Folsom 2004- let's hear YOUR story

Did YOU attend Folsom Street Fair, 26 September 2004??

IndyBay.org needs not only your photos,
but also your personal stories and views.

Is there anything at Folsom 2004 which should,
in your opinion, be different in 2005?

If you write a substantial report, post it as an article.
[ http://www.indybay.org/publish.php ]
If you just write a brief note, you could add it to this article, as a "comment".


..............
The SF Chronicle stressed the ever-increasing number of nudists;
and said the event is becoming more "pansexual" (mixed).

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/09/27/FOLSOM.TMP

(My comment on pansexualization: Some gay leathermen may be nostalgic for Folsom's roots.
For them, I recommend Folsom's "little brother", the Dore Alley Fair, each July.)
................


My personal, biased, subjective view of Folsom 2004:

Truly awesome!
(How's that for a tired cliché? Yet that's how I feel.)


In terms of bare skin, nude men (including me)
were too numerous to count.



Also there were many topfree women.
Plus women who were ALMOST topfree, except for pasties covering nipples and areolae.
Plus lots of women wearing see-through tops, in varying degrees of translucency.


Plus, amazingly, there were at least two women who briefly
posed for nude photos, outdoors in broad daylight.


Public nudity and semi-nudity are, of course, much more problematic for women,
who have endured several thousand years of patriarchy.
It takes more courage, IMQO,
for a woman to go topfree or semi-topfree at Folsom,
than it does for a man to go fully nude.


-- Seniornude,
with help from BC, Ducky, and SC
early on the morning after
..........

PS--
Covering September and "Shocktober" (?). here's a
CALENDAR 4 FREEDOM-SEEKERS
( compiled by SUN and SaveFreedom;
plus info from HolyTitClamps ):
........
For more "queer things to do"
in the San Franhattan Gay Area,
please visit Larrybob at HTC:

[ http://www.holytitclamps.com/ ]
...........
And for arts events,
please visit the Squidlist calendar:

[ http://laughingsquid.org/squidlist/calendar/ ]
...........
Please FORWARD freely, as appropriate.
...........

SEPTEMBER 2004:
.............


CAL-SF: "Weds. September 29th, performances at 9 pm: "Pirate Booty" at the Lusty Lady, SF's own world-famous peepshow. Get your feet wet with delicious mermaids, swashbuckling scoundrels, bawdy broads & more! Watch glamorous figureheads come to life, thrilling swordfights & bondage plank-walking in our evening performances staring at 9 pm. Open 11 am- 3 am. We're the only worker-owned, unionized peepshow in exsistence, so come support your local sexy subversives! There's no cover charge & our booth prices are a mere 25 cents. Location: Lusty Lady, 1033 Kearney @ Broadway. Hotline: 415.391.3991. "
[-HTC]
http://www.lustyladylive.com

.......................


OCTOBER (Shocktober?) 2004:

Domestic Violence Awareness Month,
Breast Cancer Awareness Month;
Hispanic Heritage Month (until Oct. 15).
.......

USA: Will Bush, and/or Wahhabi terrorists,
stage a "SHOCK-tober Surprise" ?
.....................................................................................

CAL-SF: 1 October, Friday afternoon/evening:

CASTRO MARCH
against racism & discrimination.
Please meet at queer Community Center,
Market & Octavia.
........
[SUN says:
We endorse this march for racial/cultural/ethnic inclusiveness.
Please make and bring your own signs, flags, etc. ....]
.........


***NEW YORK: October 1st, Friday morning, early:
Spencer Tunick's next Naked Pavement photo-shoot will take place
1 October at 6:45 AM,
in New York City on 13th Street
between Washington Street and the West Side Highway.
All are welcome to pose.
The shoot is part of Extremely Refrigerated, a two-week art and performance installation
taking place in New York's meat-market district and on the Internet.
It's being produced by the Floating Point Unit transmedia art collective.
More info at HotWired: Retina - Naked City:

[ http://hotwired.wired.com/retina/95/33/naked/ ]
........

USA: Oct. 1, Friday:
New film, TYING THE KNOT,
deals with same-sex marriage struggle.
One could see trailer at
[ http://www.TyingTheKnotTheMovie.com ]
.............

CAL: SF: October 2-3, Sat-Sun:
"Reggae in the Park" festival,
in Golden Gate Park.
Festival WON'T include "burn the queer" singer Capleton.
Please see SF Examiner, 13 September 2004:
"Controversial reggae artist cut from festival.
Jamaican singer called homophobic."
by Alison Soltau.
............


CAL: SF: circa 2-3 Oct. (first weekend):
"Strictly Bluegrass" festival, in Golden Gate Park.
Free.
.........


CAL: SF: Sunday Oct 3: Castro Street Fair,
including Sugar Valley.

[ http://www.castrostreetfair.org/ ]

[ http://www.sugarvalley.org/ ]


CSF was considered wild in the Seventies.
Today, coming one week after Folsom, it seems mild.

Women can go topfree if they choose;
but nudity and bare genitals are banned.

Please donate when entering the fair area.
..........

CAL: Oct 3: SF, Cable 29: "Outlook" [queer news], first Sunday, 5pm.
.........

CAL-SF: October 3, Sunday evening/night, 6pm to 1 am:
"DEPORTING the American Dream" --
"an evening of immigration awaeness & community":
live music, poetry & spoken word, food & drink, slide-show by artists, tango party, etc.
[ http://www.studioZ.tv ] [.... in Tuvalu?]

"Participating artists" include MATT GONZALEZ, Jill Knight, Youth Speaks....

at Studio Z,
314 -- 11th Street (near Folsom St)
$7 to $20, sliding scale


.........
.

CAL, northern: SF and Berkeley:
thru October 7:
new film, TYING THE KNOT,
on same-sex marriage struggle.
See trailer at
[ http://www.TyingTheKnotTheMovie.com ]
Limited engagements in SF Gay Area, Oct. 1-7 only:
Lumiere, in SF: 415.267.4893
Act, in Berkeley: 510.464.5980
[ http://www.landmarkTheatres.com ]
..........


USA: thru 11 October:
" Marriage Equality California Caravan
and National Rally in Washington D.C.
From October 4 to 11, 2004, marriage activists will leave San Francisco and cross the
country to Washington D.C. on the Marriage Equality Express, making 14 stops to
network with local marriage activists and spread the fire for marriage equality nation-wide.

EQCA and MECA will post daily blogs from the riders.

Consider going to Washington D.C. for the
National Marriage Equality Rally
on National Coming Out Day [Monday, Oct. 11]
in the Upper Senate Park -
hear Barney Frank, Mabel Teng, marriage plaintiffs,
civil rights advocates, Tuck and Patti and more.
To learn more about supporting the marriage caravan and rally go to

( http://www.marriageequalityca.org/events/2004/national-rally/index.php ). +

+ Register to Vote Absentee!
...Registered voters are five times more likely
to actually vote,
when they vote by mail.
To register to vote absentee go to

( http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm ).
[-- MECA]
.........

CAL-SF: 4 October, Monday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM:
"Celebrating Women" exhibit
by IMOW,
at One Market, concourse lobby, downown SF.
Take Bart/Muni to Embarcadero Station.

"The International Museum of Women presents “Celebrating Women,” an exhibit of artifacts, music and photographs of festivals from around the world; richly documented for the first time by Paola Gianturco in her new book “Celebrating Women” (powerHouse Books, October 2004).
The International Museum of Women will open in 2008 at Pier 26 in San Francisco.

Celebrating Women features more than 17 festivals, in many countries. The exhibit affirms the power of women as athletes, defenders, goddesses, providers, warriors and more. Since different cultures deem different attributes laudable, the exhibit offers a view of how women's roles are defined by community and their identities are informed by tradition. It is an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of ourselves and others, as we strive together for positive social change. For more information please go to
http://www.imow.org
Our mission is to value the lives of women around the world."
..............

USA: Friday, 8 October:
"Boycott for Equality".
Please spend NO money today,
if possible.
[ http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/08/1693067.php ]
........
CALIFORNIA: Friday, circa 8 October:
Deadline for state Attorney General Bill Lockyer to file a brief
defending Cal's unfair, homophobic and sexist marriage laws.
[ Comment by SUN: Lockyer should have recused himself from same-sex marriage lawsuits.
By handling this issue personally, instead of letting an assistant AG represent the state,
Lockyer has contradicted himself and has angered many queer voters.
Please see also: 26 October 2004]
..........

USA: DC: early October: U.S. Supreme Court starts 2004-2005 term.
......


*** CAL: SF: 9 October 2004: Saturday afternoon:

first annual Nude Peace Day at Baker Beach:

*** N U D E PEACE DAY: You're invited to bodypaint and get bodypainted for freedom and peace, on N u d e Peace Day, the second Saturday of each October, at Baker Beach, San Francisco. Free. Adults of all genders and orientations are welcome. Take #29 Muni bus to Baker Beach (either of two stops; ask driver); or bike there; or walk from Geary Blvd. and 25th Ave. Walk to northern parking lot, which has water fountain & toilets. From parking lot, walk north on beach (toward Golden Gate Bridge), thru prude zone and into clothing-optional zone. Then visually follow the cable fence (separating usable beach from protected vegetation) until you see a Leather Pride Flag (bearing a red heart, with stripes of black, blue, and white). If you don't see the flag yet, just enjoy the beach on your own. Look again for flag, or bodypainters, each hour, especially near the log stairway. Since organizers must carry supplies on bus, no reliable time can be guaranteed. We hope to be there by 2PM, possibly earlier. Rain cancels.
For details or last-minute changes, please see SUN
[ http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude ]
.............

*** CAL, northern: Oakland:
9 October, Saturday evening:
October 9
a clothing-optional happening:
"Sacred Prostitutes Perform" --
an exorcism of shame to benefit the
Berkeley ballot initiative for sex workers’ rights.
with dance by “slut-goddess” Ruby Pearl,
with book signing by whore-priestess Scarlet Harlot,
"The Unrepentant Whore";
with spoken word by sex positive Stacey Swimme,
Robin Few, and Debbie Moore. Clothing-optional.
Saturday, 10/9/04, 8pm.
Loop Gallery, 6436 Telegraph Ave. @ 65th St., Oakland
For info:
[ debbiemoore [at] xplicitplayers.com ]
SUN says:
You can still attend this Oct. 9 evening event in Oakland at 8PM;
AFTER the Nude Peace Day afternoon gathering at SF's Baker Beach.
....................................................................................

USA: 11 Oct. (2nd Monday in Oct.): Indigenous Peoples' Day (aka Columbus Day, Discoverer's Day,
Pioneer's Day, etc.). [ Celebrations may occur on October 9 or 10. ]
...........

USA : Oct. 11, Monday: "Coming Out Day":
rally for equal marriage rights, in Washington, DC.
[ http://www.marriageEqualityCA.org/caravan.php ]

[ By email, snail-mail, or phone,
please ask your local Congressperson and both of your Senators to defeat
any and all amendments to the U.S. Constitution concerning marriage.
If your politician is liberal, speak of equal human rights for all citizens.
If he or she isn't liberal, say that marriage is a state issue, not a federal issue.
............

CALIFORNIA: Oct. 18, Monday:

DEADLINE TO REGISTER for November election.

If you're not already registered as a voter at your CURRENT address,
please do so by this day. And be sure to ask for "Permanent Absentee Ballot" status!

For more info, contact the California secretary of state's office at 800.345.8683
[ http://www.ss.ca.gov/ ]

[But what if you distrust ALL candidates for office?
You still should vote Yes or No
on the many local measures and state propositions. ]
...............


WORLD: 24 Oct.: United Nations Day.
Act locally, think globally!

................

CALIFORNIA: 26 October, Tuesday:
Deadline to apply for absentee ballot.
While you're at it, please ask for "Permanent Absentee Ballot" status!

For more info, contact the California secretary of state's office at 800.345.8683
[ http://www.ss.ca.gov/ ]

[ Advice by SUN:
You can fill out your absentee ballot at home, taking as much time as you please;
instead of hurriedly doing it while standing in a voting booth. You can take it early to
certain drop-off places (in SF, City Hall is convenient); or drop it off, sealed in an envelope,
on Election Day, at ANY polling place (not necessarily at your designated place).
Without ever having to stand in line!
You avoid hassles faced by ordinary voters, who often show up at the "wrong" polling place.
Absentee voting is first class; while ordinary voting is 4th class. ]
.......................

CAL: circa 26 October, Tuesday, daytime:
SF Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer may a court session for
"case management" in the same-sex marriage lawsuits.

[ Comment by SUN: This session seems to be procedural, not substantive.
After the (county) Superior Court issues a final decision, in late 2004 or early 2005,
the cases will travel upward to the (district) Court of Appeals,
and later to the (state-wide) California Supreme Court.
Cal judges have no reason to fast-track this aspect of the same-sex marriage controversies.
IF the Cal Supremes support freedom for same-sex spouses, we can expect extremist bigots
to circulate an initiative petition for a homophobic amendment to the Cal state constitution. ]

..........
CAL-SF: 26 October, Tuesday evening, 6pm:
Michelle Tea emcees
the Radar Reading series
at main SF public library,
downtown near Civic Center BART/Muni station.
FREE.
Tonight we hear
Amber Dawn,
Michael Smith,
Peter Pizzi,
Carla Trujillo.
..........

CAL: Halloween SF, Oct. 31, Sunday, 6PM to midnight: entertainment at four stages, etc.:

In SF's Castro district, "CastroWeen" offers a pre-election moment for
mocking Bush, Ashcroft, Cheney, et alii.

[Will topfreedom and nudity be tolerated?
SUN hopes so; but can't offer guarantees.
Never argue with, or disobey or ignore, a police officer.
(Save your arguments for a judge.)
If a cop orders you to cover up, do so;
and remain covered.

If a mere civilian orders you to cover up,
don't say anything, and don't make any promises;
just cover up temporarily,
walk away into the crowd until the civilian prude can't see you,
then do as you please.

If any civilians insult you, smile silently, then IGNORE them.
If they seem violent, walk away s-l-o-w-l-y, smiling silently.
Don't waste any of your energy on civilian fools.]

[ DON'T bring alcohol or other intoxicants; you may be searched when entering. If you need or want to get a mild buzz on,
do so BEFORE you try to enter the fenced-off area. (If you need to be heavily stoned, stay outside.)
Don't try to bring in anything which could be considered a weapon.
Don't bring valuables. (Bring your cheapest camera, or a one-time camera; not one which would tempt a thief.)
DO wear a costume, even if it's just a mask. (The more originality and imagination you show, the better;
but any costume is better than none.)

[ http://HalloweenSF.com ]
.............................
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