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This is the version from 13 Jul 06, 9:17 AM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.
ICcode for "Leather subculture"

{{Wikipedia|Leather_subculture}}

The [b]leather culture[/b] typically includes both a style of dress and an affiliation with [about=BDSM]BDSM[/about] (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sado/Masochism, also called "SM") practice. Both the style of dress and the kinds of BDSM activities characteristic of a community may differ between gay, lesbian, and straight communities, and between [b]Old Guard[/b] and newer generations of players. While most people who engage in the leather culture style of dress are also affiliated with BDSM practice, not all BDSM practitioners wear leather culture apparel. 


[b]History[/b]

[about=Homosexuality]Gay[/about] male [about=BDSM]BDSM[/about] leather culture grew out of post-World War II biker culture. Leather culture is also inspired by the "chains and leather" or "denim and leather" look espoused by heavy metal bands. The first practitioner of this look in a heavy metal context was Rob Halford, the lead singer of the influential NWOBHM band Judas Priest, who wore a leather suit on stage as early as 1978. Halford, a gay man, picked up the image from leather-culture bars on tour.  The rest of the band quickly joined in, and so did subsequent metal bands.

The early gay male leather subculture is epitomized by the "Leatherman's Handbook" by [about=Larry Townsend]Larry Townsend[/about], published in 1972, which essentially defined the [b]Old Guard leather culture[/b]. This code emphasized strict formality and fixed roles (i.e. no [about=switch]switch[/about]ing). Very few [about=lesbian]lesbian[/about] women or [about=heterosexual]heterosexual[/about]s were visible during the early emergence of gay male leather subculture. Patrick Califia (formally [about=Pat Califia]Pat Califia[/about]) was inspired by the gay male leather culture and is credited for defining the emergence of lesbian leather culture. In 1978, Califia co-founded one of the first lesbian S/M support groups, [about=Samois]Samois[/about], and is best known for prolific contributions to the body of lesbian BDSM erotica and sex-guides.

[b]New Guard leather culture[/b] appeared in the 1990s, as a reaction to the restrictions of Old Guard style. New Guard, or new leather, embraced switching and often combined spirituality with their play. An increasing number of [about=pansexual]pansexual[/about] clubs evolved as well.  
The leather community has been considered a subset of BDSM culture rather than a direct descendent of gay culture as a whole, despite the fact that in years past much of the organized SM community was in fact homosexual. Today, while some may still use the term strictly in the old fashioned sense (confusing it with [about=old guard]old guard[/about], the "leather community" or "leather culture" includes all BDSM practitioners, gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, or pansexual whether [about=List of BDSM terms]high or low protocol[/about]). 




[b]Controversy[/b]

There is small controversy among the BDSM community about the popularity of wearing leather. There are those who believe the wearing of leather and other popular BDSM apparel has come to represent something of a uniform for those practicing BDSM, discouraging personal creativity and variety in dress. Others note how expensive both leather clothing and leather BDSM equipment is. In the year 2005, a new pair of leather pants costs up to $400. The cost of participating in leather culture prevents many low-income people from participating in the ways that might be expected of BDSM practitioners, due to the popularity of leather apparel and equipment. Finally, there are those who are concerned for animal rights. Many animal rights activists within the BDSM community point to vinyl and latex as alternatives for the leather look. 



[heading]See also


[item][about=Leather pride flag]Leather pride flag[/about]

[item][about=Leather fetishism]Leather fetishism[/about]

[item][about=BDSM]BDSM[/about]

[item][about=Folsom Street Fair]Folsom Street Fair[/about]

[item][about=Daedalus Publishing]Daedalus Publishing[/about]

[item]Urban Aboriginals: A Celebration of Leathersexuality ISBN 1881943186 

[item]Leatherfolk: Radical sex, people, and practice ISBN 1881943208 


[heading]External links 


[item] [url=http://www.io.com/~ambrosio/gen/stein.html]History of Leather-S/M-Fetish Subculture and Communities[/url]

[item] [url=http://www.leatherpage.com/]leatherpage.com[/url]

[item] [url=http://www.leatherarchives.org/home.htm]Leather Archives & Museum[/url]




(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the [url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Leather_subculture]Leather subculture[/url] article in Wipipedia.)
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