Folsom Street Fair

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
A Folsom Street Fair banner (using the Leather Pride flag) hangs from a city lighting pole and marks Leather Pride Week in San Francisco, California

The Folsom Street Fair (FSF) is an annual BDSM and leather subculture street fair held on the last Sunday in September and caps San Francisco's "Leather Pride Week". The Folsom Street Fair, sometimes simply referred to as "Folsom", takes place on Folsom Street between 7th and 12th Streets, in San Francisco's South of Market district.

The event started in 1984 and is California's third largest spectator event and the world's largest leather event and showcase for BDSM products and culture.[1] It has grown as a non-profit run and non-profit benefiting organization with all donations at the gates going to charity groups as well as numerous fundraising schemes within the festival including games, beverage booths and even spanking for donations to capitalize on the adult-themed exhibitionism.

The coordination agency, Folsom Street Events (FSE) is a registered charity and has also started similar events in Canada, Germany and New York City. In San Francisco they also manage Dore Alley Fair and special events like the "Folsom Street Fair Formal Leather Gala" with Joan Rivers which celebrated the 25th anniversary, and their annual circuit party "Magnitude" which has a leather subculture focus.[2][3][4]

Contents

[edit] History and development

Folsom Street has been the center of San Francisco's leather community since the early 1960s. Before centering in the South of Market neighborhood, leather friendly bars were located in the Embarcadero (Jack's On The Waterfront 1952-1962, On The Levee ?-1972), and the Tenderloin (The Spur Club - raided and closed in 1959, The Why Not - opened and closed in 1960, The Hideaway - raided and closed in 1961). The first leather bar in SOMA was The Tool Box, which opened in 1961 at 339 4th St and closed in 1971.[5] It was made famous by the June 1964 Paul Welch Life Magazine article entitled Homosexuality In America, the first time a national publication reported on gay issues. The article opened with a two page spread of the mural of life size leathermen in the bar, painted by Chuck Arnett, a patron and employee.[6] After reading the article, many leathermen immigrated to San Francisco, "The Gay Capital of America", as the city was described in the same article.

The first leather bar on Folsom Street was Febe's, which opened July 25, 1966. In 1967 A Taste of Leather, one of the first in-bar leather stores, was established at Febe's by Nick O'Demus.

By the late 1970s Folsom's 'Miracle Mile' had featured nearly 30 different leather bars, clubs, and merchants, most within walking distance of each other. These establishments included, in the order they were established: 1968 - Off the Levee (by the same owner of On The Levee), The Ramrod. 1971 - The In Between (later renamed The No Name), The Bootcamp. 1972 - The Barracks. 1973 - The Red Star Saloon (which featured new artwork by Chuck Arnett), Folsom Prison, This End Up, The Ambush. 1975 - Hombre, The Catacombs, The Emporium. 1976 - The Trading Post, The Slot, The Hotel (later renamed The Handball Express). 1977 - The Brig, The Balcony. 1978 - The Arena, The Roundup (later renamed The Watering Hole), The Quarters, Black & Blue, Folsom Street Baths (later renamed The Sutro Baths). 1979 - The Stables, The Trench, The Hothouse, Tailor of San Francisco, Mister S Leathers. 1981 - The Eagle.

The community had been active in resisting the city's ambitious redevelopment program for the South of Market area throughout the 1970s. City officials had wanted to "revitalize" the historically blue collar, warehouse, industrial district by continuing successful high rise development already underway on Rincon Hill.

But as the AIDS epidemic unfolded in the 1980s, the community's relative autonomy from City Hall was dramatically weakened. The crisis became an opportunity for the city (in the name of public health) to close bathhouses and regulate bars, which they did beginning in 1984.[7]

As these establishments for the leather community were rapidly closing, a coalition of housing activists and community organizers decided to start a street fair. The fair would enhance the visibility of the community, provide a means for much-needed fundraising, and create opportunities for members of the leather community to connect to services and vital information (e.g., regarding safer sex) that bathhouses and bars might otherwise have been situated to distribute.[8]

Thanks to the success of the first Folsom Street Fair, the organizers created the Up Your Alley Fair on Ringold Street in 1985. This fair moved to Dore Street ("Dore Alley") between Harrison and Folsom in 1987.

[edit] Atmosphere

Bondage demonstration with Van Darkholme at the 2003 Folsom Street Fair

As one of the few occasions when sadomasochistic activities are encouraged and performed in public, it attracts a considerable number of sightseers and those who enjoy the attention of onlookers as well as the hundreds of photographers and videographers. Although the costumes and activities can be eye-opening and transgressive, the event tends to be very peaceful and non-threatening.[9] The organizers have reportedly earned a great amount of trust from city officials as they have demonstrated not only an exceptional level of community and volunteer support but also have risen to be a role-model for other street fairs in San Francisco which have faced opposition from various neighborhood groups. With the assistance of the high-profile Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence the gate donations totalled more than $300,000 in 2006 and the methodology emulated at other street fairs like the Sisters' Pink Saturday, the Castro Street Fair and San Francisco Lovefest.

The fair annually draws 400,000 visitors[10][11] including kinky leather fans from around the world, and is the third largest street event in California, after the Tournament of Roses Parade and San Francisco Pride parade.[12][13] Each year all proceeds from the Folsom Street Fair, including gate donations and beverage sales, are given to qualified local charities. These include AIDS charities and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who lead the organizing effort at the gates themselves. The event generates over $250,000 annually for charity.[14]

Several gay pornographic studios such as Treasure Island Media conduct casting calls at Folsom Fair events.

Children attend, usually with parental supervision, as city laws require public access to all city streets.

[edit] Folsom Street East

Partial suspension bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2005.

Since 1997, a smaller event called Folsom Street East has been organized in New York City by GMSMA.[12][15]

[edit] Folsom Europe

Folsom Europe was established in Berlin, Germany in 2003 in order to bring the non-profit leather festival concept pioneered by the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco to Europe. A London, England version is in the works.[12][16]

[edit] Folsom Fair North (FFN)

The Toronto version of Folsom Street Fair is dubbed Folsom North, FFN or FFNTO and has been held every July since 2003. The FFN for 2008 was cancelled.

[edit] 2007 poster controversy

For the 24th annual event held September 30, 2007 the official poster artwork was a photo featuring well-known LGBT and BDSM community members in festive and fetish attire including Sister Roma "as players in an innovative version of the culturally iconographic" The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci complete with table draped with the Leather Pride flag and "cluttered with sex toys, whips, and various (BDSM) restraints".[17] The artwork by FredAlert[18] was used on the official event guide as well as produced as collector's posters that were also posted throughout the city for advertising. Some conservative religious groups criticized this as anti-Christian and blasphemous although media outlets noted that parodies and homages of the Last Supper painting like Renée Cox's Yo Mama's Last Supper are numerous including ones by The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Phish, That '70s Show, Robert Altman (from the film MASH) and the Boston Red Sox.[19][20] Senior Pastor at San Francisco's Metropolitan Community Church agreed that "they are just having fun" with both the painting and the current notion of 'San Francisco values' stating he thought it was "tastefully and cleverly done."[18]

From a press release about the poster, Andy Copper, Board President of Folsom Street Events, a non-profit organization, states "There is no intention to be particularly pro-religion or anti-religion with this poster; the image is intended only to be reminiscent of the ‘Last Supper’ painting. It is a distinctive representation of diversity with women and men, people of all colors and sexual orientations."[21] and "We hope that people will enjoy the artistry for what it is - nothing more or less. Many people choose to speculate on deeper meanings. The irony is that da Vinci was widely considered to be homosexual. In truth, we are going to produce a series of inspired poster images over the next few years. Next year's poster ad may take inspiration from 'American Gothic' by Grant Wood or Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' or even 'The Sound of Music! I guess it wouldn't be the Folsom Street Fair without offending some extreme members of the global community, though."

Masked fellow at the fair

The Catholic League, Concerned Women for America and an 'ex-gay' group targeted the largest mainstream sponsor of the event, Miller Brewing Company, threatening to boycott their products for the company supporting the event and allowing its logo to appear in the ad.[22] Miller asked for their logo to be removed from the poster with a statement on their website "while Miller has supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year. We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately."[23] The Catholic League dropped the boycott within a month[24] with no evidence of Miller's sales being affected.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives who represents San Francisco and is also Roman Catholic, fielded a question on this as part of her Friday morning press conference.[18] She responded "It's a Constitutional question. It's a religious question. It's about as global a question as you could ask...I'm a big believer in the First Amendment. I do not believe Christianity has been harmed by the Folsom Street Fair."[25]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Here are recent pictures from the fair. http://www.zombietime.com/folsom_sf_2007_part_1/Cheap date - what to do? - CNN.com
  2. ^ Folsom Street Fair Formal Leather Gala
  3. ^ Folsom Street Events Announces Joan Rivers as Entertainer for 25th Folsom Street Fair Gala: Formal Gala Serves as the Kick-Off to San Francisco Leather Week 2008.
  4. ^ Magnitude Celebrates 25th Folsom Street Fair: Annual Dance Event Thrives As the Official Saturday Night Dance Event.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ Rubin, Gayle. "The Miracle Mile: South of Market and Gay Male Leather, 1962-1997" in Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture (City Light Books, 1998).
  8. ^ Rubin, Gayle. "The Miracle Mile: South of Market and Gay Male Leather, 1962-1997" in Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture (City Light Books, 1998).
  9. ^ "Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco (Yelp)". 2006-09-25. http://www.yelp.com/topic/iO8ueYGgUejFPW1DHCv99g. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  10. ^ Folsom Street Events (2006-10-04). Folsom Street Events produces biggest and best Folsom Street Fair on its 23rd birthday. Press release. http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-press.php#relNum56. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  11. ^ Folsom Street Events. "Folsom Street Fair FAQ". http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-faq.php. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  12. ^ a b c Diana Cage. Radio Blowfish, Episode 4 http://www.blowfish.com/radio/ Podcast accessed on 2006-November 19
  13. ^ charles. "Metroblgging San Francisco: Folsom Street Fair". http://sf.metblogs.com/archives/2005/09/folsom_street_f.phtml. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  14. ^ Folsom Street Events. "Folsom Street Fair Beneficiaries". http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-beneficiaries.php. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  15. ^ Gay Male S/M Activists (GMSMA). "Folsom Street East". http://www.folsomstreeteast.org/. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  16. ^ Folsom Europe e. V.. "Folsom Europe". http://www.folsomeurope.com/. Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 
  17. ^ Gerstein, Josh (September 27, 2007). "Catholic Group Threatens Battle With Miller Beer Over Racy Ad". New York Sun. http://www.nysun.com/article/63472. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  18. ^ a b c Cassell, Heather (27 September 2007; Vol. 37, No. 39;). "Folsom art draws fire from the right". Bay Area Reporter. http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2230. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  19. ^ "Catholic Group Urges Boycott of Miller Brewing Co. Over San Francisco Fair Sponsorship". Fox News. September 27, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298277,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  20. ^ Other Last Suppers: Where's the Outrage? | Slog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper
  21. ^ Folsom Street Fair
  22. ^ 365gay.com Newscenter Staff (September 27, 2007). "Catholic Group Calls For Miller Beer Boycott Over Folsom Fair Ad". 365gay.com. http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/09/092707miller.htm. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  23. ^ Miller Brewing Co. Age Check
  24. ^ Miller Beer Ban Ends With Apology 2 November 2007
  25. ^ "Folsom Street "Last Supper Ad" Sparks Controversy". KTVU. September 29, 2007. http://www.ktvu.com/news/14227320/detail.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 

[edit] External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Folsom Street Fair
v • d • e
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
Gender and
sexual identities		 LGBT pride flag
Sexual orientation
LGBT community
and culture
Category:LGBT · LGBT portal

Coordinates: 37°46′22″N 122°24′46″W / 37.77289°N 122.41276°W / 37.77289; -122.41276

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folsom_Street_Fair"
Personal tools