“I am both,” says Race Bannon. The leather activist, author, sex educator, and kink aficionado is Christopher Beale’s guest this week Out in the Bay, “queer and kinky.”
The timing of Bannon’s appearance is no accident as — at this moment — many thousands are streaming into San Francisco from around the world for Folsom Street Fair 2022. This kinky San Francisco tradition dates back to 1984, and brings kinksters of all sorts to the streets of SoMa on Sunday.
“Typically you wouldn’t just go to some sidewalk anywhere and start spanking someone,” says Bannon. “Well, that may happen at Folsom Street Fair, and you’re gonna be watching it.” There are numerous parties and events surrounding the festival as well as the event itself, but there is also a shadow over this year’s festivities … MPox.
“The basics are taken care of in terms of safety,” Bannon says, adding that the Folsom Street Events team is great at their job. “I have to say I’m very impressed with how the community responded to MPox,” Bannon adds with pride. “They deserve a lot of credit for responding so quickly, and so robustly. But each individual person makes their own safety decisions.”
We dig into Bannon’s background as a writer, including his 7 years writing for the Bay Area Reporter, how he discovered kink, his podcast and more on this week’s Out in the Bay – Queer Radio + Podcast.
Chow down for a good cause! Project Open Hand fundraiser Dining Out for Life East Bay takes place Thursday, September 29, in Oakland and other East Bay locations. Find a list of eateries that will donate a share of Sept. 29 breakfast, lunch and dinner sales at Dining Out for Life East Bay’s web page. Eateries can still sign up.
Please help us keep bringing queer air to your ears. Out in the Bay is an independent non-profit production. We receive no funds from podcast platforms nor from radio stations that air Out in the Bay weekly. Your gift will help keep LGBTQ voices and stories coming to you and others who might not be able to give. (Donate tabs on our website will take you to a Media Alliance interface. Media Alliance is our non-profit 501(c)3 fiscal agent. Your gift will be earmarked for Out in the Bay.
Out in the Bay is supported in part by Project Open Hand, which provides 2,500 life-saving meals and 200 bags of groceries daily to sustain people experiencing illness, social isolation, or the health challenges of aging. Learn more at OpenHand.org. Project Open Hand – Meals with Love
The Executive Producer of Out in the Bay Queer Radio+Podcast is Eric Jansen. This episode was produced, hosted and edited by Christopher Beale.
