BARtab :: Sexuality

Off to the market we go: International Mr. Leather explored

Off to the market we go: International Mr. Leather explored

  • by Race Bannon
  • Jun 5, 2019

Every year for decades men have descended on Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend for an annual leather pilgrimage otherwise known as International Mr. Leather (IML), as did I this past week.

Celebrating women - International Ms. Leather and Bootblack in San Jose

Celebrating women - International Ms. Leather and Bootblack in San Jose

  • by Race Bannon
  • Apr 24, 2019

Over the course of my tenure writing this column, I've received feedback that readers often prefer something other than pure reporting on events. As one gentle critic put it, "I prefer you don't just reword an event's program," and they have a point.

What about the sex? - Combining social and sexual scenes

What about the sex? - Combining social and sexual scenes

  • by Race Bannon
  • Apr 10, 2019

Recently, a young gay man messaged me, stating, "I've tried the leather scene. It's not for me." I asked why. He said, "It's not about sex anymore. It's not even about anything erotic anymore." Was he correct?

Bestie Sexys - Ongoing and missed erotic outlets

Bestie Sexys - Ongoing and missed erotic outlets

  • by Cornelius Washington
  • Apr 3, 2019

Our Bestie winner in Sex celebrate businesses that help you embrace your desires. We want you to embrace, engage with and utilize them while you still can.

Tending the garden: Growing kink communities

Tending the garden: Growing kink communities

  • by Race Bannon
  • Mar 27, 2019

On some level, creating community is a numbers game. The more times you try, the more times you succeed. Sometimes you have to throw lots of stuff against the wall to see what sticks.

Blow Buddies building up for sale

Blow Buddies building up for sale

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Mar 15, 2019

Blow Buddies, a private gay sex club that's operated in South of Market since 1988, could be in danger of closure. The owner is trying to sell the building, which is located at 933 Harrison Street.

Leather Alliance's Mr. SF Leather 2019 & SF Bootblack contests

Leather Alliance's Mr. SF Leather 2019 & SF Bootblack contests

  • by Race Bannon
  • Mar 13, 2019

One of the annual projects of the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance is producing the Leather Alliance Weekend, which took place February 28 through March 3. The weekend included the San Francisco Bootblack and Mr. San Francisco Leather 2019 contest.

Think like a marketer

Think like a marketer

  • by Race Bannon
  • Feb 27, 2019

Why is it difficult for some to find erotic connections? I've talked to a lot of kinksters about this and a discussion point comes up repeatedly; the role online life has in finding play partners.

Women take the stage - Ms. San Francisco Leather contest at SOMArts

Women take the stage - Ms. San Francisco Leather contest at SOMArts

  • by Race Bannon
  • Feb 13, 2019

One of the biggest annual local gatherings for leatherwomen took place this past Saturday, the Ms. San Francisco Leather contest at SOMArts Cultural Center.

Pass it on - Leather gear and personal legacy

Pass it on - Leather gear and personal legacy

  • by Race Bannon
  • Jan 31, 2019

Leather communities have had a longstanding practice of passing down leathers, gear and treasured objects to others as a way of letting a valued possession experience new life with a new caretaker.

Positioning our sex - Deconstructing top, bottom and various codes

Positioning our sex - Deconstructing top, bottom and various codes

  • by Race Bannon
  • Jan 16, 2019

Far too frequently, the leather communities tend to honor and revere tops and doms in a way they do not always bottoms and subs. I've increasingly seen this play out in the non-kinky gay men's world as well.

Can sex culture survive?

Can sex culture survive?

  • by Race Bannon
  • Dec 19, 2018

Tumblr announced that their platform would no longer allow adult content. Close on the heels of that announcement, Facebook appears to be following through on much tighter restrictions on sexual content. What does that mean for kink communities?

Living every kinky day

Living every kinky day

  • by Race Bannon
  • Dec 5, 2018

What has been impressed on me on World AIDS Day is that we should each of us grab on to life hard and live it as fully, beautifully and vibrantly as we can. For kinksters, that means taking full advantage of the many opportunities we have.

Celebrating grey — the older kinkster

Celebrating grey — the older kinkster

  • by Race Bannon
  • Nov 20, 2018

One of the many attractions to San Francisco when I moved here in 1994 was how readily it embraced older gay men. I was always pleasantly surprised at how well older gay men were integrated into the larger LGBTQ whole, especially in the leather scene.