The country's most notorious gay party is bigger, and shaggier, than ever in San Francisco.
September 30 2015 2:12 PM EST
May 26 2023 4:09 PM EST
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My Uber driver was confused. "Where am I dropping you off?" he asked at a red light. I wasn't sure what to tell him, since I did not know where exactly the entrance to the fair was. We were on Folsom Street in San Francisco's South of Market District. I looked around and said, "Follow those guys," pointing to a posse of muscle bears in leather harnesses and jock straps. I had written about the significance of going this year, and now here it was: the Folsom Street Fair, the world's largest leather, kink, and BDSM festival, and a free space for anyone whose particular perversions fell outside the norm. I wrestled in the puppy kennel for a bit, then made my way through the horde of nearly half a million people in attendance. These are the snapshots I took along the way.
Paul has danced at the Folsom Street Fair for the last three years.
The fair is very pet-friendly, in more ways than one.
I asked her if I could take a picture. "Of course, darling!" I snapped the picture and she blew me a kiss. "Happy Folsom Day!" she said with a wave of her hand, then disappeared into the crowd.
These three leather bunnies are regulars at the fair.
Leather harnesses of every style, color, and function can be found at the fair. The world-famous leather supplier Mr. S Leather is right down the street.
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