Everyday Gay

I remember when a person would have to seek out – and possibly hide out – to have an authentically gay experience. But in our town, you have to make a real effort – basically go backwards, to that mainstream middle – to realize just how far we’ve come.

Imagine if the only drag queens you ever saw were on TV, on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Here in our gay mecca, the drag queens that have become household names arrive weekly to genuflect in The GlamaZONE with Pollo Del Mar. We know they’ll all make their way here eventually, and we’ll welcome them with a casual “Hey girl!”

Imagine if you had to pay to see porn stars online, or lurk in the back roomAlso, "Dark RoomAlso, "Back Room." Any area in a gay bar, party, or club that is designated or overtaken for cruising and sex. Often a feature of sex clubs and bathhouses, they can be simple or grand, sometimes with mazes, glory holes, private nooks and fantasy scenery.." Any area in a gay bar, party, or club that is designated or overtaken for cruising and sex. Often a feature of sex clubs and bathhouses, they can be simple or grand, sometimes with mazes, glory holes, private nooks and fantasy scenery. of an obscure video store far from home, rather than seeing all these insanely hot boys at the gym every day, or on the dancefloor every weekend? (Oh hey, Race Cooper! Oh hey, Tristan Jaxx!)

Imagine if you had to order your gear by mail, and it arrived in an anonymous brown paper bag, instead of just dropping in at Mr. S LeatherLeather culture is found in all lifestyles, but among gay men it refers to practices and styles of dress organized around hedonism and eroticism ("kink"). One way this culture consciously distinguishes itself from mainstream sexual cultures is through a specifically homoerotic aesthetic that draws from post-World War II biker culture as well as military and police uniform. Leathermen art, such as Tom of Finland, represents the hypermasculine ideal. Literature like The Leatherman’s Handbook speaks to the culture and the code. The International Mister Leather organization speaks to the community. to see if anything new tickled your fancy (What up, Atom?). Or imagine if you had to buy lube and poppers in a store full of women’s lingerie, rather than seeing a wide selection on display in the shop windows lining your main street?

Here in our homotown, our main street greets us daily with an oversized rainbow or leatherLeather culture is found in all lifestyles, but among gay men it refers to practices and styles of dress organized around hedonism and eroticism ("kink"). One way this culture consciously distinguishes itself from mainstream sexual cultures is through a specifically homoerotic aesthetic that draws from post-World War II biker culture as well as military and police uniform. Leathermen art, such as Tom of Finland, represents the hypermasculine ideal. Literature like The Leatherman’s Handbook speaks to the culture and the code. The International Mister Leather organization speaks to the community. or bear flag flying proudly, a reassurance that our lifestyle is not only supported by the city, but truly celebrated.

I recently got to revisit the idea of gay as a touristRefers to anyone just passing through, rather than engaging with, gay culture. A gawker, not a participant. attraction or curiosity, in a pair of events that opened my eyes and made me appreciate our gayborhood all over again. If you’ve never been to Sunday’s a Drag hosted by the one-of-a-kind Donna Sachet at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, you should make a point of it. Bless the touristRefers to anyone just passing through, rather than engaging with, gay culture. A gawker, not a participant.’s hearts that come to San Francisco to be shocked and enthralled by what we get to take for granted.

Or try a change of pace by attending an event in Fisherman’s Wharf, like the Gay Night at the Wax Museum I recently attended with some of my favorite drag divas, like Sister Roma and Bebe Sweetbriar. You’ll feel like a pioneer on the Barbary Coast, exploring strange lands and delving into foreign cultures, while forging freedom and setting a course for a new and better way of life.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2012 at 12:00 pm. It is filed under Articles, Bring It! and tagged with Bebe SweetbriarRace Cooper, Donna Sachet, Harry Denton, Mr. S Leather, Pollo del Mar, RuPaul's Drag Race, Sister Roma, Sunday's A Drag, Tristan Jaxx. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.