About

Wait … goths outside during the daytime? Why?

Since 1999, Team SF Goth – the longest-running and most-funds-raising of the AIDS Walk SF non-corporate teams – has helped to raise over $70,000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to benefit multiple organizations around the Bay Area serving those living with HIV/AIDS, and to seek a cure.

Some of Team SF Goth’s members have lost loved ones to the AIDS epidemic, so for many team members over the years, being part of this effort has been a personal journey as well as a community service.

In the beginning ….

Team SF Goth was born in 1999 as a way for the gothic community in the San Francisco Bay Area to prove alarmist media wrong when they helped spread a stereotype of the black-clad as being “trenchcoat mafia”, in the wake of the Columbine High School shootings in April of that year.

In fact, all over the world, goths (and their “people in black” subcultural kin in the electro-industrial, punk, emo, metal, fetish, and related scenes) have made a showing of community service. Long centered on a sense of intentional community, we prove just as charitable, caring, and giving as anyone else.

Team SF Goth immediately became a welcome sight at the annual AIDS Walk SF, with people each year asking to take their picture with us, and asking if they can buy a team shirt.

Until the job is done!

Team SF Goth has participated in every AIDS Walk SF since 1999, and has been growing in membership and fundraising potential.

Although the AIDS Walk had been virtual in 2020 and in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Team SF Goth continued to represent, raising money online. In 2022, the Walk resumed as both an in-person and a virtual event, and we’ve been right in thick of it every year.

As long as HIV/AIDS remains uncured, Team SF Goth plans to do our part to raise money and show up for every annual AIDS Walk SF.

If you’d like to know more and get involved, please visit our Join Ussss page or email us at teamsfgoth@gmail.com.