Breaking Boundaries
Time Warp Revisited: The Rocky Horror Phenomenon
The enduring influence of a cult classic
Being in San Francisco in the 70s was like living in the heart of a cultural revolution, one that I never wanted to leave. I can still remember those days, wandering through Haight-Ashbury, stepping through a portal from the peace-and-love hippie era into the emerging LGBTQ+ scene. Those were the days of real community spirit, where every Sunday felt like a mini-revolution, cheering on the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, feeling like we were all part of this huge, world-changing movement. We had hope.
Polk Street was where magic happened at night. Drag queens ruled the scene, and every show was outstanding. It was where I first learned the true meaning of courage and fabulousness. The Castro was like a second home, a safe haven where friends could just be themselves, openly and proudly. And then there was Folsom Street, edgy and daring, a place where people explored their desires freely, challenging every taboo.
New to SF, I was puzzled by the odd names of the bike gangs hanging on Folsom. Until my friends explained to me what Golden Showers really meant. I was so young and so very naïve. Demonstrations turned into riots protesting the murder of Harvey Milk, my first taste of tear gas…
