Close

What Is “Real”?

This post was originally part of a longer article that appeared in the Bay Area Reporter for which I write a regular leather and kink column. You will find the original online version here. There is a malady that seems to impact some of the leather and kink scene. It creeps in and taints social interactions, […]

Read More

Change Is The Norm

This post originally appeared in the Bay Area Reporter for which I write a regular leather and kink column. You will find the original online version here. As I communicate with fellow leatherfolk, whether they be local or from elsewhere, I consistently hear comments about how the leather scene has changed. Generally such comments are complaints […]

Read More

David Ortmann Interview

Every so often I run across a great interview with someone representing some aspect of the kink, BDSM, leather, alternative sexualities, polyamory or some other segment of the world encompassed by this blog’s focus. I just ran across one. I think it’s important to promote such interviews because it presents an entire body of kinksters […]

Read More

Serious Academic BDSM Research

Whenever a segment of society has to deal with any oppression or societal misunderstandings, as those who practice BDSM must sometimes endure, one of the tools that can be used to blunt such negative perceptions is serious academic research on the topic. I recently read about interesting study results regarding how BDSM experiences can lead […]

Read More

San Francisco Bay Area Reporter Leather Column

I am the new writer of the San Francisco Bay Area Reporter (often called the B.A.R.) leather column. The column has a long history in the local leather and kink scene and it’s read nationally and internationally as well. I’m honored to have been asked to take over this column from the previous writer who […]

Read More

Are Clubs And Organizations Right For You?

A few days ago when a friend posted on Facebook some of the drama that had developed in one of the clubs he belonged to and why he was resigning, I posted a response that ended up drawing quite a few follow up replies – some supportive and empathetic, some more or less neutral, and […]

Read More

Handling Jealousy

This blog is dedicated in part to offering intelligent information, ideas and insights about the adventurous side of relationships. In order to explore that territory, the issue of jealousy is something that often needs to be acknowledged and confronted directly. For many people a large part of exploring adventurous relationship territory assumes some form of […]

Read More

Have We Jumped The Shark?

A brilliant friend of mine, Steve Ganzell, recently posted something to his Facebook wall that I thought was so on target and well written that I asked him if I could replicate it here. It is one of the best and most important set of words I’ve read about the BDSM/kink scene in a long […]

Read More

Using BDSM and Fetish to Sell Products (NSFW)

One of the complaints I hear occasionally is that aspects of the BDSM, leather and kink scene are being co-opted by outsiders and the culture generally. The video below is a prime example of taking BDSM and fetish imagery and using it to sell a product, in this case men’s underwear. Personally, I like the […]

Read More

Leather Archives & Museum Announces Online Catalog

This is wonderful news! From the Leather Archives & Museum email announcement that was sent today: The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) announced today an OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) of the institution’s book and magazine collection has gone live. The OPAC can be found at: http://webopac.infovisionsoftware.com/leather/ The catalog contains bibliographic records for over 12,000 […]

Read More