Gay leather club posters of the 1970s

Leather in the Archives. Previous Next. The leather subculture denotes practices and styles of dress organized around sexual activities. Some men returning from the war received surplus motorcycles, leather jackets, and other military gear. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a leather jacket and cap riding a motorcycle created an iconic image that was adopted by the first gay leather people.

The first gay leather bars were the club houses of early biker clubs that opened later to the public. In recent decades the leather community has been considered a subset of BDSM culture rather than a descendant of gay culture. The Leather Pride flag pictured at top is a symbol used by the leather subculture since the s.

It is a library, museum and archives pertaining to the leather, fetishism, sadomasochism, and alternate sexual practices. Notable museum artifacts include original works by Tom of Finland, the largest collection of Etienne works in the world, historic sadomasochism and sexual devices, and colours patches worn on the back of leather vests from hundreds of existing and former Gay and Lesbian motorcycle clubs, leather clubs and sex clubs.

Gay Bar Posters and Art Prints

Their extensive online video library includes the below footage of leather and kink people at Toronto Gay Pride Sight, smell, feel, creak, and even taste. People use these words to describe the appeal of leather. Combined they make leather stand for masculinity, sexiness, and male bonding. Leather the material arouses people in very different ways.

The leather outfit consists of a cap, usually with a pin or other insignia denoting the particular club, a vest, often studded or stuck with pin buttons, gloves, and a white T-shirt or black military style shirt. Other regalia might include body harness, either chain or leather, a jock strap and on occasion, a sash denoting an event or competition.

The ArQuives has several pieces of gear in our collection some pictured belowincluding nipple clamps. Leather clubs The Spearhead Brotherhoodfounded inhas been many things: a source of charitable giving, a producer of social events, a leader in community based political action, and a publisher of an unparalleled continuous record of gay history.

Early members of Spearhead included members of a New York City motorcycle club, all of whom shared an interest in leather. Leather competitions, workshops, fundraisers, and other community events. The Toolbox was originally known in as 18 East, located at 18 Eastern Avenue. It closed in August Drummer and International Drummerboy contests founded in San Francisco around Both the contest and titles are about representing the sexual side of gay leathermen.

Billy was introduced in a number of versions based on stereotypical gay characters, including Sailor Billy, Cowboy Billy, Master Billy pictured and San Francisco Billy. The ArQuives also holds many books by Larry Townsend, art books by Tom of Finland, and other books and ephemera related to leather and fetish cultures.

Due to space limitations, the complete leather collection held by The ArQuives is not represented here.