Thursday, May 26, 2011

The boys of Boise

On Saturday I sat and judged four boys all vying for the title of Idaho Leatherboy. Quite a showing for a small city in the conservative Rocky Mountain area of the United States. With broad smiles, the boys were introduced one by one. Any region in North America would have been proud to have such contestants.

Hours before, I spent time watching the bootblack contestant. With the fastidiousness of a more experienced black, he serviced the boots of anyone who sat in his chair: cowboy boots, short ankles zips, high heels, and the occasional military boots. And Scout, last year's Northwest Community Bootblack, critiqued his work after each client, pointing out details in a way that was not only instructive but nurturing.

The highlight of my weekend, the boot stomping demo with Scout. Rather than line up the attendees in rows, we shaped the space in a semi-circle. An active and very light-spirited scene!

Last year began the tradition of Ruff n ' Tumble, an annual run in May that promises to become one of the most exciting events in the Northwest. Bravo to Kevin, Laura, and the owners of The Lucky Dog Tavern for hosting it. And for those of you who like hot boys, Boise is your kind of town. They just don't come any hotter than this.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Leather Proletariat

During the last few decades a dual class system has arisen in that loose network of men that the Leather intelligentsia calls “Community.” Like the greater society in which the Leather Community exists, these two classes have their leaders. One class self-identifies as the ruling class, the institutional leaders who often occupy their positions through financial advantage. The Leather bourgeoisie. The men in the other class seldom identify at all. The leaders of this horny mass of men arise organically. These leaders often go unnoticed, their influence felt by the ruling class only when a shift has occurred within the Community.

Since the early nineties, the institutional class has grown stronger in tandem with the financial strength of Leather organizations. This class claims a pedigree that hearkens back to the motorcycle clubs of the forties and fifties in spite of the fact that most are self-proclaimed experts and have little heritage. Many have arisen within the ranks of this class, their status directly tied to their ability to purchase and attend events organized by themselves. Those with a more jaundiced eye to the sexual praxis of the other class reinforce their position of privilege by creating books and workshops that elaborate their decisions.

What this institutional class seems to ignore is the fact that Gay Leathersex is directly aligned with a man's cock. And amplified by the greater social acceptance of man-to-man sex, the cock continues to be the ruling power in Leather. All the workshops and non-profits cannot negate the ruling force of a hard cock, the power of the masses.

Men who are leaders in the other class, the Leather proletariat, are men who love to play and are not afraid to align their play with their crotch. And they are men who profit from innovation and the violation of wooden traditions.

As International LeatherSIR this year, I recognize that the title I wear has little worth without the acceptance of the this class. It does not make me a leader. Nor does it automatically win me the respect of my peers. The sash simply gives me greater visibility in a crowd. In short, unless I am recognized as a leader by the proletarians within the Community, my title is meaningless.

In the mid-eighties I was attracted to rough, man-to-man sex because it turned me on. Leathermen both attracted and frightened me. In spite of my trepidation, my tumescent cock dictated my position within the greater Gay Community: Leatherman.

Years later I am repulsed by the overruling desire of a number in the ruling class to pimp out the Leather traditions that I have practiced for decades. The ruling class believes that documentation bestows authority for the establishment of fundamentalism in Leather. I see these claims of authority based on the institutional interpretation of history nothing more than Pharisaic. They have little relationship to the authenticity of Leathersex and the political incorrectness of a man's hard cock.

As a Sir, I grow concerned about the insulation enjoyed by the institutional class relative to the growth of Gay Leather and kink. Composed history and tradition have become an intractable chastity device that has been applied without an understanding of the fetishes and perversions of the rising generation.

Earlier this year a contestant for the Northwest Leatherboy title appeared for his interview in a perfectly tailored, three-piece suit and tie. He explained that this was his fetish . While he explained his penchant for argyle socks and his fetish for men's feet, I wondered if most Leathermen in full gear could have been as articulate. This boy's intelligence and subtle wit would have been lost if he had appeared in the classic garb of a boy. Instead, he remained true to himself.

After the boy departed, remarks were made about his lack of Leather. “If he at least had a Leather jock under his pants,” said one of the judges. This kind of myopia stems from artificially imposed standards within the Leather title system, another incarnation of institutional Leather.

Later, during the public portion of the Northwest contest, this same boy contestant appeared in his three-piece suit for the fantasy portion. I watched as a gang of “blue collar” workers literally tore the slacks from the boy, exposing his beautifully rounded ass cheeks and muscled legs through the shredded cloth. Then they proceeded to pummel him and feign fuck him on his desk. As head judge, I could not help but cheer while nursing a hard cock in my Leather breeches.

Those of us raised in an Older Tradition must keep an open mind relative to the rising generation of fetishists. We must avoid the cry “No new steps!” If we do not, the outcome of Baz Luhrman's film "Strictly Ballroom" may be mirrored in our own Community. We must not cling so much to the fundamentalism of documented history that we do not recognize the innovative perversions of the newest generation.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bootweekend in Portland!

When I travel, I like to bring one of My four boys along. This weekend was Sir's time with pj, My boot sub. A good time!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

A weekend with the boys: The Aquila Clan


I am proud of the men that I mentor and protect. they form the core of my Leather. they are men who share a common direction with me in life. Together with my partner, they are my chosen family.

Each boy has his own totem, an animal that emerges during play. For a couple of the boys, this animal also defines how he interfaces with others in a social context. A guide in life. As their SIR, I acknowledge the totem of each. monkey, piggy, wolverine, and wolf.

My alpha boy gabe has been with me for almost three years. A boy of remarkable intelligence and wit, I value his opinion when making decisions in the Community. In seeming contradiction to his sly smile and constant laugh, he is one of the hardest playing boys that I have ever encountered, that rare breed that is not afraid of facing his darkest fears in the dungeon. he is the measure of a hard-playing boy. The robin to my Batman.

I met pj ten years ago through the Internet. I am proud to have played a small part in his initial steps into Leather. A submissive with a penchant for being literally underfoot, he harbors a serious boot fetish that meshes well with my own. he is not only a good boy but also a close friend. his steadfastness gives strength to the Clan. pj can often be found in a bar working my boots with his tongue. Or with his head firmly clamped between my legs. I am honored to be his Sir.

kent is a young dominant who wandered into a Seattle Men in Leather gathering eighteen months ago. “you remind Me of Myself many years ago,” I remarked to him. “If you ever need an older friend, I am here,” I added. Almost one year would pass until we decided to explore the Sir/boy option. Months after, I collared him. I am proud of kent's strength in approaching adversity, and I look forward to seeing him fulfill his potential as a sir in the future.

doug is the newest member of the Clan. We met online almost four years ago and have spent many evenings in conversation about Leather and play. More than one year ago he came to Seattle and spent the weekend collared to me. That weekend was the spark that ignited the passion that I have for him. More canine than boy, his wild nature in play suggested his totem, “wolf.” A fiercely loyal submissive.

I love my boys. they are the foundation of my Leather.