Leather pride flag
Use | Represents leather subculture, or more generally the BDSM and fetish communities |
---|---|
Adopted | 1989 |
Design | Nine equally sized horizontal stripes (from top to bottom: four of alternating black and royal blue, one white, and four of alternating royal blue and black) with a tilted red heart in the canton |
Designed by | Tony DeBlase |
The leather pride flag is a symbol used by the leather subculture since the 1990s. It was designed by Tony DeBlase,[1][2] and was quickly embraced by the gay leather community. It has since become associated with the leather community in general and also with other kink and fetish subcultures such as the BDSM community.
History
The flag was designed by
Initial reaction to the flag was mixed. In a 2008 article, DeBlase stated:[4]
Some, particularly on the east coast, reacted positively to the concept, but were quite concerned, some even offended, that I had not involved the community in helping to create the design.
In June 1989, the flag was used by the leather contingent in a Portland, Oregon pride parade, which was its first appearance at a pride parade.[5]
On September 18, 1990, Clive Platman (Mr. Australia
On October 11, 1991, at the opening ceremonies of
Also in 1991, Melbourne Leather Men became the first club to incorporate the design elements of the leather pride flag into their club colors.[5]
On December 12, 2000,
For the 24th annual
was used on the official event guide and produced as collector's posters that were displayed throughout the city as advertising for the event.In 2010 the leather pride flag's creator Tony DeBlase was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame.[8]
Leather & Grace, a former organization of
Design
Creator DeBlase gave this explanation of the design:[1]
The flag is composed of nine horizontal stripes of equal width. From the top and from the bottom, the stripes alternate black and royal blue. The central stripe is white. In the upper left quadrant of the flag is a large red heart. I will leave it to the viewer to interpret the colors and symbols.
Popularity
Although the flag is common in the gay leather community, it is not an exclusively gay symbol and represents the entire leather community.
Furthermore, while designed as a symbol for the leather subculture, it is also widely used within the entire BDSM (bondage & discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism) subculture.[citation needed]
Variations and inspiration for other flags
Although Tony DeBlase is quoted as saying the design of the leather pride flag, which he created, is copyrighted in the U.S. (as well as all countries where the
Nevertheless, variations on the original leather pride flag have been created. On September 18, 1990, Clive Platman (Mr. Australia
Leather & Grace, a (now defunct) organization of
The BDSM rights flag, designed by Tanos, a Master from the United Kingdom, is partially loosely based on the design of the leather pride flag and also includes a version of the BDSM Emblem (but not similar enough to fall within Steve Quagmyr's specific copyright claims for the Emblem). The BDSM rights flag is intended to represent the belief that people whose sexuality or relationship preferences include BDSM practices deserve the same human rights as everyone else, and should not be discriminated against for pursuing BDSM with consenting adults.[20]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "The Leather Pride Flag". Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Steve Lenius (2000-07-28). "Leather Life: Tony DeBlase, 1942-2000". Leathercolumn.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
- ^ "Leather History Timeline". Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- ^ "A Leather Pride Flag". leatherarchives.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Timeline". Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- New York Sun. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ Cassell, Heather (27 September 2007). "Folsom art draws fire from the right". Bay Area Reporter. Vol. 37, no. 39. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ "> Inductees". Leatherhalloffame.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "Leather & Grace website". Leatherandgrace.wordpress.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ a b "Leather & Grace: L&G's Story". 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Ringold Alley's Leather". July 17, 2017. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Paull, Laura (21 June 2018). "Honoring gay leather culture with art installation in SoMa alleyway – J". J. Jweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
- ^ Paull, Laura (21 June 2018). "Honoring gay leather culture with art installation in SoMa alleyway – J". J. Jweekly.com. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
- ^ Cindy (2017-07-17). "Ringold Alley's Leather Memoir – Public Art and Architecture from Around the World". Artandarchitecture-sf.com. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ Rubin, Gayle (1998). "Folsom Street: The Miracle Mile". FoundSF. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
- ^ "The Leather Pride Flag - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum — San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group". Sfldg.org. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- ^ "Leather & Grace: L&G's Story". 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- ^ "Leather & Grace | Unitarian Universalists for BDSM Awareness". Leatherandgrace.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
- ^ "Informed Consent: BDSM rights flag". Archived from the original on 2013-05-02.
External links
- Media related to Leather Pride flags at Wikimedia Commons