Heathers in leathers: the thing I admire about leather queens is that, next to Star Trek fans, they are the most prop-happy people in the world. (notes from a blond).The flight attendant winked as he handed me the seat-belt extension. "Going in for the big convention?" he asked. We were about to take off for Chicago, home to a lot of big conventions, but I wasn't going in for any of them, so I asked which one was the big one. "You know--the leather boys," he smiled. No, I explained, I wasn't going in for that, and I hadn't asked for the seat-belt extension to satisfy my lust for straps and restraints either. Forget for a minute why this guy thought I was hell-bound for leather. The fact that he would mention such a gathering at all was more interesting. It's not exactly "Chicken or fish?" When I got to the baggage claim Noun 1. baggage claim - an area in an airport where arriving passengers can collect the luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided at O'Hare, I realized that the question had not come out of thin turbulent air after all. A small cadre of men wearing a large cache of chains, pierces, cuffs, and assorted sterling silver bling-bling were waiting for their no-doubt-distressed calfskin calf·skin n. 1. The hide of a calf. 2. Fine leather made from the hide of a calf. calfskin Noun fine leather made from the skin of a calf Noun 1. duffel bags. No wonder the line at the metal detector had been so slow. They were all headed for the Big Convention, probably in a specially rented squad car with luggage rack. The thing I admire about leather queens is that, next to Star Trek  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. fans, they are the most prop-happy people in the world, cheerfully lugging pounds of gear wherever they go. This is why we see so few of the bikers actually on bikes. Where would they put the wardrobe trunks? Turns out we were all staying at the same hotel, even though I was there for another event altogether, a tribute to a local show business personality with a history of Jewish philanthropy. Not quite the same crowd, at least not until members of one recognized members of the other late one night in the crowded hotel bar. The hotel, a massive old warhorse recently decked out with data ports and porno movies and all the hallmarks of the modem business center, was headquarters for the entire leather weekend. The Jews had taken over the grand ballroom, although it's fair to say that almost every room in the hotel was a ballroom that weekend. Since I seemed to know some of the leatherettes, I was a magnet for fellow Jews wanting to know what was going on. Most assumed it was a Hell's Angels Hell's Angels npl → Hell's Angels pl gathering and there would be violence. I assured them that a low-wattage slap fight Slap Fight is a 1986 vertically scrolling shooter arcade game by Taito. It takes its inspiration from Xevious (being vertically scrolling) and Gradius (from which it borrows the power-up system). was about the best they could hope for. The leather boys were too busy noticing each other and the spring season accoutrements ac·cou·ter·ment or ac·cou·tre·ment n. 1. An accessory item of equipment or dress. Often used in the plural. 2. Military equipment other than uniforms and weapons. Often used in the plural. 3. to pay attention to anyone else. And there were thousands of them to check out. The entire exhibition hail of the hotel had been taken over by makers of cock rings, nipple clamps, dog collars for unusually large breeds, industrial-strength leashes, and more. The agenda was jampacked, but a lot of people spent a lot of time just posing threateningly. This illusion was instantly shattered every few seconds by squeals of delight at seeing some other poser from some other conclave conclave In the Roman Catholic church, the assembly of cardinals gathered to elect a new pope and the system of strict seclusion to which they submit. From 1059 the election became the responsibility of the cardinals. . I don't think so many men in so many terrifying ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. looks had ever been so warm and sweet to each other at any time in recorded history Recorded history can be defined as history that has been written down or recorded by the use of language, whereas history is a more general term referring simply to information about the past.[1] It starts in the 4th millennium BC, with the invention of writing. . The hotel staff, which you might expect to be frozen in attitude or fright, was neither. "There were three other big hotels in the bidding for this," the club floor concierge told me. "We really wanted it. They drink and they tip, and, well, there are no children. You can't ask for better." There's always debate in the gay community about mainstreaming--becoming indistinguishable from straights. Nothing could be more distinguishable than this group of conventioneers, yet the entire enterprise has been embraced by every branch of commercial America. If nothing else, it sure is economic mainstreaming. Big-time. But I couldn't help wondering what it all means when a subculture built on Being an Outlaw suddenly discovers it's A Good Citizen. Are there hard-core leather boys swaggering around out there in John Rechy John Rechy, (born March 10, 1934 in El Paso, Texas), is an American author. His novels reflect his background as a gay man of Mexican-Scottish descent. Novels and other works Rechy is the author of the following novels and other works:
Martha Stewart (born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor and homemaking advocate. She is also a former stockbroker and fashion model. Leather Living? |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion