San Francisco has always been at the vanguard of LGBTQ activism. Communities have developed resilient, place-based presence in neighborhoods across the City. In 2015, a “Cultural District” program was enacted in California State Statute, followed by San Francisco municipal ordinance in 2018, providing a structure for neighborhoods to organize around cultural affinity. The Cultural Districts take on issues of housing stabilization, small business retention and incubation, public space accessibility and safety, and cultural production. Amongst California cities (and cities across the country where state cultural district statues exist), California has the largest number of legislated Cultural Districts, one-third of them affiliated with LGBTQ neighborhoods. Come learn from local Cultural District leaders about the history — past; and in the making — of the queer geography of San Francisco.
Robin Abad Ocubillo, Urban Planner & Culture Worker (Moderator), is a dedicated public servant with a passion for civic innovation in public space design, planning, evaluation, and policy. His public service career spans municipal and nonprofit agencies serving San Francisco and the larger Bay Area; including a decade with the San Francisco Planning Department, City of Oakland, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Robin also brings extensive experience on governance and fiduciary boards, policy and organizational strategy. He currently serves on the board of the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, and of Illuminate the Arts. He is board member emeritus of the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center (LYRIC), Youth Arts Exchange, and is a founding member of the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza.
Robin is a curator and editor of social practice art; with past projects at The Global Cultural Districts Network, SF Urban Film Festival, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and SFMOMA. He has volunteered with the Frameline San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival for nearly 20 years and currently serves on its screening committee.
Tina Aguirre, Executive Director of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District (they/them), is the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District Director. Tina holds a BA in Communication from Stanford University, has worked in nonprofit grant-writing for decades, served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the GLBT Historical Society for four years and has made documentaries, produced arts festivals, and published in a poetry anthology. Tina curated the Chosen Familias exhibition on LGBTQ Latinx family photo albums (June 7-October 20, 2019) at the GLBT Historical Society Museum, along with the Giving Them Their Flowers/Living Lesbian Legends exhibition (November 1, 2024-January 31, 2026) at Queer Arts Featured. Tina is co-curating Conjuring Power: Roots & Futures of Queer & Trans Movements, with Caro De Robertis (March 13-August 23, 2026) at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Tina has lived in San Francisco since 1987.
Carlo Gomez Arteaga, Co-Executive Director the Transgender District, is an experienced organizer, advocate, fundraiser, and trainer with nearly 30 years of experience focused on youth and LGBTQIA+ equity, and immigrant rights. Currently, the Co-Executive Director for Transgender District in San Francisco, he supports the organization to create an urban environment that fosters the rich history, culture, legacy, and empowerment of transgender people and their deep roots in the southeastern Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.
Previous to this position Carlo directed an anti-poverty statewide campaign and coordinated donor development with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, focusing on Civic Engagement, Education Equity, Health, and Safety, and LGBTQIA+ Equality.
Carlo has a B.A. in Political Science & Spanish from DePaul University, studied Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University, and holds certifications in a number of areas including grassroots fundraising, peer counseling, group facilitation, youth development, harm reduction, and family & community engagement practices.
Bob Goldfarb, Executive Director of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, is a San Francisco resident of 28 years with a background in finance. He serves as the Executive Director of San Francisco’s LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, where he works to strengthen and celebrate the city’s leather organizations, nightlife, arts, and small businesses. He shepherded the District’s founding legislation through City Hall and regularly works with legislators to support placemaking efforts and reduce regulatory barriers affecting the community. He previously served as President of Folsom Street Events, producing the recognized Up Your Alley and Folsom Street Fairs.
Bob has held leadership roles in community organizations since 1991. He formerly served as Program Director for the Leathermen’s Discussion Group and previously chaired the Young Leathermen’s Discussion Group. Outside of his community work, Bob is a certified chocolate taster with domestic and international credentials. He judges chocolate competitions and recently served as a judge for the 2025 world finals.