Old Guard Leather Debate – An Open Letter to Race Bannon and the “community”

Today I’ve read a blogpost about how “old guard leather never existed and why it’s a good thing“. Race Bannon wrote it on one of his blogs very recently. I have to say it’s discouraging and painful for a younger Leatherman to read disinformation and toxic judgment from older glbt+ people. What is most surprising is the intensity and persistence with which these people attack our lifestyle and culture.

If it never existed, why do they keep writing about it? And why in a scene that thrives on celebrating and validating any cultural identity, Old Guard Leather is the only reality being attacked so violently? Why is this ok? 

I proceeded to contact Race directly about it, asking for the opportunity of having a zoom meeting to share our different experiences; I would have liked to record this intergenerational debate, and I think that Race would have revised his opinions, and write a better and less misinformative article, if he would talk to an Old Guard Leather person. Unfortunately, he politely declined the invitation, leaving no space for confrontation or mutual growth.

After 16 years of experience with this, I think there are several things to understand about the ongoing old guard leather debate.

Since on Race Bannon’s blog is impossible to interact without paying, and that he refused to interact with one of the “non existing people” he writes about (as a generalist, as he says), I’ll state my thoughts here, hoping that he’ll be able to read them, and maybe reconsider one day his editorial choices, potentially including a little bit of empathy, respect, and consideration to his online agenda.

Wrong Facts and Myths on Old Guard

Race starts off his article by declaring

Old guard refers to those people who decades ago supposedly formed the inner sanctum foundation for the modern leather scene. While the term has grown in usage among kinksters of all genders and orientations, its roots are mostly in gay male leather subculture. Well, sort of.

Wrong. Old Guard Leather is a lifestyle based on romanticization of hierarchies, protocols and value system inspired by military life.

The depiction made by Race is an extract of the online (and offline) flame war that followed John Weal’s publishing of “The Leatherman Protocol Handbook”; in a chapter of his book, in which John depicts his memories and direct experiences, he mentions a “council of Elders” that would regulate determined ceremonies he specifically referred to. This episode generated a lot of buzz in the community back in the day, to the point that still today is one of the few arguments that people who try to cancel Old Guard have.

I have never experienced myself the existence of a “Council of Elders”, no. And the detractors of Old Guard are the only ones who ever talked about it after John Weal’s book.

Yes, I do accept that it’s likely that John has romanticized the content of the book in that chapter, and I wouldn’t need to grasp to this fact to erase a whole sub-community, if I had a valid point. I would rather (as I have) engage with Sir John Weal, and learn more about his direct experience.

On the other hand, I indeed have experienced councils of older gay people deciding who could say what, when and how, in the case they where prized with a Title Sash. I have experienced “big names” getting a lot of credibility out of being “founders of the 15”, and behaving like they was an inner sanctum of sorts, while behaving despicably as human beings.

So, I’d be careful at making fun at what’s constantly under everyone’s nose, even if John’s book was surely rich in idealism; an idealism that as declared in his book, stemmed from love and memorial to his late Master and Mentor. Not a word on that, nor any empathy shown.

Maybe, instead of cherry picking facts for one own’s editorial agenda, I would stick with the factual definition of Old Guard, that Race will reprise later in the article, and that we explain in the linked article.

Old Guard Never Existed

The GLBT+ community often sticks out of the crowd in defying itself as welcoming, inclusive, and tolerant.

Especially nowadays, queer, woke and the general glbt+ space makes of these features their most dear and identity-defining principles.

It’s curious how at the same time, the same community idolizes and celebrates symbols that seem strongly polarized in a single direction, a direction where what makes kids cool is being “a cold ass bitch”. One example would be RuPaul’s Drag Race, or the fantastic Mean Gays, which are so funny, because their satyr is so real.

So when it comes to respect, inclusiveness and being sugary, I honestly can’t say I see this community, and especially some of their most popular spokesmen, walk their talk when it comes to a specific set of topics particularly.

What’s common about the topics the modern glbt+ community tends to cancel and shame, is that these topics are inconvenient to the community’s agenda, and unaligned with what’s trendy and easily accessible today. In other words: they are not commercial. They (we) are, maybe, anti-commercial.

I think it’s beautiful that today’s community is striving so much for accessibility, but that’s not the only thing to pay attention to, and this “way” is not the only valid way.

Most of all, it doesn’t mean that something that doesn’t fit one’s agenda today should be cancelled.

Likewise, it doesn’t mean that something you don’t know well enough, or you have never experienced, has never existed.

Last but not least, being 70 years old doesn’t, unfortunately, vouch for omniscent experience; I have been trusting older men all my life, and what I’ve learnt is that some older men have tons on wisdom and experience. Others have tons of experience, but little wisdom. Some others, are just aged kids.

Old Guard Leather never wanted to be pop

In fact, quickly after stating that “Old Guard never existed”, Race proceeds to state:

 Anything resembling an old guard system was a rare occurrence and how it manifested itself had few commonalities among the people and groups who pursued it.

So I mean Race, you can’t say it never existed, and aftewards state “it was a rare occurrence”. Of course it was a rare occurrence. We have always been a rare occurrence. And once, this community used to fight to protect the beautiful rarity of diversity and authenticity. Maybe for Race and other detractors, if you’re not popular enough, you ought to be cancelled (with shame, possibly). I wouldn’t know.

Not only Old Guard Leather folk existed; we do exist today. Unless there is some “Council” out there who can state who is and who is not an Old Guard Leatherman, let’s assume I have the freedom to say that I exist, as such. Apparently though, the fact that it’s a “rare occurrence” is enough to cancel us all from existence. I think my family and people like us would deserve an apology, but I guess this is also not cool enough for today’s popularity game. Chapeau.

I feel like this is a very dangerous way of thinking, that tends towards homologation of what is “normal”, and making fun or cancelling what is “different”. As a community, we have struggled for hundreds of years against this. More on this later.

The truth is that Old Guard people where always different, and in a way, always outcasts; we have always

• been too serious
• too strict
• too obsessed
• too much something.

We never wanted (and still today want) to forcefully participate to where the most people assemble. That’s not our goal, that’s not our pleasure.

Instead, we value and nurture the connections we make with like-minded people and other leather families. This doesn’t involve or require Folsom Street Fair, IML or AFP, nor any other circuit party disguised as something more for that matter.

Of course there are differences, everywhere, between groups of Old Guard Leatherfolk. There is not “ONE” Protocol, there is not “ONE” and only valid way of structuring the hierarchy. I guess that in 2024, what makes a difference, is taking this lifestyle seriously, having those ideals, having those Protocols, passing down what matters to your family in terms of teachings, as opposed as a mere outfit to sport at next kink-convention. Both things have the right to exist. Neither of the two should try to cancel the other.

Race Bannon’s opinions on Old Guard

I do believe that Race Bannon never experienced Old Guard Leather in terms of lifestyle and training, and I respect that. I would like for me and people like me to receive the same respect, in aknowledging that we do experience this lifestyle. Personally, I am sorry if Race never experienced the value of Mentoring and giving a true deep meaning to something he’d believe in, with all of himself.

Of course I don’t believe this is true. I believe that Race understands very well what I’m writing and where I’m coming from. I also believe that we have very different agendas.

After all, Race’s participation to the community, for what’s available publicly in terms of lookback window, has always been to the public and official scene. IML, Leather Clubs, ECMC, Folsom, and all the politicized and open to the public version of Leather Lifestyle.

That’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially considering that this setting, fueled by capitalism (and also fundraising, and also charity) has allowed this version of the lifestyle to thrive and become what it is known today. But it’s not the only thing that exists. You see, Social Media and big events tend to drug our senses into believing that

• what we see is necessarily real
• what we see is the only reality.

Also Race knows this very well, and as per the example exposed in his article about “if you repeat a lie long enough, it becomes the truth”. It’s funny that from the point of view of us non-existing ghosts, they are the one repeating the lie.

Because then, why this hardcore flame to shut down the memory and good name of something you’ve never experienced? Just because you didn’t live an Old Guard leather life, does it mean no-one else should?

Or that, especially from the hight of your popularity and influence, you should participate to the cancel culture of “it never existed”?.

I am disappointed and hurt, because from someone who could be my grandfather in terms of age, I would have expected more inclusiveness, more willingness to express balanced opinions (like as an example Mr Guy Baldwin’s way to talking about Old Guard) and not to weaponize facts, while omitting others, to fit one’s own personal agenda.

I’m not sure today we can still talk about “Leather scene”, but more of a kinky scene, because I hope the reader will agree with me that it’s not about the fabric, and it’s never been. Yes sure many people have a fetish for Leather, but it’s about a symbolism, a meaning. Not simply dead cow.

It would be so silly; today, I would be a cottonman and a nylonman too. No, Leather and Fetish had a lot to do with Identity originally, and much less with popularity on social media.

Empathy for your brothers

I would like Race to consider a fact that I supposed he was aware about, but I have to consider maybe is not. Because I want to believe, and I firmly do, that Race is a sensible and intelligent person.

Race, when you say “Old Guard never existed”, you are actively hurting people who believe in it, and identify with it. Have you ever experienced what it means to be told that your identity, everything you live for, something that defines you and your most intimate relationships doesn’t exist and therefor matter?

You should know what it feels like. In fact, every person in the GLBT+ community should know how it feels like.

• Homophobic laws and governments tell us all the time that “gay families don’t exist“
• They tell us that “gay marriage isn’t a thing“
• They tell us that “there’s not such a thing as a family of gays“
• They say that Transgender people don’t exist, and that they are psychiatrically sick

The list could continue.

As an Old Guard Leatherman, who was raised since the age of 18 by my husband and Mentor, another Old Guard Leatherman, who was raised and formed by His Mentor back since 1968, I exist. The same applies to the other men who are part of this and other families; and I am sick and tired of the complete lack of kindness, sensitivity and inclusiveness that is sported by the woke scene so easily. I am also disappointed with the men who write to me privately, and they are a lot, asking not to be exposed, but voicing quietly their full support. Because this fear of isolation and being ridiculed, is the weapon glbt people have been punished with for centuries on. We should not be ridiculed and insulted by those who are supposed to be our own people.

When we read your words, we hurt. You are of course not the only person online and offline that targets our culture and lifestyle, but when it comes from you, it hurts in a different way. Because many people in the broader community look up to you with a sense of security and reliability and feeling protected; that’s after all, another one of the (I guess) stupid concepts of Old Guard Leather; the importance of integrity, and how makes older people in our community reliable, an important resource, and people that we should respect and listen to.

It hurts to feel cancelled from life, cancelled from what most young gay people experience Leather to be. I wouldn’t say that the problem is saying that Old Guard is bad, or is negative, or is toxic.. those are your opinions. Everyone should always be able to voice their own opinions. But saying that Old Guard Leather never existed is a lie, as not only “it existed”, but it exists now.

Houston, we have a problem. Let’s hope it all goes away.

Further on in his article, Race continues:

What I do know is that the old guard not existing is a good thing. It’s a good thing because I so often hear the contemporary kink scene compared to the old guard and it’s usually not a flattering comparison. Time after time I hear, often from people far too young to have been around during the supposed times of old guard, complaints that today’s scene just isn’t as good as the old guard era for some reason. I don’t think that’s healthy. Comparing today’s situation to something that didn’t even exist as mythologized seems foolhardy at best.

First it never existed. Then it existed but was very unfrequent, in the kind of circles Race used to hang out with. Then, it never existed again, because otherwise it would be a meter of paragon, a benchmark, to oppose to a real, factual situation that is presenting today.

Young folk is complaining that something’s missing today, something’s wrong, something is not satisfying and what they hear about Old Guard makes sense, and is desirable. Now, for that to be a good reason to “hope” that Old Guard never existed, is at least baffling. If anything, it should be the alarm bell of a situation that needs to addressed, to younger generation that should be listened to when they voice their discomfort, instead of feeding them more of the same, and calling it a day.

Race, it’s not 1970 any longer.

• We don’t need more sexual liberation. We couldn’t have more, and we are all more and more empty.
• We don’t need more de-structuring of establishment. We need guidance and structure, because a life with no structure is sucking so many young people in a spiral of depression, substances abuse, and loneliness.
• We don’t need more parties and dating apps where we robotically ask “can u host”? We need the connection, the intimacy, and the rush that “taking off the mask” used to give.
• We don’t all need to move forward in a problematic situation. Maybe, there’s something that got lost in the past, that is still valuable today. After all, progress is fundamental, but not every movement is progress. Old Guard values have to do with the roots of what defined hierarchy, camaraderie and honor in the last 2.000 years of western culture history. Maybe it’s not all to throw away, in the chase of the next circuit party?

Maybe the sense of values, the sense of discipline, the sense of respect and camaraderie, of actual brotherhood, of giving meaning to a journey that is supposed to build you up and teach you humbleness and respect, maybe all of these things are something often talked about, and almost never present in the “scene”.

Maybe it’s a good thing that youngsters fantasize and romanticize an ideal. Or maybe not. I’ll let the reader decide.

Old Guard Leather is more real today than ever

In fact, I would actually argue that the term “Old Guard Leather” makes way more sense today than in the past, because of the much clearer and harsh divide in terms of principles, activities, dresscodes and reason to be of what is the “Leather scene” today as opposed to what Old Guard buzzes about.

So, both me and most of my peers don’t partecipate to official events any longer since over 8 years, as we find that we are out of place there, and we have more fun at unofficial or private gatherings.

Doesn’t it make even more sense today to talk about Old Guard Leather, when we think about the differences in our way of living the lifestyle, and yours? Maybe it’s a lexicon issue, but I find it remarkably telling that you’ve decided to name “On Guard” the smokers event that you’ve founded with Mr Kristofer.

Of course I do understand that new generations have a really hard time accepting rules, discipline and having to earn something before pinning a badge to one’s chest. It’s almost impossible not being this way, in an era where there’s an app for everything, and where everything can be obtained just by paying, or showing up.

I also understand how having the most young folk on one’s side is important when being part of a pop community where being young is still so central. But is this what nourishes you? Is this what makes you happy and gives you purpose? Stomping on minorities for the sake of being glorified by the large numbers of youngsters in gear? Wouldn’t be more balanced to say that we all exists, and we all matter? Because Race, even before reading this open letter, even before coming to the knowledge of my existence, you knew there are other people out there believing in this.

So why do you use your influential power to damage those who are less strong than you?

A Symptom of not taking the Community Seriously

Another thing that is often unrecognized (aka: made fun of) is the fact that in Old Guard Leather we do have ceremonies, we do have rituals and we do have a deep love for the meaning of Protocols. This is not just Race of course, this is a widespread behavior that I’ve seen, as a quick example, also by Nigel W. , director of BLUF, and many others.

While on the personal side, it feels like being back at middle-school, bullied by the large numbers because you are the minority, and again it’s embarassing to think that in 2024 this is the state of normalized behavior in our community, there’s more to it.

I find this to be a very loud symptom of something that comes from internalized homophobia. Because after all, Old Guard Leathermen are called outdated and sexist, but in today’s community you can:

• you can wear a wig
• you can wear drag
• you can wear leather
• you can act freeky
• you can be sleazy
• you can bugchase or spread bugs and boast about it
• you can collect money for reinforcing low self esteem in strangers (findom)
• you can snap fingers and be bitchy
• you can be they, them, and invent a gender overnight
• you can be whatever you like. But don’t you dare taking things too seriously.

It feels like everything that a gay man is allowed to do is supporting partying and decadence. Seemingly it’s ok to support events, websites and clubs where (if we’re being honest) we know there’s very little about brotherhood and mutual love, and much more about capitalism and ignoring serious problems like chemsex, depression, or the complete lack of interest of young generations for health and STIs.

But goddamn, don’t you dare to have rituals, ceremonies and principles you want to live by.

Because according to this behavior, a lifestyle based on honor, rigid rules, discipline and traditional meaning of manhood, is wrong for you. You should only party, you should buy the ticket to the event, and you should buy your new strass harness, and shut the fuck up.

And, I’m sorry, this is not the “progress” you strive so much for. This is an old concept where being gay is being ONLY a walking sex act, and that anything outside of this, is not for us. This is not progress. This is something that comes from a very long time ago.

An open letter, an open conclusion

Race has been writing to me on Recon since 2019; to every message, I have responded politely, but we never really talked or had a followup. I was always very confused by these approaches, given that his positions about Old Guard Leather are very clear since a long time (I believe I have read similar content from him dating 2009), and that my profile on recon is ALL about Old Guard Leather.

I have been open to have a zoom chat or something like that to confront our different experiences, and to disclose any information revolving around how Old Guard Leathermen today live (at least, these Old Guard Leathermen). I believed there is growth where as a community we are able to avoid the horizontalization of everything, and we are able to value, recognize and protect our differences, while not being enemies at each other.

Unfortunately, while I was available to clear my very hectic agenda to have a talk, he declined, stating that maybe after his smokeout trip, he would consider this. Smokeout has finished since weeks, and we’ve not heard, back, so we believe that he has nothing to say, as he stated.

I have to admit that it’s really hard not to feel like we are enemies, when I read “it never existed, and here’s why it’s a good thing”. Because you’re not just stepping on what matters to me the most; you’re stepping on my boys, on their bravery, their courage, the men I’ve trained, and the men who’ve trained me, including those ones that are not here any longer, and who are sorely missed.

LUPUS