Senior Dufty (SF Chronicle)
Time now for our Editorial of the Week, courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Just so you're up to speed with the proper background:
--The "leather community" is a part of the gay community, hardly representative of the mainstream gay community, but a visible subculture, largely because of the stark images and perceived behavior.
--The politician referenced in the editorial, Bevan Dufty, is gay. He's currently a member of the city council (called a Board of Supervisors in San Francisco), and he plans to run for mayor in 2011.
Public sex tents? Now there's an idea that should have been shot down the second it was announced from the mouth of a member of the "leather community" in response to complaints about public sex at Folsom Street Fair and its smaller sibling fair, Up Your Alley.
Instead, it appears that at least one of our local leaders (Supervisor Bevan Dufty) has agreed to take the matter "under advisement." Since our local leaders are having trouble speaking the obvious, we will: Public sex is not appropriate at Folsom Street Fair or anywhere else. Even in San Francisco.
Public sex isn't just lewd, it's illegal under state law. San Francisco officials and police have historically given the fairs broad leeway to self-police bawdy behavior, but that should have been revoked the moment that citizens complained. Instead, people are giving serious thought to ways to make the streets safe for public sex and unsafe for public decency.
Enough. This is a quality-of-life issue that should have been tackled years ago. Local leaders need to stop clowning around and insist that everyone obey the law.
The reality is, the people you'd like to see naked never are and the people you do see naked make your eyes bleed most of the time, but if any city official approves/supplies tents for public sex during public events, (especially when paid with tax dollars) here's an idea: Put up those tents on the front yard of that official's home. About a dozen tents oughtta do it. Let's see if he takes that "under advisement."
But seriously, here's the real sore spot here: There are plenty of people in society who don't like gays, or even hate them. It's a foolish, ignorant and backward attitude but it exists, and it exists in part because of a stereotype that's reinforced by a street fair that's known for catering to the gay community and in particular, the "leather community." The leather community doesn't represent the gay community any more than the person who murdered abortion doctor George Tiller represents Christians, but people have narrow views and they're reinforced by extremes of behavior and image. Consider this poster advertising the Folsom Street Fair in 2007
I'm not offended. I don't care. But you and I both know that people on the outside looking in will see a poster like this will be offended and even disgusted, and that reinforces their stereotypical view of gays and the gay community. People in the public square --radio talk show hosts or TV pundits-- who have staunchly conservative views of gays will use images like the poster to incite more negative attitudes, suggesting that all gays are like this (whereas an honest disseminator of information would take a much more reasoned approach).
It's analogous to the hostile, intractable ideologues currently occupying the right wing fringe of the Republican Party. These extreme conservatives are doctrinaire, and often nasty and hostile about it. They've become the current face of the Republican Party, which is a far cry from the Republicans represented by Reagan, Rockefeller, Eisenhower and Lincoln. They're no better for the Republican Party's future viability than these extreme exhibitionists (for lack of a better term) are for the gay community.
If the gay community hopes to achieve the level of equality it says it deserves, particularly in the realm of gay marriage, they need to do a better job of loudly divorcing themselves from the less palatable elements within their community. Mr. Bevans, by taking something like "public sex tents" "under advisement" rather than dismissing it instantly and outright, is making a signal mistake: Never give your opponent a weapon to use against you, and it's easy to see how such an issue further cements the measurable bias against gays that exists in our society.
Gays should be allowed to marry, and they should be treated every bit as equal as anyone else --I believe those things will happen one day --but crass showboating by exhibitionists and requests for public sex tents makes the uphill battle that much tougher.
Comments
It's a shame really the city by the bay is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Yet it's mainly known for 3 things, myself which is awesome, ole Plastic-Face Pelosi which is not good, and well yes the leather guys which is a little weird to say the least.
Gays give gays a bad stereotype!
Barry Soetoro says: "Gays give gays a bad stereotype!"
Why?
This article brings to mind that Al Pacino movie from the late 70's "Cruising" I think they had some leather guys in that film that looked like that dude in the Village People. Not one of Pacino's better films, he was cool win he played a gay guy in "Dog Day Afternoon" though.
Damn so now the leather gay guys have a flag also? I thought most gays had that rainbow thingy? I guess the guys in chaps needed a more Butch flag.
Well first of all "gay public sex tents" is kind of an oxymoron considering its not public if you are in a tent.
Obviouslt it does mean something to the writer since he wrote about it. But c'mon now. Piritan much? Or maybe its just the Ohio "wear your swimsuit" in the shower mentality talking.
The Leather Community is one of the first communities that came out to fight for your rights. The last thing you should be doing is passing judgement on them.
Wolf - Back2Stonewall.com -- You are missing the point. It's not what I think (and I don't care what the leather community does); it's what the opponents of gay marriage think, what people who hate gays think. Look at the idiotic comment, "Gays give gays a bad stereotype!" I've asked that poster to explain why he says that but he's not likely to provide an intelligent answer, just an emotional and inaccurate one based on prejudice. The Folsom Street Fair matter just fuels that opposition. You can choose to be defiant or even militant but there's a far smarter way to achieve rightful goals. Tawdry images in the minds of the judgmental (and that's who opponents of gay marriage are) hurt more than they help. There's no reason to give them any more ammunition than they already have to incite further opposition.
Sonny -- I remember the film. Anyone born and raised in New York (as I was) was well aware of that scene, the many bars and hangouts in Greenwich Village and --of all places-- the meat packing district a little further south of the Village. I haven't seen the film since it came out but the open-ended ending left you with a creepy feeling. Maybe that was the intention. Pacino's got a great resume; I particularly like his work in "Heat." The scene with DeNiro in the coffee shop? They did 27 takes! They finally used take 13. Don't ask me how I know crap like that! =)
I think the guy in the gimp mask is phat.
Top 3 Pacino Films of All-Time
And Justice For All
Godfather II
Serpico
Unrelated and Unofficial says: "Top 3 Pacino Films of All-Time..."
Okay, I'll bite! Man, that's a tough call. He was REALLY good in Godfather I (but it wasn't his film). Jack Warden was hysterical in And Justice For All.
Dog Day Afternoon ... it's a dogfight with the three you picked. Also like him in Glengarry Glen Ross, Donnie Brasco, The Insider, Insomnia, The Devil's Advocate and Heat.
Scarface? Overrated.
I don't agree. Bigots will harrass even the most respectable gays. People know that in Folsom there is public sex and that is the reason why they visit that place. Children can go everywhere except that street, why their parents complaint if they know what happen there? Folsom street is an oasis for freedom, I would like to visit it someday.
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