San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) has named Lane Sugata as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Arts Consulting Group (ACG) extends its congratulations on their leadership appointment. They will begin their tenure on August 24, 2026.
Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sparked a nationwide LGBTQ+ choral movement with its first public performance at a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall following the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since that moment, SFGMC has become an essential part of the cultural fabric of San Francisco and beyond—soothing souls in times of pain, lifting spirits in moments of triumph, and serving as a steadfast beacon of hope, resilience, and pride.
Announcing today’s news, SFGMC Board Chair Tom Paulino said, “The word the Board of Directors would use to describe Lane is: visionary. Lane’s comprehensive, data-informed approach to problem solving coupled with their person-centered leadership style make for a potent combination that will prove most effective as the next Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.”
Paulino continued, “Lane’s transformative work with Dance/NYC and most recently, the Ford Foundation — uplifting and collaborating with marginalized communities — informs their strategy for positioning The Chan National Queer Arts Center as a hub for innovative and inspiring partnerships with artists of all disciplines throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.”
“With Lane at the helm of this next chapter in SFGMC’s story,” Paulino added, “I am thrilled to introduce our community to the next leader who will meet this moment in our history and shepherd the mission of this institution to new and greater heights.”
SFGMC CEO Designate Lane Sugata said, “The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sits uniquely at the intersection of artistry, activism, and community — creating not only beautiful music, but refuge, visibility, and hope for generations of LGBTQ people. At a moment of heightened division and attack, I see tremendous opportunity for the Chorus to expand its role as a force for free expression and community resilience — and to shape a more courageous and connected future.”
Sugata continued, “This role brings together so many parts of my life and work: my roots in the Bay Area arts community, my commitment to LGBTQ justice, and my belief in the power of culture to move people, build belonging, and inspire action. I’m deeply honored to join this extraordinary organization and excited to help shape an ambitious next chapter for the Chorus and for queer cultural life in San Francisco and beyond.”
SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg noted, “Getting to know Lane has been an absolute joy, and I can’t wait for our community to experience the vision, heart, and energy they bring to this role. Lane’s extraordinary leadership and deep commitment to artists, equity, and community will help propel the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus into an exciting new chapter. They are bold, magnetic, deeply collaborative, and unafraid to dream big. I truly believe great things are ahead for SFGMC!”
Lane Sugata is a nationally recognized arts, philanthropy, and nonprofit leader with deep roots in the Bay Area’s cultural and LGBTQ communities. Currently a Senior Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, they have managed more than $270 million in grants advancing creativity, civic engagement, and social justice in the United States and globally.
At Ford, Lane has played a prominent cross-foundation role advancing LGBTQ justice, helping align philanthropy, movement organizations, artists, and cultural institutions during a period of profound political and social change. Their work has focused on strengthening the visibility, sustainability, and power of artists and communities while building innovative partnerships across sectors and movements.
Prior to Ford, Lane served as Executive Director of Dance/NYC, helping transform the organization into a leading voice for equity, labor advocacy, and cultural policy in the performing arts. Across their career, they have earned a reputation as a collaborative strategist, coalition-builder, and champion for the role of arts and culture in civic life.
A former student at the San Francisco Ballet and graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Lane returns to San Francisco with both national stature and a deeply personal connection to the region. Their husband is based in the Bay Area, making the move both a professional and personal homecoming. Lane serves on the boards of Funders for LGBTQ Issues and Association of Performing Arts Professionals.
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, and facilities & program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities across the United States and Canada to best serve the needs of our clients. ACG team members have decades of combined senior leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline and area of functional management expertise.