[X] : Folsom Street Fair Not For Children Cripes. The worst part of this is that most SF gays are not subscribers to this lifestyle and many would like to adopt. When they try to adopt children, they’ll have this thrown in their face at every turn. Brilliant. Watch how this story goes national.
Some of the most unlikely attendees of Sunday�s kinky leather fetish festival were under four feet tall.
Two-year-olds Zola and Veronica Kruschel waddled through Folsom Street Fair amidst strangers in fishnets and leather crotch pouches, semi and fully nude men.
The twin girls who were also dressed for the event wore identical lace blouses, floral bonnets and black leather collars purchased from a pet store.
Fathers Gary Beuschel and John Kruse watched over them closely. They were proud to show the twins off.
“They will see more than the kids with moms and dads in Iowa,” said Beuschel, who wanted to expose his children to San Francisco’s diverse community. “Every parent has to decide for themselves what is right for them. And I respect that. And we decided that this is right for our children.”
Beuschel and his girls were at the 22nd Folsom Street Fair, an annual leather event in San Francisco�s South of Market district, which showcased outrageous costumes, fetish attire, and a community obsessed with bondage, whipping, and spanking.
found by Paul Turner
Here in New Orleans we have a parade called Krewe du Vieux, kreweduvieux.org. Not only is it the first and best parade of the season it is rife with political and religious satire, phallic symbols galore (e.g. huge vaginas, penises, blow up dolls riding rockets), hoards of scantily clad women dressed as schoolgirls, men dress as schoolgirls, effigies of the president even one with a ball gag. It’s all in there, expressed as a healthy venting of the times at hand.
And surprisingly a large number of people bring their children; and the kids freaking love it. Of course they do, especially if they’re old enough to understand it.
If you want to see how locals enjoy Mardi Gras, come for Krewe du Vieux; and bring your kids.
Oh for goodness sakes you lot, chill out! A couple of gay fathers were having a bit of a laugh and put some collars on some two years. Where is the harm in that? Whats the point of having a two year if you can’t dress ’em up a bit. I’ve dress mine up up tigers and princesses and the occasional punk rocker. So far none of them are showing signs of become animals, royalty, or anarchists.
The fact is that there was nothing sexual about the way the children are dressed, at least, no more sexual than giving a two year old a bikini or most other grown-up style clothes, and I am sure a two year old would have about as much interest in the guys pretending to have sex as they do the impact that the iPhone is having on global warming….
37–Ben, how very liberal of you. Bravo? Do I have you confused with someone else, or just too quick to judge??
as in the case of Lauren?
35–Lauren, your post also surprises me. You don’t accept “sociology” or developmental psychology, or anthropology??? and post there is a “right” and “wrong” behavior with regards to dress and parading in public with regards to raising children? Whats your definition of “perversion?”
Ben –
Did you see the pictures in #19, or not? You seem to have missed the entire point of this discussion. It’s about a lot more than just dressing kids a little funny.
Mike N –
I think it’s rather sad that this sort of crap is part of “gay culture”.
And I think it’s sadder that you can’t see the difference two adults of the same sex who love each other and want to make an enduring commitment to each other, versus “adults” who feel the need to whip each other while naked in public, or to grotesquely twist and stretch their genitals and display such grotesqueness to passersby.
Bobbo –
Just curious – in your opinion, what is/should be the role of those things called “parents” in “developmental psychology”?
Frank, the fact is that you are not allowed to make such judgments if you wish to consider yourself a supporter of gay rights, or anything less than a bigot. And it is not just this parade. What Larry Craig was arrested for, that should never have happened because anonymous gay sex is also part of being gay. Cops in Massachusetts reached an understanding that they would no longer camp out at rest areas trying to arrest gay people. Plus exposing kids to this type of behavior is okay, because being gay is OK.
We are witnessing what is known as a slippery slope. First, you allow gay adoptions, within practically “days of request” (demand?), while strait married people with six figure incomes and squeaky-clean records have to wait years for a child. Then, on to this.
And all the while they cry that they’re not recruiting. I don’t know, it pretty much looks like they’re recruiting to me.
“anonymous gay sex is also part of being gay” – Fine. But certain behaviors are over the top. If they want to do this then they should not receive any medical treatment for any STD’s that they can’t pay for in cash. Insurance and free emergency room care causes the rest of us to pay for their unnecessary, yet chosen risky behavior. They need to be held responsible for their own actions.
Also, anonymous sex may be okay, but public anonymous sex is NOT. Public restrooms and parks are not a venue for sex, gay or straight. If I need to take a dump, the last thing I need is to have to listen to someone getting it on in the next stall. I don’t think I’m alone in this.
Among other reasons why you’re full of shit is that anonymous gay sex gave – and continues to give – the world the wonderful gift of AIDS, and more recently, the return of syphillis.
Tolerance is not, despite your laughably bogus and unsupported assertion to the contrary, an all-or-nothing thing. If so, then we would also have to tolerate child molestation and forcible rape.
You, sir, are insane.
Bobbo and Frank IBC (38/39):
Yup, saw the pictures. Like I said, a two year old would probably not even notice and I reckon the parents probably wouldn’t dwell to long on where the hardcore stuff is happening. I take my kids to the occasional festival where are all sorts of drugs and nastiness is going on, you just avoid those bits. I’d hate my kids to grow having missed all sorts of things just because they might stumble on something weird or distressing.
I’ve been to gay pride marches before, seen them doing the bondage thing. Not my thing really, but hey, if it makes them happy then all power to them. If my two and five year old was there I’d probably direct her away the guy with hanging genital weights, but that isn’t enough of a reason to avoid a good day out all together.
People get funny with me because my kids, even the young ones, see my animals getting slaughtered. They think the kids are too young to understand and should be shielded from the realities of life and death. They are plenty of people I am sure who would like stop people from involving their children in animal slaughter as well.
The simple fact is that there is a very vocal segment of society who seems to think that anyone who isn’t like them is just wrong and that unless we follow the most restrictive and life-sapping norms of the 1950s Nuclear Family ideals we are doomed. I think they are full of shit.
You use ‘liberal’ like they used the term ‘communist’ in the McCarthy area. I am still not entirely sure what the exact definition of ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ is, but from what I gather a liberal is wish-washy flake and a conservative is an unfeeling asshole. Not sure where I’d fit into that, generally I’d a thought I’d be more in the the asshole category, as wishy-washy isn’t my thing, but then I suppose I do think people should do what makes them feel happy so that probably puts in the pinko-commie category as well. Either way, I think using the term ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ is just being silly really.
#40 MikeN, you seem to be trying to inextricably link this sort of “parade behavior” with gay culture in general, with what appears to be an agenda. That is precisely the specter that John raised in his intro to this blog entry. He probably didn’t even realize at the time how spot-on he was in predicting what you would do 😉
I don’t think it’s unreasonable, or “restrictive” or “life-sapping” to say that adults shouldn’t whip other naked adults or stretch or twist their genetalia using weights in public. Particularly in front of children.
We seem to have two extremes on this thread – one that says allowing sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex will lead to sheep marriage, and another which says if you dare to question anyone’s desire for sheep marriage, you obviously are a gay hating bigot.
iGW and Gary – you’re right.
And Ben, there, trots out the old, tired ‘black-and-white thinking’.
As I mentioned, this “all or nothing” shit is just ludicrous propagandizing. By that Logic-Free Reasoning®™, if we don’t accept living under Shari’a law, female genital mutilation and suicide bombings, we’re therefore promoting Xianity.
– and Ben? Since even you have some limit, apparently, on what you think is inappropriate for children to be exposed to, then you DO recognize the need for limits on what should be permissible in public. But your astonishing, gullible stupidity disqualifies you as any fit judge.
“a two year old would probably not even notice” From that, it’s quite obvious that you not only know not the first thing about developmental psychology, you actually think that your personal lack of knowledge is an acceptable basis for determining what children – OTHER PEOPLE’S children – should or shouldn’t be exposed to.
You shouldn’t be permitted near children. Your judgment is no better than a child’s.
Frank IBC: I think a day out of the year when people want to parade through the streets and showing off their fetish gear is fair enough, and to want to deny them or their family a day out of the year is life sapping. Its life sapping because its stopping people from doing what they want to do when it is hurting anyone (or at least not hurting anyone who isn’t into that sorta thing). Its life sapping because its taking two people who are having a bit of fun with their children and supposing that the kids were also witnesses to all sorts of beating and genital mutilation.
I am sure it won’t be long (if it hasn’t started already) when the Wiccans and other neo-pagans will have a parade, and the Federation of Bible Bashers will have their march too, along with all sorts of other people. There are people like the Morris dancers as well. I hope they all bring their children along because its important for kids to be part of their parents life. Like I said, I doubt any parents were really letting their children get up close and personal with the hardcore stuff, anymore than most parents would bring their kids to the “let’s do E and have an orgy tent” at any given festival.
If there was a photo of the kids near the hardcore stuff, with the kids attention being focused totally on that, then maybe I’d agree with you, but when its just a photo of some two year olds dressed up for a day, I think that is just being too restrictive.
I have no need to parade my hobbies, rated “G” or not, on the street. Why will these people wilt and die if they have to keep their fetishes at home, where they belong?
Well, actually they were photoshopped – or did you think they just happened to be wearing loincloths provided by Miller Lite? 😛
I was going to ask you about that, Frank — was Miller Lite the official sponsor of the street fair? 😉 Thanks for not linking an unedited version.
File this under the “shoot yourself in the foot” department. What better way to hurt gay rights than to fit the sterotype exactly? A southern conservative christian couldn’t have asked for a better story…
Gary, I’m not the one doing the linking. I mentioned examples that had nothing to do with the parade. There are other examples. Remember Mark Foley? Well Congressman Gerry Studds of Massachusetts was caught doing the same thing, but rather than resign he said his critics were anti-gay and stayed in Congress for 20 years, not to mention Barney Frank having a gay brothel running out of his house. The fact is there is a gay agenda to have these things accepted, and it is not considered abnormal. This includes school curricula introducing kids to this behavior such as fisting.
47. Lauren the Ghoti But your astonishing, gullible stupidity disqualifies you as any fit judge. …. it’s quite obvious that you not only know not the first thing about developmental psychology … You shouldn’t be permitted near children. Your judgment is no better than a child’s.
You are correct and right in all ways. I obvious haven’t a clue. I bow down your superior wit and reason and the eloquent way you can phrase an argument. I am obviously just a bone head. And you are right, I know very little about developmental psychology. It amazes that they allow us to have kids with at least an undergraduate degree in psychology. Maybe I’ll pick up a copy of “Pop-Psychology Today” or “Parenting Fad of the Week” and learn myself up a bit.
My four children are packed and waiting on the street corner for your to arrive and pick them up and provide them with what I am sure will be the very nice and balanced environment that can only come from the obvious overflowing love of everything you have coursing through your veins.
I hope you enjoy raising them. Just one thing: whatever you do, keep them away from anything leather…
-Ben.
49. Frank IBC I have no need to parade my hobbies, rated “G” or not, on the street. Why will these people wilt and die if they have to keep their fetishes at home, where they belong?
I have no need to parade my hobbies either. Someone how hobby farming and home preserving doesn’t lend itself to public events (although I admit I do attend the occasional agricultural fare).
People do wilt and die if they have to live their lives keeping things secret, hiding them from kids and parents, acting as if they should be ashamed of themselves. That is why they have the parades. People don’t want to live in secret, they don’t want to have hidden lives.
I don’t keep my hobbies a secret, I don’t see why they should have to either…. okay, I rarely admit my love of model railways, but other than that I am fairly open about my hobbies….
Why is it unreasonable to keep secret a desire to whip other nude men in public, or to grotesquely stretch one’s genitals in public?
57. Frank IBC
A reasonable enough question and the answer is this: there are so many people out there who think that people who are into S&M are complete freaks, and who would deny them jobs, who would shun them, who would kick them out of their family, who would see them on the streets on the beat the shit out of them, that some people who are into S&M feel like they are totally alienated from their society, from their friends and from their family. They don’t want to be alienated. They want to be able to enjoy their hobby and otherwise lead normal and happy lives. I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to do that.
So you think that the only way that they can possibly lead “normal and happy lives” is by being able to whip other nude men in public, or to grotesquely stretch their genitals in public?
#54 MikeN writes… “The fact is there is a gay agenda to have these things accepted, and it is not considered abnormal. This includes school curricula introducing kids to this behavior such as fisting.”
That sounds like the very type of thing I’ve heard from church people (and from my father). I’ve learned to be extremely skeptical of those claims. Often there is some small basis in fact, but these sources tend to distort the fact to nearly unrecognizable proportions to “prove” how subversive their enemy is.
Visit your local school board’s next meeting, and you’ll quickly get a feeling for how unreceptive they’d be to the ideas you say are being pushed as part of the “gay agenda” for the schools. Christians have made it a high priority to assert as much influence as possible in school boards all around the country. I don’t deny that there’s an agenda by gays for mainstream acceptance as a non-deviant, natural lifestyle driven by the very same biological urges (though differently directed) as what heterosexuals experience. But by latching onto the most radical behavior and alleging that it exemplifies the group as a whole, you’re giving in to your darker angels. I got a closeup look at those darker angels when I went to church.
59. Frank IBC: Yes, some people can only lead normal happy lives if once a year they get together with their friends and whip, stretch and do all sorts of weird things. I don’t know why that is. Maybe there are some fetishists on Dvorak that can explain why it is they want to whip each other. I believe Lauren the Ghoti is some sort of expert in psychology perhaps Lauren has some insight. If going on parade once a year and showing their bits make them happy, then all power to them. It is just once a year. Its just a bunch of guys in leather.
51. Frank, Actually I thought that the event was sponsored by Miller lite. It would explain the disgustingly bad taste all around.
Ben –
Yes, it’s just the same as a Rennfaire or a Civil War enactment.
Ben –
Well, there are several on here that I would like to whip, but for different reasons. 😛
Well you’re right about what school boards would approve of, but many times the curriculum is done at the state level, and of course not all school boards operate in this fashion. Big city school boards tend to fall over for activists of alls tripes.
54. Frank IBC Yes, it’s just the same as a Rennfaire or a Civil War enactment.
See, now you are getting it. I knew you’d come round to my way of thinking eventually 😀 😀 :-D.
And yes, I know what you mean. I am no fetishist but the idea of giving some people a good beating does hold a certainly appeal, even if its not a sexual one….