Is the Men's Community Dead?

On July 27th, the San Francisco-based Leatherman's Discussion Group is hosting a panel discussion on the topic "Is Leather Dead? Does it Need to Die?".  The participants on the panel are Guy Baldwin, Race Bannon, Gayle Rubin and Michael Thorn. 

On the heels of that panel discussion, the LDG has been asked to host a discussion on the future of the men’s leather/fetish/kink community.

Does a men’s community exist? With the passing of “leather” as our umbrella term, is there still a critical mass of men engaging in radical sex with other men who acknowledge and value our commonality, irrespective of our differences? Or do we now identify foremost with others who share our fetishes – latex, leather, M/s or D/s, animal play – regardless of gender and orientation? If that's the case, then our institutions (like LDG) may have to accept that they can serve men into leather or sportsgear or puppy play, but not a “men’s community” that isn’t there anymore.

However. Whatever we’ve lost, with more than 20,000 men in Chicago for IML this year, we’re arguably gaining something too. If we think there's still life in the idea of a broader community of kinky gay men, then it’s time to stop wringing our hands over the disappearance of leather bars and clubs. It’s time to hammer out new priorities and shared objectives for our leaders to pursue.

Assuming we have men’s community leaders. If so, how do we select and identify them? We have a process for choosing titleholders and bare chests, but can we count on them to lead us anywhere but the next fundraiser, the next contest?

If we want to preserve a men's community, what new institutions will serve us best? If we don’t need bars to cruise and socialize, what can we support? The reigning event models are contests, conferences and “runs.” Is that enough?

And how do we feel about being guests wherever we go? We used to own the spaces where we congregated – bars, clubs, dungeons too. Now wherever we meet, wherever we play, we’re there at somebody else’s tolerance and obliged to abide by their rules (which some blame for the decline in men’s play parties). Women addressed the same situation by establishing a Women’s Building. What would it take to create, support and subscribe some kind of Men’s Building?

LDG is urging that we not let the energy and ideas generated by the July 27th panel go cold. Plan on attending this follow-up discussion on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, form 7:30 - 9:30 pm at the Blow Buddies Upstairs Community Room, 933 Harrison Street in San Francisco.

 

Comments

[Rob Claffie]

"If we think there's still life in the idea of a broader community of kinky gay men, then it’s time to stop wringing our hands over the disappearance of leather bars and clubs. It’s time to hammer out new priorities and shared objectives for our leaders to pursue."

Events like IML are fine but what if one is unable to afford such luxurious events? Thus the wringing of our hands at the loss of leather bars and clubs. Places that the everyday man could go and wear his gear without sideways glances from those who feel he might not really belong where he is. Like martini bars, if that's all that's available.

If bars and clubs disappear then what am *I* to do? I who cannot afford to attend IML *and* MAL *and* CLAW *and* Goddess knows where else because I'm just not made of that kind of money.

Or am I in a minority of a minority?