Editorial
A Family Reunion
by David Ortmann
originally appeared in the Bay Area Reporter, 7/24/03
In the spring of 1996 I was twenty-three years old and freshly arrived in San Francisco. I remember the night I first strolled Castro Street in search of people like me. Visibly nervous, with shaggy blond hair and a face like a Midwestern choirboy, the only thing "leather" about me might have been my (brown!) shoes and my latent curiosity. San Francisco Leather Daddy Philip Turner's much anticipated bar had just opened and I passed by, pausing to peer through the leather curtained covered doorway. I spied a huge party inside. There was a beautiful blonde drag queen above the bar running a raffle and singing showstoppers. There were leather women, leather men, leather boys, and some guys and gals just wearing tee shirts and Levis. I don't remember what I thought a leather bar would be like before I walked into "Daddy's," but the reality was more friendly and festive than I'd imagined.
I grabbed a coke and skittered to the closest dark corner. I simply wanted to observe. The party, I overheard, was a benefit for something called the AIDS Emergency Fund, which sounded like a good cause to me. The blonde singer introduced herself as "Donna Sachet" and launched into another song. She sounded wonderful. I was from the East Coast where drag queens only lip-synched. The cool mixture of drag and leather folk, men and women made me even more comfortable.
"Excuse me young man." I felt a hand on my shoulder. "May I ask you a question?" The hand was attached to a leather Daddy with a polite British accent. He was dressed in full gear and had what looked like a heavy flogger hanging from his left belt loop.
"Uh. sure." I said. Thoughts raced through my mind. Do I call him sir? Is he going to hit me? Will it hurt? Will I like it? What do I say?
"I am Daddy Alan Selby and tonight we are raising money for the AIDS Emergency Fund."
"Do you want, like, a contribution?" I asked reaching for my wallet.
"Put your money away, dear." Daddy Alan smiled. "Actually, you can help us in another way. We are auctioning boys upstairs for spankings. A dollar a swat. I couldn't help but notice your quite lovely posterior."
"Thanks." I said, actually blushing.
"Would you be willing to volunteer your handsome bottom?"
His request sent an electric charge straight to the regions beneath my belt buckle. "Um, sure. But it's my first time. I don't know how much I can take and."
"No worries dear. Our tops are very experienced and I will explain to them that it's your first time. Actually, if you don't mind, we'll have Donna announce it's your first time. It's a good selling point." He winked at me and I immediately liked his good-natured laugh.
Ten minutes later, I was bent over a sawhorse, in front of over a hundred people, staring at the floor, getting my butt paddled, strapped, spanked, and raising money for an organization several of my friends, I had no way of knowing at the time, would come to depend on in the years ahead.
That was my warm-very warm-welcome to the San Francisco leather community. I've never regretted it. I was young, I was inexperienced, and I was embraced. There have been many more fundraisers, street fairs, spanking camps, play parties, parades, discussion groups, demonstrations, marches, and festivities of which I've been a part. Some of these men and women have become my friends and others are now more like family; people I have counted on over the years for love, support, and validation when days are dark and who, in turn, have come to depend upon me in the same way. It's not only about play, but the play sure is fun!
This summer, I'll be taking part in a family reunion of sorts called the Leather Levi Weekend (LLW), a gathering of leatherfolk coming together to eat, drink, play, celebrate community, and enjoy the beautiful valley of Saratoga Springs. Activities span everything from country western dancing and Sado-Masochistic and Bondage/Discipline workshops to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and spirituality circles. Whether lying about the pool or playing in the dungeon, there is something for everyone.
LLW is committed to embracing younger and less-experienced men and women into the leather community while encouraging dialogue, mentoring, and fellowship with more experienced individuals in a safe and adventurous environment. We all learn from each other regardless of our age, gender, level of experience, and diversity of interests. This is what builds intimacy and community and that, certainly, is a cause for celebration.
Please consider this a personal welcome from me. Whether hiking in the hills or shackled in the dungeon, I hope to see you there.
For more information on LLW, please visit www.leatherlevi.org