San Francisco Eagle (also SF Eagle, or simply The Eagle; formerly Eagle Tavern) is a gay bar founded in 1981 in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, in the U.S. state of California. It is part of the informal, global network of "Eagle" bars that cater to leather and kink communities. The bar also caters to the bear community.
History The Eagle was founded in 1981 by Bob Damron, and Jay Levine; Damron was also the creator of Bob Damron’s Address Book, a gay travel guide. During the early years of the AIDS crisis the bar lost many employees, and the bar manager Terry Thompson raised funds to support the community, and AIDS charities.
In 1998, it was sold to John Gardiner and Joe Banks, with the caveat it would continue to have the name “Eagle” in it. It was re-named Eagle Tavern in 1998. In August 2012, it was taken over by Lex Montiel and Mike Leon, and was renamed SF Eagle. Lex Montiel is one of the bar's owners, as of 2018.
The San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley consists of four works of art along Ringold Alley honoring the leather subculture; it opened in 2017. One of the works of art is metal bootprints along the curb which honor 28 people (including Terry Thompson, who had managed the bar) who were an important part of the leather communities of San Francisco.
See also
The Eagle (gay bars) LGBTQ culture List of LGBTQ bars List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks
References
External links