Tom of Finland leather daddy vest at Folsom Street East (all photos by author)
What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with all the leather daddies at New York City’s annual Folsom Street East, the NYC edition of the famous San Francisco kink/leather Folsom Street Fair?
Since moving to New York in 2015, Folsom Street East is an event I somehow always seemed to miss with so many things happening during Pride month. It’s also a very baby brother of a fair compared to what I was used to when living in San Francisco. To rewind, I attended my first Folsom Street Fair with friends in 2011 after moving to San Francisco in 2010. It’s an event that everybody in SF seems to go to (or at least knows about), not just kinksters. Beginning in 1984, Folsom Street Fair has become an SF staple and the highlight ending of Leather Week every September. Taking up multiple blocks, it was and still is a completely immersive experience. The Folsom Street Fair was the first time I was exposed to the leather scene. As a young queer person, seeing others completely and proudly embrace their desires, fully embedded in different lifestyles, profoundly changed me in the best way possible. Witnessing adult babies walking around, people dressing up as dogs in pup play, groups of men doing naked Twister, women and men strung up by rope in fantastic Shibari knots, and, of course, a dominatrix in real life… it is a kind of empowerment that as a woman was liberating. You can’t leave a space like that and judge anybody for what they’re into.
A crowded and happy Folsom Street East scene
Because of this, I was curious to see how the New York Folsom would compare. Sunday was a warm but not too warm of a day. I put on thigh-highs, my cute schoolgirl skirt, a naughty phrase crop top, and, naturally, cuffs and a leather harness. I covered this leather gear with a hot pink jacket that I’ve embroidered on the back “Please Don’t Love Bomb Me” with a John Willie gagged-and-tied Sweet Gwendoline. Your girl has to be subtle when navigating the vanilla heteronormative streets and subway while making the trek from the Bronx to 27th Street for the hottest event of Pride. As I got closer to the queer district of New York City, I noticed different leather people walking the opposite way so I knew I was getting close. The closer I got, the more confident I felt knowing that my outfit was not going to be considered anything wild. At the gate entrance, the music was loud and the crowd was already building by 1:00 PM.
In New York, Folsom Street East began in 1997. Last year was apparently a very small affair, taking up a literal alley. I heard mixed reviews about this location with many people saying to me, “It was way too small everybody was on top of each other. It was cramped. It wasn’t great at all.” Another person, though, whispered in my ear, “I kind of enjoyed it. I kind of liked everybody being on top of each other.” So I guess it depends on the vibe you’re going for. After attending this year’s fair, I can’t imagine how a doggy playpen and various go-go dancing platforms could have been possible in such a small alleyway. A larger space feels more appropriate to fully celebrate all of the different kinds of kink spheres that people are part of. In fact, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that next year it will only get bigger, taking up more streets.
Some Shibari and BDSM fun in the sun
Walking the street, people were selling their wares of leather gear, activism, and drinks. There were also platforms for go-go dancers of all types, little strung-up areas for Shibari, and a stage. Rather than the original Folsom Street Fair, Folsom Street East reminded me more of Up Your Alley, the smaller San Francisco fair that takes place in July and is occasionally called Folsom’s Dirty Little Brother. Like Up Your Alley, Folsom East was a more male-focused space (larger just by the more male-presenting bodies that were in attendance). That being said, there was an extreme feeling of acceptance of all genders and body types and I felt comfortable and immediately at ease. The entire event had a very relaxed Sunday vibe—everyone was walking around, reveling in the scenes taking place, bumping into old friends, and making new ones. Near the beer tent, waiting in line to pay for a ticket to have fresh Budweiser or Bud Light from kegs, many people were mingling and chatting, catching up and engaging in some consensual groping…and other activities.
Lancelot showing his flogging skills
I soon found people I knew in my community. The wonderful artist Come On Strong, who also helped put on the event, was by the entrance when I arrived, ensuring everyone was getting in and staying safe. I later ran into the leather Dom Lancelot, a friend and artist, having fun with his infamous flogger on an eager and shy new sub. Lancelot, who a few days earlier performed and won crowd favorite and runner-up at Mx. Kink 2024, was the first of many performers from Mx. Kink that I saw. Why wouldn’t I at THE leather/kink event of NYC Pride?! I also couldn’t help but squeal at the iconic wedgie photographer extraordinaire Benjamin Fredrickson and let him know how happy I was to finally meet him in person after loving his work for years. There were many other brilliant artists and curators there too: Peter Clough all done up in latex, Vincent Tiley with his cute boyfriend, Eva Mueller grinning from ear to ear in a fake mustache, one of my mentors from graduate school Kris Grey, the fantastic talented artist and publisher Kyle Quinn of Raw Meat Collective, and my bestie, the ridiculously skilled artist Ethan Shoshan who was kind enough to walk around, take in, and discuss all the scenes we were witnessing. Also in attendance but missing as I navigated the crowd was my friend, the multitalented Scooter LaForge.
Before colliding with Ethan, I was able to watch the energized and ferocious Christeene Vale, a singer, performer, rapper, drag queen, and overall badass. Her performance was violent and intense. The crowd cheered, completely enthralled as she ripped and tore away her clothes and deep-throated her mic. Everyone couldn’t keep their eyes off her. I won’t lie, though, I also couldn’t keep my eyes off the sign language interpreter on stage who was also killing it and enjoying herself.
Christeene Vale performing with her cheerful sign language interpreter on stage
One of my favorite parts of Christeene’s performance, however, was a little speech she gave, which I will leave you with:
“…So to all family out there, go to the fucking store, not the CVS, not the Rite Aid, don’t give them no money. Just go and buy some diapers on the street somewhere. Strap your best friend into them and enjoy yourselves in the arts, the dark arts, of turning an adult person into a baby so you can wipe their poo-poo and maybe, just maybe, some of you eat it. Let’s Do This!”
Nothing says PRIDE more than supporting your friends in all their endeavors, am I right? Happy Pride, ya filthy animals, and I look forward to seeing y’all at next year’s Folsom Street East.
Alexandria Deters is a Bronx, New York-based artist, writer, archivist, researcher, and fine art appraiser. She has written for the online publications Gallery Gurls, ArtSpiel, and Eazel, and is a regular contributing writer for Cultbytes, UP Magazine, and Filthy Dreams. Recent group exhibitions include Spring/Break Art Show; Outsider Art Fair; Every Woman Biennial; Dirty Laundry, The Locker Room; and A Golden Thread: A Fiber Art Exhibition, BravinLee Programs.