By Sabine Klier
The limits of tolerance will be put to the test this Saturday in Berlin-Schöneberg!
At the Folsom PVC and Leather Fetish Festival, the queer community celebrates on Fuggerstrasse – and mostly naked facts are presented without any shame. The residents of the Rainbow Neighborhood are extremely annoyed.
“I really enjoy living here. But that’s not bearable,” says Stephan H. (60). “Sex happens openly, in our hallway. Days after the festival it still stinks of urine because visitors pee everywhere.”
For 19 years, the small street has been transformed into a madhouse for men in leather harnesses, rubber masks or tied with ropes. This year the organizers of the fetish festival are expecting 25,000 participants.
At the street festival, lovers of unusual role-playing games present themselves in their costumes Photo: picture alliance/dpa
Mostly men from English-speaking countries celebrate here – with a lot of alcohol. “It is advertised that they can do anything here,” says Stephan H., “and that’s what they do, they let it all hang out.” He himself was once asked to identify himself as a resident after he “dressed normally was insulted as a “straight peeping tom”.
In recent years, local residents have repeatedly advocated for the festival to take place elsewhere. So far without success.
That’s why many people go away for the weekend. Stephan H.: “The martial costumes, which are reminiscent of Nazi uniforms, bother me. Why can’t this event take place indoors, why on the street? Families also live here.”
Pre-glow on Wednesday evening: The first festival visitors crowd in front of the Prinzknecht fetish bar on Fuggerstrasse – after 10 p.m. It’s noisy Photo: Private
The press office of the Schöneberg district office responded to BZ’s query: “The district office is aware of individual complaints from recent years and has sought to discuss these with the organizer. The corresponding concepts of the event were revised in light of the complaints.”