JustaDom
Posts: 84
Joined: 1/1/2004
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Thank you for the links, amoretta.
By the way, if you google "SlaveMaster" you will get results for two very, very different people. The first is John Edward Robinson of Olathe, Kansas. He was the one who made a lot of news in 2000 as a man arrested and later convicted for luring women over the internet for “sex and S&M,” killing them and storing their bodies in barrels. This man is a prime example of why the Leather/Gorean/BDSM organizations tout safe calls before meeting someone. He frequented chatrooms with the nick “SlaveMaster” and the gory details are at http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/slavemaster.asp .
The SlaveMaster amoretta referred to has a very good reputation and is by every account I have heard of, an amazing public speaker. I believe he was at APEX last year and gave a very moving presentation on spirituality and how it integrates with the Leather lifestyle. I was taking a break from the scene at that time but I wished I had gone to that one.
Again, please keep in mind that these are two very different people. John Robinson is safely in prison.
Leather slaves are people and as such, there is an incredible amount of variety. Typically a Leather slave is well mannered, with military bearing and knowledge of Leather protocol. Leather protocol is somewhat based off military protocol and there is more to it than I can get into in this post. The rough gist of it for a Leather slave is like an enlisted member of the armed forces at a formal event and protocol for a Master is similar to a military officer. Protocol between two Leather slaves is often more informal and between a Leather slave and a well respected Master can become a bit like a Private addressing a full bird Colonel.
Another excellent resource is Jack Rinella. He's a gay Leatherman based out of Chicago and is the author of several books worth reading. They are written from his perspective as a gay Leather top/dom/master/etc. but I found a lot of what he writes about is applicable to any kind of dominant/submissive relationship. I had the opportunity to talk with Jack at Ms. World Leather in Dallas three years ago. He seems to be a hellava guy, friendly and very easy to talk to. His website is http://www.leatherviews.com/ and he also writes a weekly article that is available on his website and via an email subscription.
Not everyone in the Leather lifestyle is a gay man with a leather or uniform fetish – I'll admit it can seem like that, it is a popular combination. They wear their leather with more style then is shown in the media, it isn't like the Blue Oyster bar in the Police Academy movies. There are plenty of lesbians, bisexuals and there has been a steady influx of heterosexuals as well. Gay men are the most visible and still seem to me to be the largest percentage of any single group but they are no longer a majority – at least at the events that I have been to.
I know some heterosexuals are leery due to the gay male/biker/whatever reputation that the Leather lifestyle has. There are some events and bars that want to remain gay only but overall heterosexuals are welcome and are sometimes the majority so don't let it stop you from going. I have never been hassled for being a heterosexual at a leather event, for bringing a girl to one or taking a girl for a walk on a leash at the Folsom Street Fair. (I highly suggest a leash at Folsom, it helps when things get crowded.)
I have been hit on though and while that took some getting used to for me, I've learned to take it as a complement. Gaydar isn't 100% accurate and I can't fault anyone for good taste.
Joe
(edited for formatting)
< Message edited by JustaDom -- 8/10/2006 2:59:02 AM >
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RE: Leather slaves - 
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