a symbol of LGBTQ advocacy, freedom, and expression. Over the last several months, the Castro/Upper Market district has become an even more vibrant destination with new businesses opening, reopening, or undergoing improvements. Some examples include the reopening of Fisch & Flore last spring, the remodeling of Beaux, and opening of Bar49 in the summer. Other recent openings include Taboo by Healing Cuts, SF Fave, a new handmade apparel and screen print shop, and Tacos El Tucán.

Additional information on the GLBT Historical Society may be found at this link. To learn more about the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, click here.

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