What Leather Means To Me

Following is my pledge essay for La Garou. I ask that you forgive the rambling nature of it, as it’s meant to be more personal reflection than formal essay.

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When asked about what Leather means to me, the first few thoughts are a swirl. They’re a mix of something complex, beautiful, and rustic. Images of men and women robed in leather hats, pants, and vests, arms crossed as they stand at a crossroads, ready to guide those who are willing to learn. But here’s the catch: I know it hasn’t been all glory and honor-bound duty. There has been a fair share of blood and suffering to get us to where we are today as a whole, and it has not been lost on me. To me, the journey our predecessors have taken is just as important as the trail we blaze today. They set the rules and the protocols that guide many of us on our individual journeys, steeped in Personal Integrity, Honor, History, and, above all, a sense of Respect.

Personal Integrity. As a person, who but ourselves is to be held accountable for our actions? We were all taught about owning our actions as children. That consequences could befall us if something we chose to do reflected poorly on ourselves or someone we represented. More so now, with the way our world is changing, it is important that we own our actions, or a lack thereof, and take responsibility. I personally opt to live my life by owning my actions. Much like my predecessors, Leather and not, I choose not to kowtow to the popular opinion. I would rather live for myself and hold myself accountable for the decisions I make.

Honor. To be able to represent myself and/or an organization is to wear the responsibility bestowed as a badge of honor. It is me, not a shadow or a representation of myself, that has been chosen because someone has seen something in me that is valuable. It is a mark of pride to be able to hold my head high with my eyes forward and meet the gaze of another. Pride and honor, for me, walk hand-in-hand in that if I do not take pride in what I am doing, there is no honor in doing it.

History. The Leather culture is full of history that is more than books on a shelf. It is the sense of ritual that we clothe ourselves in when we go to meet one another. It is the strong, booming voice of the leadership that resonates from the walls of our local clubs. It is the story we hear that is passed down through the ages, conveyed in both spoken and written form. It is the reminder that we had a beginning, we are creating our path for the present, and those following in our footsteps will follow our trails and branch out to find their own way in the future. The rituals of the past meeting with the new perspective we bring now.

Respect. What everything boils down to is respect. Respect for one’s self. Respect for one’s peers. Respect for those who have come before us and have much to teach us. It is because of this respect that I do not currently own a leather vest. I grew up having a strong respect for protocols and rituals, and having had the opportunity to learn, at least a little bit, about the struggles of those who came before me, this is my small way of showing them respect. As is the desire to get involved with and give back to the community that helped me define myself further. To earn one’s leather is to go through a series of trials and a period of personal development to earn the respect and trust of your group. To be granted your group’s colors shows that you are capable of living your Life with respect to the organization’s code of conduct and to hold yourself to a higher standard – that you have shown that you have the respect of your peers.

Though I’m young, I’m a little old fashioned when it comes to things like this. I believe that you have to work your way up, showing that you are committed to an idea or a group of ideas. To learn the pack’s rules, as it were – play, work, and live by them –, and still retain your voice. Let them guide you into something – someone – better. To find family within those with whom you share bonds not of blood, but of a common goal and purpose. Because, once you find your place among those like yourself, you will become better overall. They will encourage you in your growth and development, and you’ll do the same to those who follow after. This is what Leather is all about for me. The community of siblings who you may or may not have ever met, but you innately know that you belong with them because you are there for one common goal: the preservation of a culture steeped in Integrity, Honor, History, Respect, Brotherhood, Duty, and so much more.