The Castro

The Castro is the gay center of the city and probably the world. However, back then this wasn’t the case as the area was once populated with working-class citizens. It wasn’t until the 1960s and 1970s when America witnessed the great suburban migration and gay men began buying old Victorians within the area. It was also this time when the Castro firmly established its gay identity through the activism of the Harvey Milk incident and AIDS crisis of the 80s.

Today, the Castro is a prime destination for all gay men. With its assortment of erotic shops, boutique clothing stores, restaurants and bars, there is something for every GAM out there. 

There are several notable events held at the Castro that GAMs should look out for. For visitors in October, there is the Castro Street Fair that plays music from four different stages. On the last Sunday of the month of June, all gay men come out and celebrate the Gay Pride Parade which comprises of dykes of bikes and drag queens marching down Market Street. Also the Castro is the site for the SF International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, one of the premiere film festivals focusing on queer culture.

Of all the districts in the city, South of Market probably is the most dynamic of them all. The district stretches from the Embarcadero to Eleventh Street and is made p of various warehouses, trendy clubs, art studios, hotels and internet start ups.

However, the majority of the excitement in SOMA can be found around the Giants Ball Park at the Embarcadero and around the Yerba Buena gardens. But for GAMs, all the fun in SOMA can be found at the stretch along Eleventh and Folsom where all the gay leather and S&M scene is concentrated. SOMA is also the site for the annual Folsom Street Fair, a festival that celebrates leather culture. If fetishes aren’t your cup of tea, GAMs can also enjoy a day at the San Francisco Musuem of Modern Art and all other museums surrounding the area.