"This is the city's backyard. An early morning walk will take a visitor past dozens of small businesses: metal benders, plastic molders, even casket makers. At five, they set down their tools and return to the suburbs. A few hours later men in black leather will step out on these same streets to fill the nearly thirty gay bars, restaurants and sex clubs." - Mark Thompson, 1982

Ringold Street, or Ringold Alley in San Francisco’s SoMa or South of Market neighborhood, helped to start a kinky sexual revolution in the city by the bay. Ringold played host to the first two “Up Your Alley” street fairs before the moved to Dore Alley in 1987, but not many know the history of this once popular gay cruising spot in San Francisco’s leather district.

Gay author, activist, writer and leather educator Race Bannon takes us cruising and shares stories of the Ringold Alley that was, and what it’s inspired in today’s LGBTQIA2S+ community.

LINKS

Race Bannon on Substack LeatherWalkOn Guard Salon PodcastChristopher J. BealeStereotypes Podcast