Frank asked why I would include this as part of the "Tourist Update" and all I can say is that if I was a tourist it would have been a week to remember. Here's why.
Our Participation
San Francisco in the month of June goes through a mini-transformation. Unlike Chinese New Years or some of the other major festivals, Market Street is lined with large rainbow flags that wave a subtle reminder of a prominent group in San Francisco. There are really three things that you, as a tourist, should try to experience if you are in San Francisco during the month of June: Tranny Shack, Pink Saturday and the Pride Parade & Celebration.
Tranny Shack
Tranny Shack is a weekly event held at The Stud, a bar located on the corner of 9th and Harrison St. For the truly adventurous, you could plan on dinner at Asia SF, where the hostesses are all gender illusionist's. The "girls" are so good that we had serious debate convincing Pamala that was technically being served by men. I digress. At Tranny Shack there is no question as to how these girls were brought into this world. Which raises the question ... are they trannies? Performers? or drag queens? I'm not sure how to answer, because the show starts at midnight with a rousing rendition of the Muppet Show introduction (it's time to get things started ...) and didn't end until 1:30 (yes, in the morning).
Now why would I recommend Tranny Shack for Pride when it takes place every Tuesday? Good question. Usually for Pride there is a special guest hostess and this year Lady Bunny stayed in New York and Chi Chi Larue filled in her heels and did a great job. She is known for her directoral efforts and can bring down the house with a rousing rendition of "Addicted to Port" to Robert Palmers "Addicted to Love" and commanded the stage as only a overweight man in a dress can do! And while Heklina seemed a bit subdued Diva Dan brought down the house with bad taste in his interpretation of a Missy Eliott song. FUNNY!!!! We ran into Diva Dan at the Pride celebration and a chance to get a picture (though Johnny failed to capture the fact that she is on 6 inch heels!).
Pink Saturday
Pink Saturday is really a "womyn's" day and is typically an event that really starts once the Dyke March arrives. in the Castro. The ladies start at Dolores Park and it true revolutionary style, refuse to request a permit. They, their motor bikes, accolytes and others arrive in the Castro and the party begins. The streets are blocked off and people wander and dance at any of the many outdoor stages that are built. I have to say that standing in line with a straight girl from Sacramento opened my eyes to the fact that the event is changing. Why would a straight couple travel from Sacramento and attend Pink Saturday? Then her friend stumbles out of the port-a-potty and proceeds to conduct a personal rendition of the rainbow flag of diversity by throwing up on the side of the port-a-potty wall. Frank and I decided that at this point ... it was time to go home.
PRIDE Parade & Celebration
My roommate ranks the noise of the Dykes on Bikes that start the Pride celebration (imagine 450 motorcycles racing past) as second only to the sound of the Blue Angels that visit us once a year as well! We missed the gyrls, having opted to enjoy breakfast at Squat & Gobble outdoor in the sun. Unlike last year, the weather played nice and we were appropriately sunscreened and ready to head down to the celebration.
We were not as concerned about seeing the actual parade but I did want to see Leslie Jordan on the main stage (Karen Walker's nemisis from Will & Grace). We jumped on the underground and encountered an entourage of French garb. Hmm. San Francisco. We decided to see more of the parade by walking against the progression. It helps to be over 6 feet tall! We saw our friend Joe, Lesley Jordan, Elvira (why was she in the parade?) the Barbary Coast Cloggers (see video) and walked past the Golden Gate Theater where Rent is going to open (interestingly, the movie Rent was filmed in part across the street!). People watching is always the most fun and once we got to the fundamentalists who were protesting and telling everyone that they were going to hell, we jumped underground and headed back to the Civic Center for the food (meat in a bowl!), ice cream and of course free entertainment.
The Pride Movie
