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Folsom: a perfect place for kids?

The Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather, alternative and fetish street fair in the world with over 400,000 attendees annually. This year marks its 22nd year. Folsom Street Events is a non-profit organization and all proceeds raised from their events are directly returned to San Francisco charities. Last year over $265,000 was donated back to twelve beneficiary organizations.

Veronica Kruschel, 2, drinks water while her twin sister Zola Kruschel, 2, enjoys the Folsom Street Fair environment both for the first time as their parents John Kruse and Gary Beuschel (both not pictured) watch near by Sept. 25, 2005.

The Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather, alternative and fetish street fair in the world with over 400,000 attendees annually. This year marks its 22nd year. Folsom Street Events is a non-profit organization and all proceeds raised from their events are directly returned to San Francisco charities. Last year over $265,000 was donated back to twelve beneficiary organizations.

Veronica Kruschel, 2, drinks water while her twin sister Zola Kruschel, 2, enjoys the Folsom Street Fair environment both for the first time as their parents John Kruse and Gary Beuschel (both not pictured) watch near by Sept. 25, 2005.

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Veronica Kruschel, 2, drinks water while her twin sister Zola Kruschel, 2, enjoys the Folsom Street Fair environment both for the first time as their parents John Kruse and Gary Beuschel (both not pictured) watch near by Sept. 25, 2005.

By William Love Correspondent and Poh Si Teng |

PUBLISHED: September 29, 2005 at 5:04 pm | UPDATED: August 17, 2016 at 7:56 am

SAN FRANCISCO — Some of the most unlikely attendees of Sunday’s kinky leather fetish festival were under four feet tall. Two-year-olds Zola and Veronica Kruschel waddled through the Folsom Street Fair surrounded by strangers in fishnets and leather crotch pouches, semi and fully nude men.

The girls who were also dressed for the event wore identical lace blouses, floral bonnets and black leather collars purchased from a pet store. Fathers Gary Beuschel and John Kruse watched over them closely. They were proud to show them off.

“They will see more than the kids with moms and dads in Iowa,” said Beuschel, who wanted to expose his children to San Francisco’s diverse community. “Every parent has to decide for themselves what is right for them. And I respect that. And we decided that this is right for our children.

Beuschel and his girls were at the 22nd Folsom Street Fair, an annual leather event in San Francisco’s South of Market district, which showcased outrageous costumes, fetish attire, and a community into bondage, whipping, flogging and spanking.

Every year unsuspecting tourists and families stroll into the Folsom Street Fair. Some turn away at the gates after being warned by security officials about the event’s graphic sadomasochistic nature, while others saunter in with babies in arms and young children.

Event organizers said parents were responsible for determining whether the fair was suitable for kids. However, some people say children should not be allowed inside.

“I don’t think that a 6-year-old can understand that S&M is about trust, said Quincey Justman, 28, UCSF graduate student. “Showing a kid a bunch of adults hitting each other would be damaging.

It was Dylan Middlebrooks’ sixth year at the leather fair. He is 10 years old.

“It’s pretty nasty because a lot of people here are naked,” said Middlebrooks, who was waiting for his mother. He lives in the area. Organizers said they gave families ample warning.

“We do our best (to explain) this is an adult-natured event,” said Darryl Flick, executive director of Folsom Street Events. “I’ve seen a thousand doting aunts and uncles, and a kid having the time of his life.

Security volunteer Adam Hawkins said it was up to the parents to decide what was best for their kids, and he wouldn’t stop them at the gates. Some fairgoers said it was inappropriate to have children at the event.

“Why do (these people) bring kids here? This is a leather fair for god’s sake,” said Bahran Aliassa, who was masturbating in public. He has been doing it annually for the past six years.

Oakland resident Veronica Charles had her baby son in a stroller. “I don’t think I’ll bring him here when he is six,” the 36-year-old mother said. But he’s too young to know what’s happening now, she said. Police officer Mark Lantrip said families could choose not to come.

It’s an educational experience for children, said John Kruse, father of Zola and Veronica Kruschel. He said there were conservative parents against having kids at the event.

Kruse said, “Those are the same close-minded people who think we shouldn’t have children to begin with.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3804266&forum_id=2#34736498)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3804266&forum_id=2#34736520)