The controversy surrounding John D. Weal’s new book, The Leatherman’s Protocol Handbook, highlights the abundance of misinformation about the Old Guard™ circulating in our communities. To set the record straight, here are some Twue facts about the hallowed history of Old Guard™ Leather:
- In the 50s and 60s, gay WWII vets living in San Francisco were drawn together by a shared interest in what would become the foundations of the Leather lifestyle: forming committees.
- Many of the first Leathermen rode motorcycles because they couldn’t afford unicorns, the preferred mount of the Old Guard™.
- Most Old Guard™ Leathermen weren’t interested in BDSM or even sex. That tradition continues today, as most Leather clubs still require their officers to sign abstinence pledges.
- The first Leather clubs had complex rules for how patches and pins were to be arranged on club vests. Though these rules have fallen out of fashion in today’s Leather clubs, they now form the basis for the T.G.I.Friday’s employee handbook.
- Based on the boot impressions found in the layers of petrified Crisco at the Catacombs, archaeologists have concluded that Old Guard™ Leathermen always wore mismatched boots, often in two different sizes.
- As the Old Guard™ was a direct offshoot of the temperance movement, Leathermen never played under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In fact, Leather bars only served water or Kool-Aid.
I would be appreciative for links to reviews of the author’s works that are written by credible sources. I am not leather. I am a fetishist. However I am interested in understanding the evolution of the leather scene and the elements thereof that I have interest in (protocol, hierarchy, community vs independence etc). I’ve often considered the dichotomy of the “community” and “rebel/independence” to be interesting. It seems the current views are skewed too far to the “community” side of the spectrum. I wasn’t around Old Guard but it seems that their sense of “community” only surfaced when common goals required a larger demographic to achieve. Otherwise, it seems “community” was simplified as camaraderie at social engagements (bars etc.) Is this accurate? Again, links of reviews of the author’s works that you find particularly insightful and accurate would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
The double-sided pihneewl is that like a dual headed wartenberg wheel? That is brilliant didn’t realize they made those hopefully the middle part where you clutch it can handle a full fist or: ouch.
Found one by Guy Baldwin:
http://www.leatherati.com/leatherati_issues/2012/01/a-guest-editorial-review-by-guy-baldwinofthe-leathermans-protocol-handbooka-handbook-on-old-guard-rituals-traditio.html
And a rebuttal from the author:
http://www.leatherati.com/leatherati_issues/2012/02/version10-starthtml0000000167-endhtml0000019769-startfragment0000000457-endfragment0000019753-well-first-off-i-am-ver.html