Huge flag greets Leather Week

Paul Valente, right, raises the new leather flag Sunday, September 22, as representatives from many leather community groups helped unfurl it, including Bay Area Reporter leather columnist Race Bannon, third from left. The new flag and flagpole are part of Eagle Plaza, believed to be the world's first leather public parklet, which fronts the Eagle Tavern and is expected to be finished later this year. Attendees at the event, which ended the annual Leather Walk, included District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney. Last week, before the flagpole was installed, Eagle Tavern owner Alex Montiel wrote inside of it "#leatherbindsusall," and his name and the name of his former business partner, Mike Leon, who died in May. For more Leather Week events, and information on the Folsom Street Fair Sunday, September 29, check out the BARtab section.