Quirky San Francisco

Get ready folks. It’s time to celebrate Gay San Francisco and Gay Pride, next weekend. Here are some shots from the past to get you in the mood.

I heard that the Castro was trying to discourage Halloween this year and at this writing, I’m not sure what happened. I didn’t go. Just to remember the past Halloweens, I pulled this past post forward; so you could see how it was. The costumes were amazing and v e r y creative.

This event is *not* for everyone … especially children. If you’re a devout Baptist or from any sect that vaguely resembles a Fundamentalist background, do NOT plan to attend this event. For us more adventurous types, go for it. It can be a lot of fun, but people often get carried away and I’ve actually seen live sex as the evening wears on, which is why I’m not recommending it for kids.

It’s always held on the Saturday before the Gay Pride Parade, and starts as the Lesbian March somewhere in the Mission District (check Google … try Gay Pride; then Pink Party … it’s in June every year).

To me, this is the most outrageous gay bash of the season. My advice is to choose a spot and just stand there. Everything you’ll want to see will pass by sooner or later. There’s no need to mill around, but if you’re up for pushing your way through the crowd, go for it.

I have a love/hate relationship with any big event like this. Love that people feel free enough to walk around naked (usually at least 2 or 3 overweight, old or otherwise, not the ones you’d like to see naked). I love that people dress up and just get crazy and forget what other people think.

I hate the fact that uninformed straights look at an event like this and assume that all gay people participate in what looks like odd behavior that threatens them or just scaares them into thinking we want everyone to be gay. To me, it’s like Mardi-Gras, a slightly out-of-control event that lets people flirt with danger – sexual danger – the kind that usually don’t really happen, but is often hoped for. I’ve seen guys dancing in windows above the bars. There are some apartments there, and I’m sure the tenants live for these events … teasing the crowds below, dancing their hearts out wearing nothing more than sexy underwear and motorcycle shades … turning around, pulling their pants down and shaking their bare butts to the cheering crowd below. It’s all fun and games.