Save the date, Kinksters; Sept 24 is the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. Just 71 days until the ultimate kink fest and street party. I have never attended anything like this but I've always wanted to. I'm not really here to promote that event, well maybe subconsciously, partly, I AM, actually, but I'm not involved with organizing it or hosting it. (So I hope this post doesn't violate any rules.)
If you've read some of my blog posts in the past (I sometimes wonder if anybody actually DOES read these things) then I've stated that I've always been kind of ambivalent about public displays of BDSM and kink. It's not that I'm adamantly opposed to it. It's more complicated that that. A part of that stems from the fact that I live in a city that, for all the wonderful things it does have to offer, it just isn't the kind of place where people can "let their freak flag fly," so to speak. In fact, even if such an event were held here, I might actually be afraid of the repercussions of being seen attending it.
However, if I lived in San Francisco, you can bet I would be there! Out and proud, in a big safe space with other like minded, open minded people; it would be like an erotic dream come true! I can even imagine how I would be dressed; slutty tiny shorts, fishnet stockings, shaved chest, with Her (whoever She may be, it's my fantasy after all) holding the end of a leash tied around...wherever She wants it tied around. Humiliating AND delicious, and out in public, yet still in a safe place. I am, admittedly jealous of those who live in places where there are not only events like this, but where nobody judges you for attending them.
The city of San Francisco has many social problems, among them sky high rent and high crime, with is the main reason I don't live there. I don't want to go too far down that tangent, San Francisco is a great place, but I still love it here for it's access to nature and it's relative lack of urban problems. I only wish my city was as open about sexuality as they are there. Living in a BDSM Backwater, my only safe space is behind closed doors. I once visited the Bay Area at a time when the festival was going on, but as I was visiting family, even though I tried to find an excuse to go up to the city and check it out, I still wasn't able to. In part, because I was afraid of my family judging me.
