Folsom Street ED Leaving for New Job

The longtime executive director of the nonprofit that produces the annual Folsom Street fetish fair has announced his resignation.

Demetri Moshoyannis, 45, who's been with Folsom Street Events for 11 years, has accepted a position with the San Francisco-based Positive Resource Center as its managing director of strategic partnerships.

"I feel like I've done a lot to advance the organization," Moshoyannis said Monday about his time at Folsom Street. "I feel like we're in a good financial position. The organization feels strong to me, and I feel like I've contributed as much as I can. It's a good idea to always bring in new blood and fresh ideas. Those things are really critical for an organization."

Over the years Moshoyannis grew Folsom Street's budget by more than 100 percent, raised the number of events from three to nine, and expanded the group's philanthropic efforts, said a news release from the nonprofit, which for 2015 had a budget of about $1.4 million.

Along with the Folsom Street Fair, which hundreds of thousands of people attend every September, the group also produces Up Your Alley, Bay of Pigs, and other events. Since Folsom Street Events began, it's donated about $5.5 million to charities.

In the October 19 news release announcing Moshoyannis' departure, Folsom Street board President Edwin Morales said, "Demetri has dedicated over a decade to our organization in this capacity, and many more in a volunteer capacity. His contributions to this organization and to the community are immeasurable."

The nonprofit's working on its plans to replace Moshoyannis, and it will issue "a subsequent press release with details about the job posting to fulfill this critical staff vacancy," the announcement said.

At PRC, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that helps people who're living with HIV/AIDS or mental health disabilities, Moshoyannis will lead efforts to create and build partnerships with corporations, foundations, event-based groups like Folsom Street, and city agencies.

He said it's "an exciting time" for PRC, which recently merged with Baker Places, which provides residential substance abuse treatment and other services, and AIDS Emergency Fund, which offers financial assistance to people disabled by HIV/AIDS. The combined agency is still known as Positive Resource Center.

"That's historic," Moshoyannis said of the merger. "It's an epic shift in how San Francisco is going to provide HIV services in the city, and I want to be a part of that."

Brett Andrews, PRC's CEO, said in an email that he's "thrilled" to have Moshoyannis joining his team.

"Demetri's long-standing passion for HIV/social services, consistent and increasing levels of executive and fundraising management, in addition to his deep connections to the community and corporate world make him uniquely qualified for this crucial position," Andrews said. "We all know that he will serve in this fundraising roll with distinction."

Moshoyannis said he's been living openly with HIV since 1994, when he was 23 and "there were very few services directed toward young people."

He started the Youth Positive program in Washington, D.C., and went on to serve as executive director of Being Alive in Los Angeles and San Francisco's Bay Area Young Positives, among other posts.

Moshoyannis' last day in the Folsom Street office is Thursday, October 27. His first day at PRC will be December 1.

Moshoyannis, who uses his husband's last name, Sparks, on social media, declined to state his current salary, since his replacement won't initially be paid as much as what Moshoyannis is making now, and "I don't want to do anything to sabotage" the board's hiring process. Folsom Street's tax documents for 2014, the most recent available, list his total compensation at about $108,000.

His salary at PRC is being negotiated.

Moshoyannis said a highlight from Folsom Street has been the artwork that the nonprofit uses to advertise the fair.

One prime example is 2007's Leather Last Supper poster, which shows members of the fetish community rather than Jesus and his disciples. The image infuriated many anti-gay groups.

"I think for me the most exciting opportunities I've had have been to galvanize our community through our poster images," Moshoyannis said. "... I think ever since that Last Supper image, people really started paying attention. It's an opportunity for us to feel united under one banner."

Asked about the biggest challenge for Folsom Street's next executive director, he said, "This city is constantly changing and evolving, and simultaneously, the city government is putting new regulations on outdoor events. There are going to be a number of challenges just figuring out how to execute what we've always done" and ensure compliance with the regulations.

He used the example of the temperature of the water at the beverage booth hand washing stations, which is supposed to be "heated to 100 degrees."

"I don't know how to do that in the middle of the street," Moshoyannis said.

Moshoyannis lives in Castro Valley with his husband, Joshua Sparks, and their son, Christopher, 2.