The Art Of Gengoroh Tagame

Here is an artist who is simply poetic when it comes to Japanese Art and seriously hot but twisted naked men.

Gengoroh Tagame...before clicking this link I must tell you this is NOT SAFE FOR WORK and has EXTREMELY VIOLENT IMAGES. Otherwise have fun...

Centaur MC Olympia XIX: September 1st-4th

It's that time again! Every two years the Centaur MC actually has a run. You thought Leather Weekend was our run? Hah! Well see... we never get to relax and enjoy all the fun when having oh about 2000 or so of our best friends come every year. So, every two years there is Olympia...

That one place where the Centaur Club lets down the hair so to speak.

Drunken Debauchery! Pagentry! More Drunken Debauchery! Food! Even More Drunken Debauchery! Then we really get the party going...

Anyway if any of this sounds like you might be the least bit interested. You had best make plans now. Unlike MAL there is a real limit to how many excited Leathermen can join this rare, highly anticipated, event.

Just remember, What Happens At Olympia... STAYS AT OLYMPIA!

International Mr. Daddy Bear 2006

And the winner is... Ali Lopez! And I remember when he was a baby Centaur awww...

Congratulations Big Guy! I don't think I know a more dedicated Bear than Ali.

From Bears On Bears Part 5 website: Ali Lopez grew up in the small coastal town of Dorado, Puerto Rico, where he began to draw in his early teens by looking at comic books. At age seventeen, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he became a staff sergeant. After six and a half years in the military, he moved to the DC/Baltimore area, where he became involved with the Bear and leather communities. I remember the first time I met him... He was doing at least five things at once. Ali has, like most people in my club, an unlimited supply of energy, drive and talent. He fit right in as a damn nice guy and a great Centaur.

Teddy Pig's Guide To Excruciatingly Painful Basic Leather Protocol

Breaking Silence

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And you try to hold it in
Yeah, I'll try to hold it in
Sarah McLachlan - World On Fire

It took me some time to write about Basic Leather Protocol. Not because I don't honestly think it is worth talking about with YOU, but because I did not want to give people this image of myself as some major guru on the subject of Leather. Unfortunately I keep referring to this Protocol stuff on my web site and people ask me what I mean... So what to do?

My background in Leather is simple... I did not seek out Leather per se, I was fortunate to find myself stationed in Washington DC in the early 1990's by the Navy for oh about 6 years roughly. During that time I made friends with a large group of Leathermen most involved with the local Motorcycle Clubs, one club of which I became a member of by invitation and by way of that club was also involved in something called MAL or Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather and most importantly during this time I also became the bottom of a man named John, A Leatherman, who lived and breathed what I view to be Leather and it's core values.


Leather is a big community with several segments a lot of which I personally know little or nothing about. So let's set some scope to what I'm about to discuss here. From my experience Leather encompasses, Motorcycle Clubs and their Runs, Sash Events and their followers, Leather Clubs and events like Inferno. Then come the things I feel are core to traditional Leather which fall into Leather Houses and Gay Male BDSM couples and individuals. The Leather Protocol of Gay Male Bondage DISCIPLINE Sadism & Masochism is what I am particularly writing about here, though I must note that that in turn leads me to reference Motorcycle Clubs and Leather Clubs and Leather Houses because of their contributions and interaction and belief in Leather Protocol.

In plain language Basic Leather Protocol is nothing more than a set of rules for good behavior and respect for traditional values of Gay Male BDSM. It provides a framework for socializing and a clear and accurate form of communication of experience and commitment and most important it provides the interaction for a foundation of trust.

Leather Protocol is only a tool. It evolves around some main concepts but never negates them. In other words if whatever rule you hear defined as Leather Protocol that makes no sense in regards to the basic ones I'm going over here… well, get out the salt, but also understand there is no Miss Manners style book of instruction for reference and there can be local differences in tone or attributes so check with your local experienced Top...

The main thing that I highly respect about Basic Leather Protocol is that it goes beyond catch phrases such as "Safe, Sane, and Consensual" and addresses core values of Honesty, Integrity and Respect For Others inside and outside of the Leather Community.

Guy Baldwin originally stated some of the basic rules of Leather Protocol in an online article, which I am attempting to limit myself to when talking about my own experiences. Guy Baldwin’s article is loaded with solid information regarding the Leather Protocol that I was taught. His article was, for me at least, a confirmation that showed these rules had come from a long history of Leather and not just from my own training and my own introduction to Leather. I guess that means I can personally validate that which he has described because a lot of these rules he listed were told to me in some cases in the exact same way word for word in the early 1990’s. It’s actually quite scary. I simply want to write about what has already been posted on the Internet in a different fashion and present this stuff with more background, maybe with more explanation, in an effort to point to what they mean in regards to the Leather Scene I was involved in and their actual function and the concepts they talk about.


There are three Basic Leather Protocol rules that should be noted that I am ignoring here…

Men in the Leather Scene do not discuss or write about the Leather Scene for outsiders.

Leather Protocol is not taught or explained to anyone except by example.

Leather Scene technical information is shared only among peers.

These are actually very good rules because quite frankly they encourage learning BY EXPERIENCE ONLY and doing so SAFELY from someone who has experience and they discourage revealing others who participate in the Leather Scene and thus showing disrespect to their privacy. On the other hand though I agree with some that say various aspects of these rules when followed to the letter can also be looked at as enforcing an exclusivity about it's values and these rules which were created due to it's environment of discipline and hierarchy (Bondage DISCIPLINE Sadism & Masochism remember?) can also create a lot of unnecessary secrecy.


I can only hope while respecting the memory of John and the other Leathermen that have been so important in my experience, for the knowledge they gave me, that they will forgive me in breaking silence about Leather Protocol, that I only learned from being in their service. The one thing I will point to that John did teach me that I have not seen addressed directly in all those rules, and it is also the last thing I shall leave you with before we hit the meat of this article...

Leather Protocol is there for YOU to be on your best behavior NOT for you to use to correct someone else in public.

Table of Contents:
Breaking Silence
Wearing Yourself Out
Belonging
Outside Looking In
The Drawing Of The Line

Back To The Main Page

Teddy Pig's Guide To Excruciatingly Painful Basic Leather Protocol

Wearing Yourself Out


As a bottom it's easier to write this like I'm talking to another bottom, in this case my good friend Kenjie, say Hi Kenjie. Any Tops reading this please forgive me there is no disrespect intended.

Let's start with the extreme basics and address all those things you should know by now even if it's boring because, believe you me, I'll make sure to throw a few zingers you may not have known your way and I am sure I may get the most objections from this whole article right on this page. Nothing is more personal and has more meaning than the Leather you wear.

In fact most of the Leather I own, being a bottom, was given to me. My jacket, my pants, all my toys and even the vest with my clubs patch was given to me or handed down or bought for me, it does not matter how, what matters is the meaning, my Brothers in Leather, the very important people who defined my knowledge and experience in Leather, are there in every article that makes up how I look when I go out. Now I'm not perfect, yes there are a pair of chaps in my closet I had to buy when I went on a run with my club because by that time John was gone and I had gained too much weight for the pants and I wanted to look my best since I don't get back to DC much but...

You get the idea right? Here's a MAJOR concept for you, bottoms are PROPERTY, plain, simple and to the point. So, if you are a bottom do not go out shopping and getting pierced and thinking that's gonna get you into the "real" Leather Scene quicker by implying you have experience. Think about it, what are you doing not providing a good Top the ability to own your ass properly???


Hygiene
Nothing really changes here, Keep it clean! I know there is all that porn out there talking about stinkin sweaty arm pits and such but... I do not think anyone "you want" is gonna pick your ass up if you smell like you have not showered in three days. So douche inside and out, OK? Until commanded otherwise hopefully. Oh, and stay away from smelly soaps and colognes and perfumes. I don't care if they are Leather scented or manly. Nothing will make a more noticeable entrance at the Leather Bar of your choice than you showing up smelling of Paco Rabanne and no they won't be laughing "with you".

I also suggest from my experience if you are even thinking of doing a scene (ropes, restraints, lots of crawling...) I can't recommend enough that you start using something like Dove Unscented or Olay Unscented soaps. If you get seriously wrecked by a flogger or paddle keep a bar of Aveeno Oatmeal Soap and a big bottle of Eucerin Lotion around just in case. Hey these worked for me, but I like keeping as much of my skin as natural looking and in as close to one piece as possible.
Less questions at the office and all that.

What you are wearing is basically biker wear. That's right the whole Gay Male BDSM look is derived from the Motorcycle Clubs and all the rules regarding wearing Leather comes from them. So that means these days Black Leather and lots of it. Used to be back in the old days a bottom wore brown. Now it's Black Leather for all and the why is sorta interesting. See, Leather Shops used to get their hides without the black dye so the cheapest stuff was brown. So, if a Top was buying a bottom all his shit well the bottoms got brown, as it should be. Well, these days no one gets hides in brown they are all pre-dyed black so... Now ya know. Oh and do not mix brown with Black Leather, not even the belt or boots; Black with Black always. The metal should always match so if you get brass stay with brass, if you get chrome stay with chrome.
No silver and gold together or you'll look like a god damned fucking Christmas Present.

Now let's start from the Top and go down.


Hats
If you are a bottom and NOT in a relationship, stay away from this! This falls under mixed signals and all that. Generally Tops are the only ones to wear hats or provide the all the necessary permission for you as a bottom to wear one.

Never touch the bill of a formal motorcycle cap (Those shiny Leather hats with the hard shiny bill on them and some have metal insignia attached to the front) in fact I generally recommend this with all Leather Caps, like Leather "Rebel Boys" or baseball caps including your own, IF you as a bottom are allowed to wear one.

Never touch another Leatherman's hat, helmet, cap, whatever... EVER, unless you are very intimate friends or lovers or if you want to get beaten within an inch of your sorry ass life. Hell, don’t touch anything Leather that belongs to someone else without his explicit permission and you’ll remain conscious and in one piece.


What Goes On Your Neck... Nothing
bottoms do not own collars and as a bottom looking for your Leather Top anything that looks like a collar or could be mistaken for a collar, means in terms of most traditional Leather Tops YOU ARE OFF LIMITS! So why would you want to give anyone mixed signals? Leave the jewelry at home in a safe place and if one day you get to wear a good Tops collar you will thank me.

Collars by the way have a lot of meaning in Gay Male BDSM so here are a few rules around that...

A bottom wearing a collar is a slave and belongs to the owner of the collar who has the keys.
Ok stop here, I'm going to give out some advanced information on this one, this rule is sorta ok, take a collar as a sign of commitment that the bottom is learning to be a slave. John gave me my collar but I was still not his slave, I was in training. So as a general rule treat bottoms wearing a collar as a slave, but for your knowledge hmmmm well, it may not be accurate.

A slave is an honored position of knowledge and experience and commitment to us bottoms, a slave to me is senior in any discussion and I would in public defer to them.
A little advanced information never hurts anyone right?

Other Tops are not to engage a collared bottom in conversation, but other bottoms may do so as long as they defer to the Top when present. In other words if a Top is there say hello quickly before continuing to speak to his bottom. Get permission and all that.

Should such a Gay Male BDSM relationship end; the collar must be returned to the Top. Or, in death take it off; I keep John's in a box with his Leather Cap. It is still not mine, get it? Collars mean a lot; keep that in mind as one of your goals.


Shirts & Shit
T-Shirts black or white, OK... if you are going to be traditional about it white is for bottoms. John always swore that I had to wear black t-shirts, so this whole thing about black or white t-shirts is pretty much a play-it-by-ear deal for any bottom. Red T-shirts? I hope your ass is well greased and that you know exactly what that color means.

Black Leather jackets, with epaulets thank you, and a vest of course and then there is the harness...

Oh my, the harness… Well, a lot of people go wrong right here. There are basically two different types of harness with variations around that. The two are the X and the Y. In a nutshell, if you got a chest but have a gut go X with no straps attached going down the body... Medium to wide strap, black leather and whatever studs that match. If you are a slim or medium chest but have no gut at all, go Y which usually attaches to a cock ring piece... same choices with the straps and studs.

AT NO TIME SHOULD YOU WEAR A HARNESS THAT HAMMOCKS YOUR BELLY! What I mean is, if for any reason the straps of the harness cannot stay next to your body at any point... TAKE IT OFF! If you have no chest and a gut... TAKE IT OFF! Do not go out looking like expensive luggage... with an attached handle.

Stay away from X and Y chain harnesses or chain attachments if you have ANY body hair and want to keep ANY body hair firmly attached to said body. Last hint... I generally call those people wearing little thin-strapped harnesses Madonna-bees, I bet you cannot guess why?

Shit, I better cover vests too since I'm telling you all about harnesses... The standard leather "Bar Vest" should only cover to your nipples in the front, it's main idea is to show off your chest. You have a chest right? If you have a chest get one, if you do not, don't wear a "Bar Vest". Get a more traditional type vest that closes in the front, in leather. A "Bar Vest" should hang no lower in the back than the bottom of your belt loops on your Levis.


What’s In Your Pants?
Leather Chaps and Leather Pants are always correct. As far as jeans go, Levis 501 or Wranglers Cowboy Boot Cut style jeans, nice and tight (Well, no butt shot baggy, Look at my Crack! jeans at least. Skin Tight depends on if you can get away with it really. Learn to be your own best judge.) in black or blue; and stay the hell away from shorts of any type. The only shorts I ever got away with, and I have been told I have nice legs, were Leather Bondage Shorts during a really hot summer day at a casual Leather Barbeque and I was in a relationship. Think of this as the Leather version of a full planetary alignment complete with a lunar eclipse... so just stick with the basics, NO shorts.

As far as underwear goes... unless you want someone to rip them off of your scrawny ass in the middle of the Leather Bar of your choice and I hope to god you do not have skid marks... none, zilch, nada! Ok, two exceptions to this rule but you did not hear it from me... Jock Straps; Preferably dirty or black if you as a bottom are allowed to wear one... and I ain’t heard no complaints yet. I said two, right? Ok, Red Union Suit One Piece Long Johns, (See what I'm doing, using fetish as a way around some hard fast rules? Anything to please the Top.) But... only in the DEAD of winter and you had better have a nice ass to pull it off.


Boots & Belts
As a bottom on the hunt you can go and get yourself some belts and boots to go with your jeans. See, you won't be totally naked. Now, about boots, Black, Leather, boots, no high heels.
Huh? more information... I love the Wesco JobMaster, great top of the line brand if you are looking for a lace-up. Carolina makes a damn good Engineer, those biker slip on boots, just remember to make sure they fit around the ankle. I know that sounds weird but it will bother you faster than you might think. Then there are the boots I swore by for years, Frye which makes a damn sweet, affordable, Harness boot. Anyway, those are the big brands and about all I have time to go into.
You want to know when you've struck fucking gold in gay Leather Shops? Find one with good quality plain Black Leather, medium width, belts in all sizes then let me know. Oh, and IF you want to be laughed at in the local Leather Bar of your choice... Wear tennis shoes with your chaps or Leather Pants. Take my word for it and never EVER wear tennis shoes while dressed in Leather and then actually go to a bar. There is no excuse, you did it on purpose and you will be made fun of.


Miscellaneous Bullshit
Key ring or wallet chain left or right, you know what I mean, top or bottom. Go figure it out.
Hankies, oh lord like I have time to tell you about that shit? Hankies are for the Players, not the serious. "One night only" ring a bell? Use em if that's what “you want”. Grown adults who are seriously into Leather should be able to verbalize what they are looking for in a clear and concise manner; it's fun!


Wearing Your Own Toys
Remember how I said all my toys were given to me. So why in gods name are YOU, a bottom, wearing toys on your belt (Whips, floggers, handcuffs, etc etc) while out at the bar looking for a Top??? I don't really care what side you are wearing them on. It's another mixed signal. It's presumptive; it can be considered somewhat "pushy". Lord knows I do not want you to be considered a "pushy bottom". If you got toys, good for you, leave them at home with the jewelry. Unless you are requested to do otherwise, but then you already have a Top telling you what to do. So, why are you listening to me?

Never wear another man's leather unless he puts it on you himself.

Enough said.

Table of Contents:
Breaking Silence
Wearing Yourself Out
Belonging
Outside Looking In
The Drawing Of The Line

Back To The Main Page

Teddy Pig's Guide To Excruciatingly Painful Basic Leather Protocol

Belonging

Leather is "Not For Everyone"
This is a statement I have made and it is one I will stand by and I say it not to discriminate or belittle anyone; I say it simply to warn you. I have met many people in my ten years in the Navy that broke under the pressures there. One day they stopped understanding the boundary between reality and fantasy and stopped being able to check themselves and their heart and mind in that balancing act we all do every day; something snapped, something went terribly wrong. A lot of these people had no physical scars on them. Leather can do this to you also, usually with someone else’s help unfortunately, but it happens more than you think. The scars I have seen, unlike the ones I was exposed to in the Navy, have been physical as well as emotional.

Every act YOU do in Leather, every scene YOU are in, and every decision or commitment YOU make, has some risk or danger involved. Granted, some are greater than others. I was taught this by observing Basic Leather Protocol, up front; from the first time I did a scene with John, when he asked me abruptly if I had too much to drink. It was communicated to me by my Top from that day forward clearly, without a lot of words and without negotiation it was simply there, in the way John cleaned the needles before using them on me, the effort he made to make sure I felt the connection between us when he kept eye contact with me throughout that very first scene and it was physically present in our relationship from that time on and I instinctively knew it; Without my understanding one tiny little speck of "real" knowledge of Leather and Gay Male BDSM.

I recently heard that they (Whomever THEY are...) are now considering some other catch phrase to replace "Safe, Sane and Consensual" that speaks to this risk. I find that it's rather surprising grown mature adults still want to talk in catch phrases and buzz words instead of simply setting a god damned good example and communicating their "real" experience in Leather by their day to day actions, not their politics.

So, how do YOU minimize this risk, this danger, and build trust and... get the fuck on with it all? Look towards the traditional Leather House that has provided those answers.

Understanding Roles
I consider a Leather Role not as an act you put on to get what you want. I think of it as a structure to help clearly communicate what is in your heart and mind and what your needs are and how much you believe in yourself; It’s a set of directions on a path. Now, you might be thinking that Teddy Pig has turned into Shirley Fuck’in MacLaine and you might be right. Leather Protocol does not directly come right out and map all the things involved with a Role for you.
It is so basic that... well... like some of the rules I already addressed.

A bottom wearing a collar is a slave and belongs to the owner of the collar who has the keys.

Other Tops are not to engage a collared bottom in conversation.

See, how they state something about roles, in this case one concerning bottoms and one concerning Tops… direct and to a point and then by following that concept you can hopefully catch the common sense extensions of what is being said. Then I'll start spewing jargon at you like Top/Master and bottom/slave and leave you sitting there wondering what the difference really is.

Guy Baldwin in his article states something actually quite minor, valid but minor, but it's the way that he phrases it that I think starts really defining a good base when looking at Leather.

Chaps indicate more commitment than Levi's, and leather pants more commitment than chaps.

Respect based on commitment... It's right there! I stated that concept to you earlier when I talked about collars..."A slave is an honored position of knowledge and experience and commitment to us bottoms, a slave to me is senior in any discussion and I would in public defer to them."

So I'm trying to point out the fact, Leather is all about levels of commitment and experience and not just simply, Tops are the owners and bottoms are the property, work it out. To understand Leather Roles one has to keep levels of commitment and experience in mind, not only in regards to the Roles themselves but how interactions extend from them.

I’ll list some miscellaneous esoteric rules out from Guy Baldwin’s article since they show these interactions we are discussing although you may not see these much, I was taught the general concepts and their use but I had little exposure to formal function; I have always thought them more Leather House oriented rules of conduct, which is where John got his training somewhere in the Chicago area. He never talked about it much; I got the hint it was some tragic loss to AIDS that caused him to move on. Much of our history has been lost this way.

Experience in the Leather Scene determines the seniority (Top or bottom).

Tops and experienced bottoms should be accorded higher respect, but bad behavior from anyone is never tolerated even from senior members in the Leather Scene.

Preliminary social contacts are conducted formally.

Seniors (Top or bottom) are not to be interrupted when in conversation.

Tops lead the conversation.

Junior Tops defer to senior Tops and senior bottoms in formal situations.

Junior bottoms defer to all others in the Leather Scene but never to outsiders.


Now there is something that is hinted at here I wanted to point out ... Tops that want to start out as Tops have it a lot harder initially starting out in the Leather Scene. John, my Top, was such a person. There are almost impossible odds against them. They have to be reassuring and in control and exude experience and responsibility to even attract a bottom and then they also have to quickly learn all the skills to focus and maintain focus on the bottom. The bottom's got it good. They simply follow directions and learn the ropes so to speak. That is why most good and experienced Tops have at one time been god damn awesome bottoms.

Tops starting out as Tops can take a little of the steep learning curve out of the equation by... (Here's where I delve back into advanced information.) Becoming a junior Top to a more senior Top who is established in an existing Gay Male BDSM couple or by finding and joining a Leather House, like John did. This whole junior/senior Top thing is also useful for another more difficult transition, but we will get there in my take on "switching".


When YOU start out in any Leather Relationship, with no experience, you are looking at a Top/bottom role. These Roles are not 24/7, not initially, it takes allot of work to maintain the Top role and from my experience, in a bottom role, this is also the truth. Even though you do eventually learn the habits, the protocol, even the Top's particular expectations of the role as second nature it's not easy to pickup there is no instant gratification in doing these things and it can take years to get it all down, from my view at least. Add to that difficulty of learning, the idea of having to maintain these roles from the start fulltime with no time-outs or downtime? Nice fantasy but not likely to happen.

This is where you get your initial training in being a Leatherman, the actions that are expected of you and how you should behave and most important... Is this something you really want to do and believe in? Top/bottom relationships are at the very beginning roughly following the old axiom "The bottom are always in control." because it is here that negotiations between Top and bottom are expected and required. This is where I once said that most Tops I have met do not get off on, or perform every one of the following: fist fuck whip flog watersports scat gangbang bind suspend shave piercing etc etc etc.
Most bottoms I know do not get off on or provide every one of the following: fist fuck whip flog watersports scat gangbang bind suspend shave piercing etc etc etc.

Anyway, the initial part of the Top/bottom relationship is where all this becomes defined and explored. You'll learn things like... As a bottom, never buy your Top toys... Because you should allow the Top to select what it is you two shall play with. The action itself seems innocent and caring enough, but always review your intent and what you want your actions tocommunicate. Gift certificates work dude!

That’s enough hints Heloise, I'll end this section with your last hard ass rule...

A Top always keeps his bottom recyclable.
I'm not really talking piercing here, ok. The bottom should ALWAYS be able to trust the Top and at the bare minimum expect to be able to leave the relationship in the exact same shape or even better shape than he came to him in. Branding is sort of a permanent deal, so are a lot of other things I have seen and heard about. I'm not saying these things cannot be negotiated EVENTUALLY but I would make damn sure we are going to make those decisions together with a lot of care for a while, remember my warning about physical and emotional scars.
At least hold off until the next part...

Master/slave Roles
I have already gone into the basics of what collars mean and what my experience has been in seeing that commitment as the first steps towards the Master/slave role. Simply take all the basics you see here and expect them to be absolutely understood, followed to the letter, believed in and eventually lived out on a daily basis. The point I think I have left to make for this area without much experience on my part is that the old axiom "The bottoms are always in control." falls by the wayside somewhere in all this. It is not a hard fast truth. YOU as a bottom by making a decision, a commitment (Here I go, back to where I started.) to hopefully, a good, caring Top, ultimately YOU take on the Tops limits, the Tops goals, and thus leave behind your own. When you feel that cold chain around your neck and the lock snaps, it should be the happiest day of your life and the last day you ever doubt what is expected. About the whole "safe word" thing... Oh please, IF you have any real experience in Leather, that deep connection you will develop with your Top, yeah the one I keep talking about, is ten times more important and dramatic to your successfully becoming a bottom. If you can make it, you will go further than I am sure you currently think you can, if not it will never happen for you. Those are what I consider the first steps to becoming a slave or at least the type of slave I was taught to hold in respect.
I'll just let some of those advanced ideas sink in.

Monogamy
Leather Protocol does not define whether you are monogamous or not because it is not about sex or emotional relationships; The Top actually defines this, but of course the bottoms needs are taken into account if the relationship involves emotional attachments and not just training, at least at first. What Leather Protocol does do along with the actual mechanics of Gay Male BDSM relationships is define how interactions of all types can take place with respect for all involved and how to look at them in a healthy manner.

Here are some hard fast truths... Collars are not wedding rings (But on the other hand, I personally never PLAY with collars, it just comes across as disrespectful to the commitments I would make inregards to the Top in the scene.) and Top/bottom relationships and interactions are not always about sex. Disregard those stereotypes when looking at Leather Roles and you are half way there.

My own experience as a bottom is that it is good to keep your jealousy and possessiveness in check first by recognizing you are prone to jealousy and possessiveness, such as myself, and then keeping it in that balance between heart and head. Also, it is of utmost importance to maintain clear communications with the Top in regards to it and anything else. Gay Male BDSM is all about the focus; What are you focused on, yourself or your Top? If it's the Top then anyone he brings into a Leather Scene non-sexually should not cause issue with that focus. You are his
Property and you are there for him and he is focused on you and communicating with you through that connection... What's the issue?

When it comes to emotional and sexual openness, this is more defined by your relationship and arrangements outside the Roles, but here's a hint... Um, most people in the Leather Scene tend to not be into "games of possession” when it comes to relationships. I myself tend to have open relationships that for all intents and purposes look just like closed ones. Hey I'm old and experienced and I just don't want to throw a good relationship out the door due to minor issues like; I was not there so he got a blowjob when he was drunk at the bar... so bye-bye eight year relationship and all the emotional balance in my life. NOT! Hey, there is someone out there for everyone. I just don't want to set your expectations too high if YOU are still dealing with this as an issue.

And Now About Switching
Here's the rule usually mentioned in regards to switching Leather Roles...

Those who "switch" are second-class players and not to be taken as seriously. If you must switch, do so in another town or another bar... blah blah blah

Now Players man… they never get respect anyway; they are here today and gone tomorrow and get treated just that way… imagine that! Your Role in a Leather Community defines the interactions of those around you. So, can you see how suddenly changing your chosen Leather Role might create the impression of not being trust worthy?

Remember Leather Protocol and all it's basic tenets are centered around clear and concise, honest communication of who you are and to facilitate trust. That does not mean once in a Role you are stuck... Nope, as long as you put a great deal of effort into making the change in an acceptable fashion.

Can you pickup from what I've just told you about hierarchies and see how this is done? Senior and junior Tops in training? bottoms becoming Tops? Happens you know, but not in a fly-by-night manner. Can a junior Top, bottom for a senior Top and the arrangement just goes on forever? Ummm yes... but you did not hear that one from me. No way! I'm a bottom damn it! We don't have a clue! The most normal transition usually recognized is for an experienced bottom to take on a junior bottom thus... you guessed it... viola! Insta-Top!

Last rule...

Real Leathermen keep their word and they do not borrow or lend money; they conduct their affairs with honor and integrity…most importantly; Leathermen don't lie.

Good words to live by and an excellent summary of John.

Table of Contents:
Breaking Silence
Wearing Yourself Out
Belonging
Outside Looking In
The Drawing Of The Line

Back To The Main Page

Teddy Pig's Guide To Excruciatingly Painful Basic Leather Protocol

Outside Looking In

I have gone over the way to dress in Leather and the general concepts of a Leather Relationship. This last part details the public side of Gay Male BDSM and the type of Leather Protocol you will most likely come into contact with on a day-to-day basis. It is probably the most important way you will communicate and recognize other serious individuals in Leather and the way you will start learning all this stuff I'm talking about for "real".

Leather In A Non-Consensual World

Leathermen define the masculine extreme but they also include the rigid disciplinarian or militaristic aspects of masculinity, which sets them apart from other Gay cultures. It is in some aspects a rebellion of subversion in that regard. Leather Protocol reflects this especially in the public forms of interaction.

Respect the public! No "full Leather" during the day and only with others in the Leather Scene. Don't frighten the old ladies by flagrant displays! It's non-consensual to everyone not in the Leather Scene.

Don't Touch! Don't Touch another person without their expressed permission. Don't tweak their nipples, Don't grab their ass, Don't fondle someone’s crotch, Don’t caress them anywhere without explicit consent. It's non-consensual; it's rude, and very wrong!

Leather Scenes are not a place for heavy drug and alcohol use. Make sure all parties are consensually involved in all activities taking place meaning also that they are reasonably sober.

Sharing Experience With Respect

Then there is the area of Leather Protocol that I have greatly ignored by writing this guide, but I understand it's main concepts and agree with them. This includes the discussion and sharing of experience, "how to's" and giving technical details of things like suspension and bondage that are dangerous and risky. Most importantly YOU need to understand right away about protecting everyone’s involvement from the public, in other words "Respect peoples privacy first and foremost."

Men in the Leather Scene do not discuss or write about the Leather Scene for outsiders.

Leather Protocol is not taught or explained to anyone except by example.

Leather Scene technical information is only shared among peers.

Showing You Are Ready

The very last part of this guide; I will go over your public actions and the forms they take when initiating contact with a Top or bottom and what it will entail. This is a Basic Leather Protocol guide so I'm gonna be very brief here, since many aspects should already be apparent to you, but this is probably what you were looking for when you started reading this. I simply wanted you to get the most common information out of the way before jumping in feet first.

ALWAYS call someone you identify or KNOW is a Top... "Sir" No exceptions!
Make sure you are always aware of who you are talking to and if you pick up that they are a Top immediately recognize this by calling them "Sir". Mistakes are always made in a crowed public space, it is a sign of experience in the way YOU go about correcting yourself as a bottom.

The more submissive a bottom is or would like to be with a particular Top, the less direct eye contact YOU make. Frequently stare at the Tops boots, less so in non-sexual conversations.

The more dominant a Top is or would like to be with a particular bottom, the more direct eye contact is made. Unless there is NO sexual interest. Here's a BIG HINT, you can do this in public with a Top that has a bottom right next to him in a position of submission and even a collar and it is entirely acceptable.
But... I would strongly recommend that you talk to and include the, in this case "senior" bottom, and introduce yourself.

Tops should always have the first opportunity to make contact with a bottom; they get the first and second moves by default.

It is up to the Top or the experienced bottom to extend a hand to invite a handshake. Remember no touching? Even here it is highly formal.

Formal Standing For Bottoms
bottoms do have ways of standing in Formal Leather and most of all this will be taught to you by the Top but since you are currently looking I will go ahead and give the basics here...

At Attention or Formal Present: the bottom stands upright, with feet spread shoulder wide, arms locked behind his back, each hand clasping the opposite forearm, or wrist; the chest is held out, the head may be bowed or held up however the eyes look down. This is usually done when initial introductions are occurring between Tops.

At Ease or Parade Rest: The same as the Formal Present except that the hands are left open and the left is placed into the right, above the ass crack. This is done when standing behind and to the left of your Top at the bar or when he is seated; unless he allows you to sit.

When walking together, bottoms walk half-a-step behind and to the left of your Top. The bottom should be close enough to be able to put his fingers in the Tops back pocket. The reason is simple, the Top wants to know immediately if you are separated or being bothered so always remain in his peripheral vision.

In closing this section let’s get to the point; these actions are about focus, not physical gymnastics. Who are YOU focused on and what do YOU want your actions to say? To honestly pull this off in a natural flowing way that does not look awkward and retarded... YOU have got to believe in what YOU are doing. Nothing I am telling you here will make you good at being a Leather Anything if you do not believe in what you have chosen to do in your heart and in your mind.

That’s all I’ve got to say.

Table of Contents:
Breaking Silence
Wearing Yourself Out
Belonging
Outside Looking In
The Drawing Of The Line

Back To The Main Page

Teddy Pig's Guide To Excruciatingly Painful Basic Leather Protocol

The Drawing Of The Line

Rupaul is quoted as saying "We are all born into the world naked. The rest of it is just drag." With no put down in general to Drag Queens that I have a great deal of respect for, with their own brand of dedication and determination and after seeing them contributing so much to the Gay Community as a whole... I say bullshit honey! Anyone with any knowledge of the military knows that this supposedly deep statement is out to lunch. Sure you can throw on a uniform and get yourself a regulation haircut and walk around like you belong all you want. But... the truth is any military person you meet, after talking with you for any length of time, will know you are not for "real" by experience and knowledge. The same concept is very true for Leather.


I hope I have provided for You enough of a basic vocabulary, a way of communicating and some understanding of the Gay Male BDSM Leather Scene and a way I have personally found that helps me identify who are for "real" and who are “the Players” and “the Outsiders”. With any interest on your part, you will hopefully start running into the right people and start getting the right training and the rest will work itself out. This is only the start of a whole lot more than I have gone onto in any case; it is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.


I also know there are a lot of things I did not go into and some things I stayed away from on purpose. One BIG thing was right in that title of that Guy Baldwin article... Did you catch it? Did you see how those rules were stacked there quickly like some old kindling, as if in some funeral pyre or form of epitaph?


There are some things I just trust implicitly because they were taught to me with such honesty on a one on one basis. There are some things I just trust implicitly because they have proven themselves over time.

The time that guy was cruising me heavily at the DC Eagle and I was grabbed by a Leatherman I knew and abruptly and sternly requested to leave with him and get a ride home. I did this immediately and he told me later in private that the guy cruising me liked to take bottoms home, tie them up and place loaded guns in their mouth and force them to do things.

The time another outsider was pointed out to me at the bar by a Leatherman, the guy it turns out liked to take bottoms home and choke them till they passed out.

Please take my word for it, there are very good reasons why these rules are important.
There are very good reasons why John told me in no uncertain terms that there is no such thing as “Old Guard” and there never was.
There are very good reasons why someone such as myself who did not look for it, got training, and yet others that do, do not.
There are very good reasons why we protect our own fiercely.
There are very good reasons why we sit in bemusement and do not forcefully correct someone insulting us to our face.
There are very good reasons why some of the highly publicized “voices” of the Leather Community are not accepted by us and never will be.

The circle may be broken, but I have been taught to draw the line.

I did not half-assed, what I can only loosely describe as an attempt at writing, write this article to get in your pants or have you buy my book or attend my seminar. I just want to say to those of you who are looking for something beyond the image and the sex and some of the more tired and seedy things the Leather Community has become, yep it's still out there. We are still drawing that line. I wish you the best.

Please send me an email if you have any questions or concerns regarding this article or anything I have said. Thank you for your interest. Respectfully - Dickie

The world is on fire
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
And Try to bring my share
I'll Try to bring more
More than I can handle
Bring it to the table
Bring it home
Sarah McLachlan - World On Fire

Table of Contents:
Breaking Silence
Wearing Yourself Out
Belonging
Outside Looking In
The Drawing Of The Line

Back To The Main Page