Folsom Fair North Event in Toronto Gathers Thousands of Supporters to Raise Money for AIDS

July 20, 2004 in News by Admin

Amanda LeporeTORONTO, Digital Journal “?? John likes leather armbands, rubber pants, dressing up like a longshoreman and being watched. Dean likes leather bare-ass chaps, light S&M, bondage and being on top.

“But you have to understand what top means,”?? Dean Price tells me, his friend John Tiffany nodding. “Top almost guides the follower, and they”??re both equal too. Bottom, though, has control and can stop the scene.”??


Full of infectious energy the Dazzle Dancers from New York City were in Toronto to spread a message of love and sexual freedom. Performing at the Folsom Fair North weekend in Toronto the group demonstrated both art and creative self-expression. “?? Photo by djc Features I don”??t have to ask him to clarify “stop the scene.”?? After all, we”??re chatting at a swanky bar/club for the launch of Folsom Fair North Weekend in Toronto, a three-day festival of leather, fetish and “the adult alternative lifestyle,”?? according to the press release. Ending yesterday, the event featured a 10-hour fair dotted with leashes, whips, and nipple clamps. Sandwiching the shows were parties starring international DJs and the least inhibitive folks your parents warned you about. The brains behind the parties and exhibitions are the two excitable fellows who love talking leather and self-expression.

“You won”??t let your kids take a picture of our fair,”?? says Tiffany, highlighting the difference between Folsom and Pride Day (which has become increasingly mainstream). I know what he means: Before I spoke to Price and Tiffany, I spotted a guy wearing leather straps, and only leather straps. His body was half leather half birthday suit. A few people slapped his bare bum cheeks teasingly as he walked by, and his grin grew wider as the party wore on.

Colour wasn”??t the only statement being made at the Folsom Fair North Weekend in Toronto, as some attendees wrapped themselves in black leather and accented their outfits with “extravagant” accessories. “?? Photo by djc Features Folsom isn”??t only about gay-friendly vibes and stocking up on handcuffs. “We want people to know about something not in the news,”?? Tiffany says. It”??s a familiar story for Folsom fans: Two years ago, Price, Tiffany and an HIV-positive friend were planning to attend the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, which is now in its 11th year. Those plans were quickly dashed when their HIV-positive friend was refused entry into the U.S. Tiffany and Price threw up their hands in disgust and decided they”??d bring the fair to their friend.

More than 4,500 people attended the inaugural fair last year, despite a steady downpour of rain. Price says he wants even bigger crowds this year to better spread an immigration crisis: a 19-year-old U.S. law considers HIV-positive people health threats and it denies them entry into the country. The ban is lifted sometimes, most notably for the Gay Games in New York. But the Folsom fellows see the pick-and-choose process as unpredictable and unacceptable.

Changing American policy meant reaching Americans. Tiffany and Price decided to raise awareness through their website by creating a resource page titled “To Our American Friends.”??
[www.folsomfairnorth.com/AmericanFriends.htm] Links to articles and general background give a good scope of the issue, and links to a petition and a sample letter to send to elected officials provide tool for action.

Dean Price (wearing black, top left) and John Tiffany (beside), organizers of the Folsom Fair North Weekend in Toronto pose with Dazzle Dancers of New York City. The group of free-spirited performers was there to help raise awareness and money to support victims of AIDS. “?? Photo by djc Features “Why do we continue to treat these HIV sufferers like criminals?”?? asks Price. “It”??s disgusting, the way they”??re fingerprinted and searched so thoroughly.”?? As an American, Tiffany has seen how blind his country can be and is more than happy to shine the spotlight on a friendly northern neighbour. “People need to know more about Toronto,”?? he declares, sipping proudly from a bottle of Steam Whistle beer.

Folsom Fair North is again supporting the AIDS community by funnelling all proceeds to its sole beneficiary, the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT). By assembling volunteers, sponsors and entertainers working free, the fair is able to collect enough cash for a civil-rights cause and also attract vendors such as Master R”??s Dungeon Equipment.

“We do whatever turns us on.”?? Tiffany says that three times during our interview, and I”??m beginning to understand that”??s the slogan for Folsom Fair North. Express yourself, embrace your fellow fetishists. Get sexy, no matter the leather.

www.folsomfairnorth.com

Related Blogs

  • Related Blogs on Bum Cheeks
  • Related Blogs on Creative Self Expression
  • Related Blogs on Event In Toronto
  • Related Blogs on Folsom Fair North
  • Related Blogs on Infectious Energy
  • Related Blogs on International Djs
  • Related Blogs on John Tiffany
  • Related Blogs on Launch
  • Related Blogs on Leashes
  • Related Blogs on Leather Armbands
  • Related Blogs on Leather Fetish
  • Related Blogs on san francisco
Submit this content to FetSpank.com

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »