Photo by Rink.

Photo and Text by Rink

Bigger and more shocking (to some people) than ever, this year's Folsom Street Fair drew a huge crowd out on a mile long stretch of SOMA promenade. Sun and heat poured down onto hordes of leather, rubber, furry, vinyl, and metal clad fetish fans. This year featured more nudes than ever, many demanding attention in all kinds of ways. There were more topless women and even some fetish-dressed teenagers. A cute pair of boys in rubber fondled each other every couple feet. Young women in brief rubber and latex outfits rode on spike high  heels while frenzied men with video (continued from front page)  cameras chased them block by block. Groups of shirtless gay men showing off long hours at the gym formed rings to admire each other and be admired by the gym-deprived. Porn superman drew huge crowds to their booths, and the fans gawked, had DVD's signed, and gasped when the friendly guys grabbed at them for photographs.  Some of the best sights were at the Volunteer/VIP/Press area, where some of the most creative costumes or lack of clothes were on display.  Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in some of their most excessive habits fllounced down next to cruel-looking S&M tops to chit chat over sandwiches and soda. Greetings of bare butted leathermen turned into cavity searches. For some the fair started at the Harvey Milk Club breakfast at the ILWU Hall at 9th and Folsom. Club activists mingled with their endorsed candidates, who included Kim Knox, Emily Drennen and SF Supervisor Chris Daly, who wore his son on his shoulders for much of the well buffeted event. Mimosas were in hand and the politicking reached a crescendo and then all departed for the fair.