A female couple danced to the music of JayVon. Photo by Chris Stone
By Chris and Ken Stone
San Diego County Fair staff received “sensitivity training” ahead of Saturday’s sixth annual “Out at the Fair” — with entertainment and events catering to the LGBT community.
A participant in the Dunk the Hunk contest sinks into the water. Photo by Chris Stone
“This all started with a little Facebook posting for gays and lesbians to meet at the fair,” said fair spokeswoman Linda Zweig. “And now it’s growing like you wouldn’t believe.”
Some 70,000 attended last year, and 80,000 were expected Saturday, Zweig said. Shuttles from Hillcrest to Del Mar, and back, began at noon.
“We have gender-friendly restrooms and offered employees sensitivity training” as part of the fair’s festival series, she said. (Signs said: “This restroom may be used by any person regardless of gender identity or expression.”)
Hosting gays has become a “norm” at the summer event, Zweig said. This year’s#OATF even had its own app.
Out at the Fair is the San Diego County Fair’s celebration of the LBGT community. Photo by Chris Stone
Del Mar’s fair was the first nationally to set aside a day for LGBT celebrations, organizers said. Others followed, including state fairs in New York, Minnesota and Texas. The Indiana State Fair has an unofficial “Pride Day.”
Performances especially for a gay audience were mainly at the Ford Paddock Stage and the Coors Light Rock On Stage next to the Fun Zone. At the Heineken Grandstand Stage, Carly Rae Jepsen sang after the San Diego Gay Men’s Choir — the group that fell victim to a snafu at a recent Padres game.
Among the acts was Keith London, who sang Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” on the 13th season of “American Idol.”
Three “diva drops” — bungee jumps by drag queens Landa Penty, Jazmine Rice and Bianca St. James — benefited charity. A “Dunk a Hunk” booth at the entrance to the Paddock also promised money for charity.
Around 12:30 p.m., a rainbow-ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Paddock Stage included Toni Duran, a representative of Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins.
A drag queen performed in the afternoon at the fair. Photo by Chris Stone
About 2 p.m., “The Newly Married Game” — also in the Paddock area — featured two male couples and one female pair. Modeled after TV’s old “Newlywed” game, questions were asked of one partner. Points were awarded if the spouse had the same answer.
Questions included: “Who was the first to say I love you?” and “If your spouse was to borrow one of your clothing items, what would it be?”
At 7 p.m., a group picture was slated in front of the Paddock Stage, with participants encouraged to wear blue, green and purple apparel.
Growing out of three ”Unofficial Gay Days,” Out at the Fair became official in 2014, always celebrated on the second Saturday of June.
“For the first time, a partnership was created with San Diego Pride, the largest LGBT organization in the county,” said a history of the event.
Hillcrest deejay DJ Will Z is credited as the event’s creator in 2011.
Heidy Mora Santos watches as Ross Jaidy Mora gets a Pride Run tattoo. Photo by Chris Stone
Restrooms in the Paddock area of the fair were labeled for use by all. Photo by Chris Stone
Sister Bianca Tempt plays games with fairgoers in the Paddock area. Photo by Chris Stone
Out at the Fair merchandise was sold in the Paddock area of the fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Grecia and Denise played the “Newly Married Game.” The couple was asked who saved money and who spent the most. Photo by Chris Stone
Contestants Rob and Dillion play the “Newly Married Game.” Rob was asked what clothing Dillion was likely to borrow. Photo by Chris Stone
Out at the Fair is the San Diego County Fair’s celebration of the LBGT community. Photo by Chris Stone
Six contestants play the “Newly Married Game,” modeled after the former TV show. Photo by Chris Stone
Keith London, a former contestant on “American Idol,” performs at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Jazmine Rice looks up at the height of the bungee jump at its peak. Photo by Chris Stone
Jayvon Monroe performs at the Coors Light Rock On Stage at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Jayvon Monroe performs at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
A participant in the Dunk the Hunk contest sinks into the water. Photo by Chris Stone
A participant in the Dunk the Hunk contest lands in the water. Photo by Chris Stone
A participant in the Dunk the Hunk contest laughs at the thrower just before dropping into the water. Photo by Chris Stone
Sister Bessie Mae Moo-Choo of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence speaks with a fairgoer. Photo by Chris Stone
JayVon Monroe performs at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
Jazmine Rice takes the plunge in the Diva Drop at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
A small plane passes in the distance as Jazmine Rice takes the plunge in the Diva Drop. Photo by Chris Stone
Jazmine Rice finishes the Diva Drop at the fair. She was one of three drag performers who jumped. Photo by Chris Stone
Friends of Jazmine Rice watched as the bungee jump cage ascended. Photo by Chris Stone
Jazmine Rice gets strapped in for the Diva Drop at the fair. She was worried that her hair attachment would come off in the bungee jump. Photo by Chris Stone.
Jazmine Rice takes the plunge in the Diva Drop at the Out at the Fair Day. Photo by Chris Stone
Girlboy performed at the Paddock Stage at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
A female couple danced to the music of JayVon. Photo by Chris Stone
Keith London, a former contestant on “American Idol,” performed at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
Audience members applaud Keith London at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
Audience members applaud Keith London at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
A drag queen accepted a tip at the Coors Light Rock On Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
Sister Amanda of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence took part at Out at the Fair at the San Diego County Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
The crowd enjoyed the music of Girlboy in the Paddock area at the fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Girlboy performed at Out at the Fair on Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
Bevin Young with her son, Oliver, and daughter, Brea, enjoy the music of Ingenue. Photo by Chris Stone
Coralee Hepburn of the band Ingenue performed at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Will Zakrajshek (right) cuts the ribbon to open events at Out at the Fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Fairgoers enjoyed music in the Paddock area of the Fair on Out at the Fair Day. Photo by Chris Stone
Shawn Johnson (left) and Rita Belter enjoy the music in the Paddock area of the fair. Photo by Chris Stone
Erica Foxx was an emcee for many of the Out at the Fair events. Photo by Chris Stone
Dani Love enjoys music of Ingenue on the Paddock Stage. Photo by Chris Stone
Rita Roze celebrates Out at the Fair in a colorful way. Photo by Chris Stone
Rita Roze celebrates Out at the Fair in a colorful way. Photo by Chris Stone
Rita Belter and Shawna Johnson show off their couple tattoos. Photo by Chris Stone
