Meet Jen Valles: A Voice for Liberation at the SF LGBT Center
At Thirdlove, our partnership with the SF LGBT Center is rooted in something deeper than a single month on the calendar. It's about showing up — consistently, meaningfully, and in community. Today, we're honored to introduce you to Jen Valles, the SF LGBT Center's new Executive Director, in her own words.
Who is Jen Valles?
Name: Jen Valles
Pronouns: she/her
Role: Executive Director, SF LGBT Center
What does a typical day look like for you?
"I recently stepped into the role of Executive Director this year after serving as Deputy Director for the Center. Every day is different, but I've spent years embedded in community spaces, listening to diverse perspectives and building programs and services that reflect the full complexity of LGBTQ+ lives so we can show up for our communities in the ways that they need us right now."
What drew you to this work?
"Gender-based violence, environmental justice and LGBTQ+ liberation are all interconnected. I've been a community organizer, a radical cheerleader, a crisis worker, a peer counselor, a community mediator, an anarcha-feminist, and a nonprofit worker at basically every level. In all honesty, it was never a goal of mine to be an Executive Director, but I believe so strongly in this organization's work and the passionate people that DO that work here at the Center. So when that door opened, I knew I was ready to walk through it and continue the legacy of the Center."
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
"I believe the SF LGBT Center's role is to support everyone seeking their own liberation by providing resources, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering connection. My favorite thing about working for this community center is bringing people together around shared purpose. We are all navigating the realities of a political agenda that is trying so hard to divide us, and the SF LGBT Center is a place where people can come together to find each other, find resources, and build each other up. That is powerful. Finding each other and choosing love is the most radical thing we can do in this moment."
What programs do you wish more people knew about?
"The SF LGBT Center is a hub for connection, care, and liberation. Each year, the Center welcomes over 100,000 visitors and provides direct services to nearly 7,000 people. In this time of increased hostility, especially towards our queer and trans youth, immigrant communities, and our BIPOC communities, we are stepping up to prioritize those folks. We have started asylum groups here at the Center for legal workshops as well as affinity support groups to help people build community and find the resources they need."
How have donations of essentials — like undergarments — made a difference?
"A bra can be so much more than just a bra. Undergarments can be incredibly powerful tools of affirmation for our trans and gender non-conforming community members. They empower people to embrace their authentic selves. They encourage self-expression and individuality while supporting people to show up fully and confidently in their everyday lives. At the core, providing the resources to help our community feel seen and be themselves is what we do here at the Center, and we are grateful to Thirdlove for partnering with us to do just that!"
What does Pride Month mean to you?
"Pride Month is a time for all of us to reflect on our elders and our history. We are beautiful, brave, loving people who have always held struggle and celebration, sorrow and joy at the same time. It was famously said during the AIDS crisis that we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced at night. Because it was the dance that kept us going — it was our joy and our community that we were fighting for. And that is a legacy that we are picking up and learning from our elders, and hopefully passing on to the next generation and embodying ourselves — that while we struggle, we also celebrate."
What would you want Thirdlove customers to know?
"Sustaining the Center takes all of us. The Center is on solid financial footing, but facing growing demand for services. Maintaining current programs and meeting rising community needs requires collective grassroots action. The Center provides essential services to low-income and marginalized LGBTQ+ people, and to do that at scale, the Center needs the support of ALL of our allies. Now is the time to step up, show up, and support your community!"
We're proud to stand alongside the SF LGBT Center — not just in June, but every day of the year. If Jen's words moved you, consider making a donation to the SF LGBT Center or sharing this post with someone who needs to hear it.
Thirdlove's commitment to the LGBTQ+ community is ongoing. Learn more about our partnership and how you can get involved.
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