🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ museum moving

T.G.I.F.

Today's weather: High around 80 before dropping into the mid-50s.

• Check out this weekend's roster of events to make the most of the good weather.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios San Francisco member Buzz Baylis and Barbara Coenen! And an early happy birthday to Mattingly Messina.

Today's newsletter is 906 words — a 3.5-minute read.

The nation's first LGBTQ history museum has set its sights on a new home.

Why it matters: The move is part of a $17.5 million project aimed at helping the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives — sometimes referred to as the "queer Smithsonian" — build on its collection at a permanent location.

Driving the news: Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman will introduce legislation next Tuesday that would allow the city to purchase 2280 Market St. with the goal of helping the museum become a full-scale research center.

• The new site, located next to the newly renovated Fisch & Flore restaurant, features a two-story building with 22,330 square feet of space.
• The museum plans to explore a timeline for moving into the ground floor as tenant leases expire over the next few years. Its current location at 4127 18th St. is one level.

What they're saying: "This investment is more than the purchase of a building; it is about creating a home to share the lessons of LGBTQ and allied history," Roberto Ordeñana, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society, said in a news release Thursday.

• "The Castro is the heart of LGBTQ culture in this city and this country, and it is the perfect place for a museum that ... elevates our LGBTQ community and celebrates those who paved the way for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today," Breed added.

Context: The historical society was founded in 1985 and operates the Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Research Center in addition to the museum.

• Over 60 people — including members of the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay History Project and the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Periodical Archives — banded together to promote understanding of Bay Area queer history.
• Its first years of materials included records from the first LGBTQ American Indian liberation organization, pioneering trans historian Louis Sullivan, Daughters of Bilitis and photographer Crawford Wayne Barton.

Today's celebration

San Francisco-based OpenAI is facing more turmoil as CTO Mira Murati is leaving the company after more than six years "to create the time and space to do my own exploration," she announced on X this week.

Why it matters: Mayor London Breed last year declared SF the "AI capital of the world," but there's been trouble in AI paradise since that proclamation.

State of play: When OpenAI briefly ousted CEO Sam Altman last year, the board named Murati as interim CEO.

• Following Murati's decision to step away from the company, Altman on Wednesday announced the departure of two other executives — Bob McGrew, chief research officer, and Barret Zoph, VP of research — and made several new appointments.

What they're saying: "Mira, Bob, and Barret made these decisions independently of each other and amicably," Altman's post said.

• Altman thanked Murati saying, "We'll say more about the transition plans soon, but for now, I want to take a moment to just feel thanks."

What we're watching: Earlier this week, OpenAI finalized plans to open a 315,000-square-foot workspace in Mission Bay, marking the largest office lease of the year in the city, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

• In a tweet earlier this week, Breed thanked OpenAI and Altman "for expanding and continuing to call S.F. home."
• Parisa Safarzadeh, a spokesperson for the mayor's office, echoed that sentiment, telling Axios via email that OpenAI's latest lease signals "the seriousness of [its] commitment to our city and the AI industry."

Go deeper

💵 San Francisco officials are pushing to eliminate city license fees for small businesses under legislation that would require voter approval in November. (SF Examiner)

📈 Arrests of unhoused people have skyrocketed since San Francisco cracked down on homeless encampments. (SF Standard)

🏟️ The Oakland Roots soccer team asked A's fans to "save some seats" for their games at the Coliseum after some people were filmed removing stadium chairs during one of the A's last game in the Bay. (X)

Enhanced rider verification, better navigation tools, and more rider accountability are just a few of the Uber Driver app's latest features.

The idea: These changes are aimed at making the things drivers and couriers do every day safer, fairer and easier.

Check out all the new features.

Kat Robichaud's "Misfit Cabaret" takes the stage in San Francisco this weekend, and it's celebrating its ninth anniversary.

Driving the news: Saturday's show, slated for 8pm at Great American Music Hall, will feature local talent like burlesque sensation Frankie Fictitious, drag performer Mudd the Two Spirit and pole dancer extraordinaire Cezar the Superstar.

• Live music will include original fan favorites by Robichaud as well as an eclectic mix of pop and rock covers that audiences are encouraged to sing along with.
• Dark Garden Corsetry will host a special femme-forward Folsom party after the show called Praise.

What they're saying: "Misfit Cabaret is about finding your community that embraces you for who you are," Robichaud told Axios via email. "We're all from oppressive towns ... but here we've found a place where we can be ourselves, whatever that may be."

• Robichaud, who called it an honor to be part of the San Francisco arts scene, added that the show will be a "a joyous celebration between us and our fans."

How to go: Tickets are on sale now.

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The annual BDSM and kink festival Folsom Street Fair returns this weekend.

Driving the news: On Sunday, get ready for the kink, leather and alt-sex community to take over the fine streets of SoMa with live music, bondage, wrestling, drag and more.

Check it out: Festivities go down 11am-6pm throughout various streets in the SoMa area. Map here.

Pro tip: Head to our Instagram to find more things to do this weekend.

Uber is stepping up its measures to keep drivers and couriers safe.

Here's how: The ability to see if a rider has gone through additional verification steps and use hands-free voice prompts are just a few of the app's latest features, designed to improve the driver experience.

Get all the deets.

👋🏾 Megan is officially gone.

🥵 Shawna is eating spicy food to cope with Megan ditching her. Guess she'll be a supporter from afar!

😢 Claire was sad to bid Megan farewell on her final day yesterday! But of course she's still reading this newsletter, so best of luck on the next big thing, Megan!

This newsletter was edited by Ross Terrell.