My Halloween in Castro

My first Halloween in the Castro in 2012 was a mix of excitement and surprise. The legendary street party had been canceled, and the streets were controlled by police. I was asked to pour out my drink while walking down Market Street, and I quickly realized the celebration had moved indoors. I ended up at QBar, dancing with a trapeze acrobat dressed as a fairy, looking like Ryan Phillippe in the movie 54. The night was magical, but the true spirit of Halloween in the Castro felt locked away behind closed doors.

Historically, Halloween in the Castro has been an essential night for the queer community. It was a time when the veil between worlds felt thinnest, offering a rare opportunity for cross-dressing, drag, and radical self-expression. The streets of the Castro became a sanctuary, starting in the ‘70s, where queers could reclaim public space and openly celebrate who they were. For many, it was the one night a year they could express themselves freely without fear of judgment or violence.

Comfort & Joy has worked hard to revive this legacy, bringing back that spirit through Glow in the Streets. While the grand street parties are a thing of the past, Glow in the Streets offers a smaller, more intentional space for queers to gather and celebrate together. We do it because these moments matter—because creating safe, joyful spaces for queer expression is at the heart of our mission.

Still, we encourage donations. In a world that’s increasingly expensive, these events are our main financial source to further our mission of creating safe spaces for queers and uplifting marginalized queer communities. While our events are free for the community, contributions help sustain the work we do year-round, ensuring that we can continue offering spaces for queers to be unapologetically themselves.

Glow in the Streets isn’t about profit. It’s about highlighting the artists, performers, and local businesses that make the Castro a place like no other. By continuing this tradition, we ensure that the magic of Halloween, and the radical spirit it represents, remains a vital part of our queer culture.

Ruby

Photos from Glow in the Streets 2023 by Dot