SF LGBT Center executive director to step down
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SF LGBT Center executive director Rebecca Rolfe speaks at an event in 2024. Photo courtesy of SF LGBT Center
Rebecca Rolfe, the longtime executive director of San Francisco's LGBT Center, plans on retiring at the end of the year after serving at the organization for more than two decades.
Why it matters: Rolfe, who announced her departure at the center's annual fundraising event Saturday evening, is stepping down at a tumultuous time for the community amid the Trump administration's efforts to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ people.
- Since first opening in 2002, the center has been a crucial hub as the sole organization dedicated to serving the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ people in San Francisco.
What they're saying: "I think there's a mistaken belief that in San Francisco, we have somehow magically conquered homophobia and transphobia and racism," Rolfe told Axios ahead of Saturday's event. "The reality is that we continue to see those challenges here as well."
By the numbers: The San Francisco metro area is home to the highest concentration of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., per 2021 Williams Institute estimates.
- More LGBTQ+ people have also moved to San Francisco in recent years in search of acceptance, safety and security, Rolfe said.
Between the lines: Discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ people can lead to increased difficulties accessing resources like housing, employment and health care, Rolfe added.
- Rolfe spearheaded a number of new initiatives during her tenure, such as housing and employment resource programs, specialized support for youth and trans communities and yoga classes for queer and trans people.
The big picture: The center also launched "Unbreakable Pride" two years ago in partnership with other LGBTQ+ organizations across the U.S. to provide support services, advocacy and resources beyond the Bay Area.
- "We are, for many people, literally the yellow brick road. We're the vision of what might be possible for queer folks," Rolfe said of the organization and the city as a whole.
What's next: The center has yet to announce Rolfe's replacement, though she will remain in the role through December.
The bottom line: "In spite of the fact that I've been here so long, I'm a believer in change, and I'm really excited to see the direction that the center will continue to grow in," Rolfe said.