29 Sep 3. Trust Me, This One is Better Without Photographs

Being an international student my main quest, aside from learning, is trying to see and do as much as possible in the short time I have here in SF. I usually have Sunday’s off and so most weeks have taken this time to explore the city.

Many weeks ago my friend, Charlotte, mentioned the Folsom Street Fair (FSF) to me. She sold it to me as something like “a really cool street party where people wear leather and there are stalls and stuff.” Intrigued, and never one to miss out, I obviously agreed to go along and check it out. I was thinking it would be a little bit like the Notting Hill Carnival in London. I went to that a couple of years ago and despite the great British weather (torrential rain) I loved it. The costumes and the celebration with all different body types was just so beautiful and joyful.

At this point, we should take a small intermission whilst you Google “Folsom Street Fair”. Please do not look it up at work, in public or in the company of young children.

Done it?

Okay, definitely not the Notting Hill Carnival, is it? Maybe FSF is Notting Hill’s very sexy, wild and crazy cousin – a slight relation but not too much of a family resemblance. For those of you who were not brave enough to, or in a position to, look up FSF I shall fill you in. It is an annual BDSM and leather subculture festival dating back to 1984. In other words, it is a very erotic and sexual day out – perhaps not one to go to as a family. Apparently this festival does actually round up San Francisco’s “Leather Pride Week” so I cannot say that Charlotte had it entirely wrong.

Anyway, last Sunday myself, Charlotte and Akira took ourselves along to see what the fuss was about because when in Rome, y’know. It was a beautifully sunny day, in fact probably the nicest weather we’ve experienced in SF so far, and all three of us were excited for the day ahead. We arrived at Folsom Street, paid our $10 donation at the gate to get our $2 off each drink, swiftly bought a HUGE beer each and headed into the heart of the event.

There was definitely some leather on show – again, Charlotte wasn’t wrong – but there was much more bare skin above all else! People of all different shapes, sizes, genders, races and sexual orientations had gathered to celebrate their sexuality and sexual preferences in a safe environment. Let me tell you, it is somewhat strange to discuss what you’re having to drink with a man who is wearing little more than a leather collar. But that feeling of strangeness  put me in the minority. Nobody in attendance was judging, or uncomfortable, or awkward. Everybody was just having a nice time with their friends and people who shared similar interests and enjoying the sunshine.

The feeling of “this is bizzare!?” did soon wear off and I became accustomed to genitalia and bare bottoms being everywhere I looked surprisingly quickly. The stalls ranged from merchants selling innocent enough bracelets and hair accessories, to people showing you how to make your own sex toys, to free HIV tests. By the end of the day, nothing was terribly shocking. I would 100% say that if your are ever in San Francisco on the last Sunday in September then do go along to the Folsom Street Fair. Even if BDSM is not your thing – it isn’t mine, just for the record – it is still a great experience.

I have to say in this world filled with political turmoil, hatred and poverty it must be nice to get your butt out on a sunny day, drink a few beers and hang out with your friends. Although the pinnacle of my day was definitely discovering a store well stocked with Maltesers on the way home.

Have a good one!