Fetish Fair hits Church Street

Church St. held its annual Fetish Fair on Sunday -- a self-described "celebration of the leather, fetish and fantasy communities," which is currently in its seventh year. It was organized by the Church and Wellesley Business Improvement Area and Steamworks, a gay bathhouse in the area.

Sunday was no holds barred. Nudity, leather, and bondage paraphernalia was abundant, and sexual role playing games were performed publicly on stage. At one point, people watched as a torture enthusiast had herself punished with live needles pricked in her back.

The crowd was as diverse as you could imagine. Straights, gays, men, women, suits, and thugs all intermingled. I even noticed a kid with his parents.

But Church Street's Fetish Fair still maintains a pure spirit, at least relative to the Pride Parade, which in recent years has become a mainstream destination for many people unaffiliated with the LGBT community.

Church was closed from Gloucester St. south to Alexander St., which allowed for extended patios and bar space onto the street. Three stages were set up that featured DJs and live performances. A variety of street performers and LGBT advocacy groups also took part.