West SoMa's LGBTQ Community Spots! February 13, 2026

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get some historic context on the freedoms and tragedy experienced in West SoMa's LGBTQ community in the 1980s from the book or the HBO series "And the Band Played On" by Randy Shilts
• SF Eagle - 398 12th Street A leather community cornerstone!
• Lone Star Saloon - 1354 Harrison Street Where bears, bikers, and daddies and their admirers gather!
• The Stud - 1123 Folsom Street A place for everybody 'weird and wonderful!'
• Powerhouse - 1347 Folsom Street Sex-positive home for fetish enthusiasts and cruising!

Check out past episodes of this podcast at the To Do San Francisco podcast archive.

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Transcript

Jamie Whitaker 0:17

Hello and welcome. This is Jamie. You're listening to the To Do San Francisco podcast for Friday, February13, 2026. Now, some people get a little superstitious on Friday the thirteenth, but I want you to flip the script. Consider this your lucky day. You made it through the week, you're standing on the doorstep of the weekend, and you're living in a city that celebrates every shade of the human experience. Take a moment to appreciate the person in the mirror today. You are brave, you are original, and you are exactly where you're supposed to be. Let's make some magic happen. Today we're diving into the historically industrial and mixed use neighborhood of West SoMa, South of Market, specifically the Leather & LGBTQ cultural district. To understand SoMa, you have to understand its history. In his seminal book "And the Band Played On," Randy Shilts chronicled the early days of the AIDS crisis right here. He famously wrote about Gaeton Dugas, the man labeled Patient Zero, who was a frequent fixture in the SoMa bathhouse scene or playing pinball at The Ambush nightclub. In the early 1980s, places like the Ritch Street Health Club were the center of a massive, painful debate. In 1984, the city moved to shut the bathhouses down to curb the spread of the virus, a move that fractured the community between those fighting for public health and those fighting to protect the sexual liberation they had worked so hard to build. SoMa survived that dark chapter, evolving from a miracle mile of leather into the resilient cultural district we see today. If you're looking to explore the neighborhood's current LGBTQ anchors, here's a breakdown. The SF Eagle at 398 12th Street. Founded in 1981, the Eagle is the cornerstone of the leather community and was officially designated as San Francisco Landmark in 2021. It appeals to a broad LGBTQ crowd but stays true to its leather roots. It's famous for its Sunday afternoon beer bust. If you want to see the community in its purest, most joyful form, that's the place to be. The Lone Star Saloon at 1354 Harrison Street. Since 1989, the Lone Star has been the worldwide home for bears, bikers, and daddies. It's scruffy, low pretension, and incredibly welcoming. Their back patio is one of the best hidden sunny spots in the city, perfect for a relaxed afternoon pint. The Stud at 1123 Folsom Street. The Stud is a legend that refused to die. Originally opened in 1966, it's the oldest worker-owned queer cooperative bar in the country. It caters to the artist, drag performers, and 'weird and wonderful' club kids. It's the place where anything goes and everyone is celebrated. And then there's Powerhouse at 1347 Folsom Street. This is for the kink and fetish crowd. Reopened in its current form in 1997. It's a no attitude dive bar that leans into the neighborhood's darker, sex positive roots. Think heavy cruising, industrial vibes, and legendary themed nights. It's raw, it's honest, and it's a vital piece of SoMa LGBTQ history. For today's civility tip, consent. When you're in these spaces, especially in SoMa where the vibe can be a bit more adventurous, remember that consent is the golden rule. Just because someone is wearing leather, a harness, or nothing but a pair of boots doesn't mean they are an open invitation. Always ask before you touch, and always respect a no. These bars are sacred spaces of freedom and safety. Let's keep them that way by treating every person's boundaries with the same respect you want for your own. That's your Friday guide to some of South of Market's LGBTQ spaces. Get out there, be your authentic self, and have a safe, spectacular night. Have a fabulous weekend, San Francisco.