We're just days away from Leather Week, the bevy of annual events that precede and surround the world-famous core event, Folsom Street Fair. I'll get to my annual pitch for my readers to enjoy those events, but first I'd like to discuss another topic.
I think there's a tendency when someone mentions uniforms as a kink that the image of men in uniform forms in our heads. Understandable. The images that pervade our kink ethos, at least our LGBTQ kink ethos, tend to be predominantly male.
That's not a value judgment. It is what it is. But I think it's important to highlight a variety of genders, identities and kinks that populate the overall LGBTQ leather and kink scene.
The Dyke Uniform Corps (D.U.C.) was founded in April 1998 for women uniform fetishists by four people known as the General Officers: Gunner, Kane, Blade and Tomo. I had an opportunity to speak with one of those founders, Tomo.
Tomo also holds the titles of Northwest slave 2015 and International slave 2016 and is one of the owners and producers of Northwest Leather Celebration now held annually in Sacramento. It's a great event and one of the only full-fledged leather conferences held in our area. www.northwestleathercelebration.com
I had heard D.U.C. was approaching its 20th anniversary in 2018 and I really didn't know much about the organization. Tomo gave me lots of great information.
Back when D.U.C. first formed, the uniform clubs in existence allowed only men to join. Believing there was a need to be filled, the four founders of D.U.C. used their extensive nonprofit leadership experience and came together to create the D.U.C.
This so beautifully illustrates something I've been saying a lot lately. One of the constant refrains I hear these days is some version of leather isn't what it used to be or we no longer have certain opportunities to socialize or play, or some other 'lack' in our scene. My answer is often, "Then why don't you create that?"
These women saw a lack of something and filled the gap with a new creation. I hope others take inspiration from that. Start a club. Form a learning group. Get a pack of people together to socialize. Host a play party. Whatever the need is, fill it. Let's complain less and focus on creating things that keep our scene alive and vibrant.
I asked Tomo why she thinks uniforms are such a pervasive and popular fetish and kink.
"It's hot! When a person enters a room at a kink event in a uniform, heads turn. With the roots of the leather community being related to the military and many protocols and traditions exhibiting this, it is not a far leap that the fetish and kink communities would love a uniform. Our community plays with and fetishizes power. It's not limited to just a feeling. It can also be the representation of and intentionality behind playing with power. When I wear a uniform, I feel different, I walk differently. I feel 'squared away,' powerful, organized, together, and sexy."
Regardless of why so many kinksters enjoy uniforms, they clearly do. Attend any big leather or kink event and you're bound to see quite a few.
One of the worldwide organizations for men that includes uniforms among the fetishes it embraces is BLUF (Breeches, Leather and Uniform Fanclub). BLUF has a local SF Bay Area chapter and they're quite active. www.bluf.com
Since language is so carefully used these days, I asked Tomo why they used the word 'dyke.'
"At the time of its founding, the Dyke Uniform Corps was intended to appeal to and celebrate uniform fetishists within lesbian communities. From day one, we have owned the name Dyke Uniform Corps and we wear it as proudly as we wear our uniforms. Dyke has always empowered us as an organization, and exemplifies that we are unapologetic about being leatherwomen."
"Although we keep our original name to honor this important history, queer, lesbian, straight and bisexual women are welcome in the Corps, and our membership reflects a broad range of sexual orientations and identities."
If you're interested in becoming a member of D.U.C., it's an easy process. Applications for full and associate memberships can be found on their website where you'll also find information about their mission, goals, vision, history, events, and more. www.DykeUniformCorps.com
D.U.C. accepts applicants from anyone 21+ who self-identifies as a woman, as well as non-binary, genderqueer and transmasculine people who feel that their home is in the women's community.
Leather Week
As previously mentioned, Leather Week and Folsom Street Fair are upon us. The annual reveling in our fetishes and kinks offers so much for us to do. Thousands of visitors make San Francisco their destination and, along with kinky locals, partake in dozens of events.
If you're LGBTQ and kinky, or simply kink-curious, check out the listings in the calendar that accompanies this column and start making some plans. Some of the events sell tickets in advance. If you're planning to attend one of them, buy your tickets now, because some will sell out.
Also, be on the lookout for leather and kink events promoted on Facebook. I've found that for such LGBTQ events, most of them create Facebook event pages.
Whatever you end up doing, have fun, be safe, and let's show the world that San Francisco is still one of the great leather and kink capitals of the world.
Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. You can reach him on his website, www.bannon.com