The leather culture is a subculture within the LGBTQ+ community that is heavily rooted in the queer community’s history. The members of the leather community wear erotic leather fashion such as chaps, harnesses, and vests to signal their association with their unconventional approach to sex. This culture has a long history of niche subgroups that better help queer people understand who they are and how they approach their identities.
Some members of the leather community are also heavily involved in the BDSM community. This provides them with an opportunity to explore sexual pleasure and kinks. However, there are also members of the leather community who simply enjoy wearing leather and the idea of butch queerness.
In 1989, Tony DeBlase designed the leather pride flag, which has since represented the leather community. The flag has nine stripes—four black, four blue, one white—with a red heart in the upper left corner. It is seen in LGBTQ+ pride weeks as well as events that support the BDSM community. Although the flag was created to support the leather community, it has been used interchangeably for those who identify with the BDSM community, including cowboys, latex, and uniforms.
The flag represents the freedom to explore kinks and sexual freedom as a whole. DeBlase did not include specific meanings for the colors and the heart, but since its creation, members have made up their own meaning. The black represents black leather, the blue represents blue denim, the white represents integrity, and the red heart represents love.
While the DeBlase flag is the only flag that truly represents the leather community, an alternative to the leather flag does exist. Due to the leather flag’s use as the BDSM flag, a BDSM flag alternative has since been created. The Tanos BDSM Pride Flag, created by a Master named Tanos, is derived from the original leather pride flag. The white, blue, and black colors remain, but the red heart is substituted with a red version of the BDSM Emblem. The flag was created to bring awareness to the BDSM community and advocate for human rights.
The leather community carries a lot of history, and it is a living proof of what queer people represent and what it means to fight for their identity and their place in an unaccepting society. For many years, members of the leather community felt as though they needed to hide or pretend to be someone else. It is for that reason that we should always acknowledge those who pioneered the movement and who were marginalized and oppressed for expressing themselves. It is because of these brave individuals who marched and opened safe spaces that we can have things such as leather pride week.
The leather community can include gay individuals, lesbian individuals, transgender individuals, and more. There are endless ways to be leather, and there is a large community of support waiting for those who decide to come out. The LGBTQ+ community is a united force, and everyone is welcome.
In conclusion, representation matters. Flags are a necessary tool when it comes to representing a community, identity, or sexuality. Putting up an asexual flag or wearing it on a t-shirt shows appreciation and pride for the community. This is not only important for community members who want to feel unified, but also for visibility purposes. The colors and symbols on a flag show the world what it means to be a part of that community and give everyone a chance to