""I am deeply honored to step into this role and build on the center's incredible legacy," said Valles. "This is a critical moment for our community. We are facing growing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights alongside increasing demand for services, and we cannot afford to let this become our new status quo. I believe deeply in our collective power to resist, to imagine, and to drive real change, both here in San Francisco and nationally.""
""We are proud to welcome Jen as the center's next Executive Director," said MK Johnson and Travis B. Mitchell, Board Co-Chairs. "Jen stands out for her charisma, passion, and strategic vision, as well as her ability to bring people together around shared purpose. She has earned the respect and trust of the center's staff and the San Francisco community over many years, and we have full confidence in her ability to lead the organization into its next chapter.""
Jen Valles will assume the Executive Director role at the SF LGBT Center in January 2026 following a formal, multi-stage search process. The center welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually and provides direct services to nearly 7,000 people, with many service users identifying as transgender, youth, and immigrants. Valles takes leadership as LGBTQ+ organizations face a sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, strained funding, and surging demand for services. Under Valles' stewardship the center plans to expand as a trusted local resource and national leader, strengthen programs, and shape solutions for those most impacted by systemic injustice. Board Co-Chairs MK Johnson and Travis B. Mitchell expressed full confidence in her leadership, and outgoing Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe expressed excitement and confidence about the transition.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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