As I wrap up my San Francisco tour, I reflected on what this trip truly meant to me.
Was it taking life on the slow lane (Yes, the Amtrak is slow) while soaking in the coastal views on the Amtrak, or was it partying at Micky's while their gay dancers put me to shame with their twerking? Was it the sessions I had at Nightshade, a local dungeon downtown, or simply the gastronomical adventures of the melting pot of cultures in San Francisco? What singular photo would be meaningful and representative of my West Coast adventures? I pondered - I reconciled my fondest San Francisco memories together with my lived-in experiences back in Singapore and it dawned on me. It was the Rainbow Flag at Castro.
It wasn't just a flag, but a beacon, a bastion of sexual liberation and body positivity. It is testament to how strong a community can be when it comes together; and what it means to be one.
I was able to tour San Francisco and host professional dominations sessions at the Nightshade, and it wasn't just because I could afford the air fare to San Francisco or have Californian submissives yearn to serve me, it simply wasn't just that. It was because of the community that was birthed from the decades of struggle and nurtured by generations of community leaders and activists, that created the safe space for me to walk through their doors and to carry out my tour and BDSM practice in San Francisco.
To that, I give thanks to the gay/kink community - Goddess Faustine Cox, Ms Lillian Bastet, Proprietress of the Nightshade, the lovely folks at Queer Arts Featured, and many others who have hosted me and welcomed me into their spaces and hearts.
San Francisco, it's goodbye for now, but I'll be back.
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About FemDom, Goddess Ashley: here