2026 Election Results
From 111 eligible voters, 54 votes were cast.
Candidates elected (Majority ≥ 28):
- Nicky Calma (36 votes)
- Orion Lam (35 votes)
- Iowayna Pena (29 votes)
Election Info
Open Seats
There are currently four (4) seats on the Board of Directors open for election for a 2027-30 term.
Voter Eligibility
Must be a member in good standing (paid dues, not suspended) and joined/renewed on or before July 14th, 2026.
How to Vote
Voting is online via Election Runner.
- Look for an email with your Voter ID & Key on the morning of September 12th.
- Click the link, review candidates, and cast your ballot.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 14 | Date of Record (Voter eligibility cutoff) |
| July 22 — Aug 19 | Nomination Period |
| Aug 19 | Nominations Close (5:00 PM PDT) |
| Sept 2 | Candidate Statements & Bios Published |
| Sept 12-15 | Voting Period (72 Hours) |
| Sept 12 (11:00 AM) | Election Officials & Observers Meeting (Launch ElectionRunner) |
| Sept 12 (12:00 PM) | Annual General Meeting (AGM Info) |
Election Procedures & Transparency Guidelines
To ensure absolute fairness, transparency, and compliance with the SFLGBTPCC Bylaws, the 2026 Board of Directors Election is governed by strict procedural rules and audited by independent observers. Review the detailed sections below to learn more about the voting mechanics, auditing, tie-breaking, and accessibility standards.
Ballot Mechanics & "Bullet Voting"
With four (4) open seats on the Board of Directors, each eligible voting member can select up to four candidates on their secure ballot. There is no requirement to select all four; members can choose to vote for fewer candidates if they prefer (referred to as "bullet voting"). Each selected candidate receives exactly one vote from your ballot.
The "Simple Majority" Requirement
To be certified as elected to an open seat, a candidate must receive a simple majority of all valid votes cast. This is defined as 50% of the returned ballots + 1. If more than four candidates receive a simple majority, the four candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected.
Membership Quorum Requirement
For the Board of Directors election to be valid and representative of our community, a quorum of one-third (33.3%) of the active eligible membership must return their ballots. Based on the finalized voter roll of 111 eligible voting members, a minimum of 37 valid ballots must be cast for the election results to be certified.
In accordance with SF Pride's strict transparency standards, the entire election process is monitored by independent Election Observers — active members of the organization who are in good standing but are not running for office, serving on the board, or otherwise conflicted.
Election Officials and Observers Meeting
Saturday, September 12 · 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT
Meeting to verify configurations and launch the ElectionRunner.com election prior to the AGM.
PIN: 988 926 216#
System Validation
Prior to the launch of voting on September 12th, observers audit the Election Runner platform setup to verify that all candidate profiles, bios, photographs, and system constraints are configured correctly and securely.
Voter Roll Reconciliation
Observers witness the final verification of the eligible voter roster, ensuring that voter keys are only sent to qualified, verified members in good standing on the Date of Record.
Witnessing the Tally
During the decryption and certification of the online ballot box on the morning of September 15th, observers actively witness the tallying process and have authority to inspect system logs.
Immediate Digital Run-Off
In the event of a tie that affects who is elected (for example, a tie for the fourth and final seat, or if there is a tie that determines whether a candidate met the simple majority threshold), an immediate run-off election will be initiated.
A special run-off ballot will be configured in Election Runner within 48 hours of the election results being checked. All eligible voters from the main election will receive a new secure invitation to vote. If the run-off election produces another tie, the voting with respect to the candidates in question will be postponed until the next general planning or quarterly membership meeting, where active members present will resolve the tie in accordance with SFLGBTPCC Bylaws.
Physical Workstations
We want to ensure that every single member of our community has a voice. For any member who does not have computer access, a reliable internet connection, or compatible screen readers, a secure, physical voting terminal is available. You can make an appointment to use a secure terminal at the The Street Fair Coalition (264 9th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103) during our regular operating hours. Please email membership@sfpride.org to schedule.
Authorized Assistance
If you require physical assistance or technical guidance to navigate the online voting platform, you may request the assistance of an Election Official. To guarantee the absolute secrecy and integrity of your ballot, this assistance will be conducted under the direct supervision of an independent Election Observer.
Board Attendance Record
Attendance record for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors.
Candidate Statements
Candidates for the 2027-30 Term
Daijon Jackson
he/him IncumbentStatement
Dear Members of San Francisco Pride,
I’m writing to ask for your support in my candidacy for the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors.
I’ve built my career in the space between government and community — the work of making sure the people a decision affects are actually in the room where it gets made. I served as a Field Representative in the California State Assembly, focused on constituent engagement and community partnerships. I’m currently the campaign coordinator for Gary McCoy’s campaign to represent District 8, which puts me in the Castro’s rooms every week: with merchants, with nightlife operators, with the residents and organizations who carry that neighborhood’s history. San Francisco Pride and District 8 have long been bound up in each other, and those are relationships I would bring to this board.
At the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, I’ve served as PAC Chair and, for the past two years, as Finance Chair. In that time, I’ve organized the Alice Pride Breakfast twice, growing what it raises for LGBTQ+ political advocacy across the Bay Area each year. That work taught me the things a board actually needs: how to build a budget and hold to it, how to ask people for money without asking them to compromise what they believe, and how to keep a coalition together when the money gets tight.
Outside of formal politics, I’ve spent time on the parts of queer life that don’t come with a title. I helped support El Sobrante’s first Pride celebration. And my work uplifting San Francisco’s emerging Gen Z queer nightlife scene was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle — because a Pride that only exists for one weekend a year, for people who already know how to find it, isn’t doing its whole job.
If elected, I’d focus on three things.
First, funding that doesn’t leave us exposed. The last two years made clear how quickly a budget built on corporate sponsorship can shift underneath us. I want to grow the individual, member, and foundation side of SF Pride’s revenue, so that when a sponsor gets nervous about the political weather, our community isn’t the one that pays for it.
Second, bringing younger queer people in as members, not just as attendees. There’s a whole generation that shows up to Pride weekend with no relationship to the organization that produces it. I’d work to change that — through membership, through year-round programming, and by going where they already are instead of waiting for them to find us.
Third, governance the membership can see. Members should be able to understand how decisions get made and where the money goes without having to ask twice.
San Francisco Pride is one of the few institutions our community owns outright. I would be honored to help steward it.
Thank you for your consideration.
Daijon Jackson (He/Him)
Bio
Daijon Jackson (he/him) is a political professional and community organizer whose work sits at the intersection of government and LGBTQ+ advocacy. He served as a Field Representative in the California State Assembly, focused on constituent engagement and community partnerships, and is currently the campaign coordinator for Gary McCoy’s campaign to represent San Francisco’s District 8.
At the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Daijon has served as PAC Chair and has spent the past two years as Finance Chair. In that role he has organized the Alice Pride Breakfast two years running, growing its fundraising for LGBTQ+ political advocacy across the Bay Area each year.
His community work extends well beyond electoral politics. He helped support El Sobrante’s inaugural Pride celebration, and his efforts to uplift San Francisco’s emerging Gen Z queer nightlife scene were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Daijon brings to the San Francisco Pride Board a record in fundraising, budget oversight, and coalition-building, along with a conviction that Pride should be both a celebration and a year-round platform for the community that owns it.
Iowayna Pena
she/herStatement
Dear SF Pride Board of Directors and Members,
My name is Iowayna Peña (she/her), and I write to you expressing my interests and intent to join the SF Pride Board of Directors for this current Board cycle. As a longtime educator, community steward, and leader, I’ve learned much about balancing joy and celebration while working in the midst of challenging times. These days consist of many critical advocacy moments that impact our broader LGBTQ+ community, and while there is more work needed to continue our collective quest for equality, especially for our youth, there is a need for joy and celebration along the way. I believe in the role that an organization like SF Pride curates–the events, discussions, and presence created by the organization are important mainstays in a City like ours needs. In the balance lies our cultural history, celebration of our community leaders, diverse representation, and collaboration with organizations to uplift the richness of this community.
I have actively served in this community in similar roles, most recently as a Co-Chair for the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, where I produced the annual Pride breakfast 2 consecutive years. Additionally, I have had the pleasure of working with the leadership of SF Pride over the past 5 years, coordinating and collaborating on various opportunities for representation within the sports industry. I hope to contribute my experience in large capacity event planning and production, community-based advocacy, and strategic partnerships to continue these efforts.
In Community, Iowayna Peña
Bio
Iowayna Peña (she/her) is a long-serving champion for human rights. From professional sports, workforce development, and education, she is “Jill” of all trades and a master of each; finding the intersection where organizational goals and social impact meet. Iowayna started her career in Long Beach, CA, where she utilized her research from one of the top Kinesiology master programs in the country to teach and train elite athletes.
Ready for a new challenge, she moved to San Francisco after being accepted into a rigorous teacher training program. Spurred to action by the disparities her students and families faced outside the classroom, she dedicated her talents to creating impactful public policy both in Oakland and San Francisco. Iowayna’s reputation for community-centered, thoughtful, and balanced solutions earned her recognition as SF Business Times–Top 100 Influential Women of the Year (2023), and Bayard Rustin Coalition–Outstanding Leadership in Community; in addition to her seat in Leadership San Francisco, Coro’s Women in Leadership program, and as Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club.
Returning to her love of sports, Iowayna used her experience in shaping local Bay Area public policy to lead the Mission Rock Development Project for the San Francisco Giants. As the Director of Government Affairs and Real Estate Development, she led the supplier diversity program and implementation of the groundbreaking women’s construction workforce training, creating opportunities for local residents and small businesses in San Francisco.
Whether Iowayna is developing new communities, or fortifying existing ones, you can count on her to create meaningful solutions to some of our most pressing societal issues. Iowayna continues to be an active volunteer in her community, and in her free time enjoys hiking with her family or cruising around on her skateboard.
Nicky Calma
she/herStatement
September 1, 2026
Dear Esteemed Board of Directors & General Membership of SF Pride,
Please accept my letter of intent to run for a seat on the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors. Having previously served on the Board for approximately thirteen years, my dedication to this organization and our communities runs deep. My past tenure was not just a period of governance, but a transformative experience that fueled my ability to mobilize and organize the communities I proudly belong to; the A&PI LGBTQI+ community and my very own transgender community. I am seeking to return to the Board because I now have the dedicated time to fully commit to supporting the long-term stability and growth of SF Pride.
Looking back at my time with SF Pride, I am proud of the activations that I led with other board members we built. In 2000, I recognized a critical gap in representation and conceptualized of the first A&PI LGBT Pride Stage. Watching it over the last 26 years metaphor into a massive, thriving platform it is today, remains one of my proudest achievements. Beyond programming, I have been a fierce advocate for structural inclusivity. When the organization faced significant hurdles in engaging the transgender community, I stepped up—both as an active board member and a recruiter—to rebuild that trust, bridge the divide, and bring trans voices directly to the table.
In 2025, SF Pride honored me as the Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal. It was a profoundly moving moment for me. An authentic recognition not just of my personal work, but of the visibility and resilience of the trans and A&PI communities I represent. This immense honor has reignited my passion for service and inspired me to step back into leadership.
If elected to return to the Board, these are a few areas I’d like to focus on:
- Deepen Community Relationships: Introduce fresh, actionable ideas to forge meaningful and highly productive relationships across all facets of the broader LGBTQIA+ community in the Bay Area.
- Cultivate Future Leaders: Actively encourage and mentor members of these intersectional communities to step into executive and decision-making leadership roles within and outside the organization.
- Fiscal Sustainability & Transparency: Diversifying revenue streams through innovative grants and ethical corporate sponsorships while maintaining clear, transparent financial reporting to the public.
- Grassroots Partner Support: Strengthening relationships with smaller local nonprofits and performance groups to ensure they have the visibility and resources to elevate during Pride month.
Last but not the least, if elected, I am excited to join and share time and space with a dynamic group of board directors, leaders and the membership who not only bring their expertise, but also their compassion and commitment to our communities. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Miss Nicky Calma
Bio
Nicky “Tita Aida” Calma is currently a Managing Director at the San Francisco Community Health Center, of which she manages the Trans Services Department, Talmon Booton Navigation Center, and Prevention Services Department. Aside from her professional career in public health that spans over three decades of serving the AANHPI, LGBTQ+ communities, Nicky is a highly celebrated trans- identified activist from San Francisco and is recognized for her grassroots organizing, public services, and her innovative approach of uniting and uplifting the communities she serves.
A tireless advocate for the past thirty years, Nicky has participated at many community fundraising events that benefited HIV/AIDS organizations. Per visibility proceeded beyond local events. As Tita Aida, she had an international advice column in the Australian magazine, “Oriental Guys’. She was also a contributor to Noodle Magazine and GLOSS.
On the side, Nicky has been part of many organized events and groups. Among them, she supported the formation of the very 1st Trans March in Dolores Park. She then stepped to be a co-chair for the San Francisco Trans March. She has harnessed skills in event production, fundraising and networking and community relations. During Gavin Newsome’s Mayoral era, she was appointed by Newsom to the Status of Commission for Women and Girls and the Entertainment Commission. Along with these, she joined a cadre of transgender women at the SF hotspot, Asia SF, a 3- start Cal Asian fusion restaurant. These women entertained and educated over a million guests who came through the portals of the restaurant about the transgender community. After a 25-year run, Asia SF closed its doors in 2024.
As a former board member with SF Pride, she conceptualized the first A&PI LGBT Pride Stage. In that initial year, the venue was the very first Pride event in the nation that provided free, confidential HIV testing to its guests. She represented SF Pride at international Pride conferences and organizing groups. She bridged A&PI LGBTQIA+ groups to Sf Pride for meaningful collaboration and projects and outreach
Nicky has earned multiple accolades such as being named California’s District 11 Women of the Year (2019), the Transgender Law Center’s Claire Skiffington Vanguard Award, the GAPA George Choy Community Award, KQED’s Pride Unsung Hero Award, and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club’s Bill Krauss HIV/AIDS Activism Award. In 2025, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal. This recognition is a reflection and culmination of her community work for over thirty years.
Orion Lam
he/him IncumbentStatement
Dear San Francisco Pride Members,
I am honored to submit my candidacy for the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors.
I am a child of first-generation Vietnamese immigrants and a transgender man. Growing up in a conservative family and small town I did not witness any LGBTQ+ people celebrating their identities and living authentically aside from my cousin and it was at my first SF Pride that I was shown what could be possible. Today, I am proud to serve as a Professor of Chemistry at Solano Community College in Fairfield, CA. To the best of my knowledge, I am the first and only openly transgender professor at my college. Visibility is a vital part of progress, I know how important it can be for students to see someone living authentically and succeeding professionally. Throughout my life, I have tried to demonstrate that transgender people belong everywhere such as in classrooms, laboratories, sports, and leadership positions.
As both an educator and a transgender man, I understand the importance of visibility, representation, and evidence-based dialogue. At a time when LGBTQ+ people are increasingly targeted by misinformation and political attacks, I believe SF Pride benefits from leaders who can communicate across communities and advocate using both lived experience and scientific understanding. My teaching and STEM background has shown me how to evaluate evidence critically and explain complex topics clearly. For example, a growing body of research has found that certain brain structures in transgender individuals more closely resemble typical patterns associated with their identified gender than with their sex assigned at birth. While no single study explains the full complexity of gender identity, the scientific evidence increasingly supports what transgender people have long known about themselves, that our experiences are real, and our humanity deserves recognition and respect.
With my previous experience as a treasurer at Solano Pride and having been SF Pride’s treasurer for the past month, I want to continue to ensuring SF Pride’s long-term financial sustainability and independence. Recent years have demonstrated how quickly political and economic shifts can affect corporate sponsorship and institutional support. While partnerships remain important, I would like to contribute by exploring ways to strengthen its financial resilience through responsible reserve management, diversified revenue streams, long-term investment strategies, along with community-based fundraising.
I am also committed to ensuring that transgender voices remain visible and represented within Pride leadership. At a time when transgender people are increasingly targeted, it is more important than ever that our community organizations reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
Most importantly, I am running because I believe in the mission of SF Pride. The organization helped me imagine a future for myself when I was young and uncertain. I would be honored to help ensure that future generations experience the same sense of belonging, hope, and possibility.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to serve our community.
With Pride and Solidarity, Orion Lam
Bio
Orion Lam is a Professor of Chemistry at Solano Community College, where he teaches, develops academic programs, and works to expand educational and career opportunities for students throughout the Bay Area. He is the first and, to the best of his knowledge, only openly transgender professor at his institution. A first-generation Vietnamese American and transgender man, Orion’s commitment to community service is rooted in his own journey of finding belonging and visibility.
Orion has served as Treasurer of Solano Pride (Fairfield, CA) and led a transgender support group, helping create spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals could find connection, support, and community. Through these experiences, he developed a strong appreciation for nonprofit governance, financial stewardship, and the importance of building organizations that can serve their communities for generations.
As a candidate for the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors, he hopes to bring his experience as an educator, scientist, community leader, and nonprofit volunteer to help ensure that SF Pride remains financially resilient, inclusive, and prepared to meet the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities today and in the future.
Shane Zaldivar
she/her IncumbentStatement
Dear San Francisco Pride Members,
I am honored to be a candidate for the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors. I moved from Florida to San Francisco in 2014 seeking a place where I could live more authentically and openly as myself. Over the past decade, this community has profoundly shaped who I am and the work I have chosen to do.
Since 2020, I have served as Manager of Training & Education for the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives, creating our citywide Gender Inclusion Training Module, facilitating live-training sessions for thousands of public employees, and building partnerships across City departments and community organizations. Before joining the office professionally, I served on its inaugural Transgender Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2019, connecting community voices with City leadership.
My community work also lives deeply within the arts. I created Pop Up Drag Queen in 2016, bringing transgender visibility, storytelling, and community engagement into public spaces throughout the Bay Area. I am also a member of both the original 2018 cast and the 2025 revival cast of The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot play, helping preserve and share San Francisco’s transgender history.
Serving on the Board has allowed me to experience Pride from an entirely new perspective and better understand the responsibility of stewarding an organization so deeply connected to our community and history. After thoughtful consideration, I would love the opportunity to continue in this work.
If elected, I hope to bring my experience as an educator, public servant, artist, and advocate while continuing to listen, learn, and grow. Pride is more than a celebration to me; it carries our history forward while asking us to meet realities facing LGBTQ+ communities today. I would be honored to continue serving San Francisco Pride.
Sincerely,
Shane Zaldivar
Bio
Shane Zaldivar (she/her) is a transgender educator, performer, and community advocate who has called the Bay Area home since 2014. For more than a decade, she has worked at the intersection of education, advocacy, public service, and the arts. She serves as Manager of Training & Education for the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives, where she has worked since 2020 developing educational programs and trainings that support gender inclusion across city government. Her work includes creating San Francisco’s citywide Gender Inclusion Training Module and facilitating live training sessions for thousands of public employees.
Since 2016, Shane has been the creator and performer behind Pop Up Drag Queen, a public art and drag performance project that brings transgender visibility, storytelling, and queer joy into public spaces throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. She is also a member of the original 2018 cast and current 2025 revival cast of The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot play.
Her community leadership has been recognized through the 2026 Daphne Dorman Trans Artist Award, a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and honors from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Shane is passionate about LGBTQ+ history, education, community building, and creating spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and empowered.
Election Officials
- Suzanne Ford (ED), Chris Robert (Deputy ED)
- Observers: Open to all members.
Accommodations
Internet-accessible computer available at The Street Fair Coalition (264 9th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103) by appointment. Email membership@sfpride.org.