A Call to Change

Gods that feels good. Oh you thought I meant sex! no I meant change!  I think change for  this community is hot. I love educating and advocating for change. I think the world could use a ton of it, especially in this political climate. But far too frequently what I  hear is "look how far we have already come", "It's not my job", or my favorite "how come they  get special treatment?"

Change isn't hard but it can be uncomfortable when you are being asked to share space with who or what you might not understand. It can feel like sacrificing something of yourself to welcome people who don't fuck or think or look like you. And it can feel down right threatening when folx on the margins are asking you to step aside so that they may stand in the spotlight.

Change has happened but it needs to happen faster. I am advocating for an evolution revolution because while this community has changed in the last 25 years, for those of us in marginalized communities it seems like people take small steps and want to be credited for giant leaps. 

We simply need more change. We need to include MORE marginalized groups, vs focusing on one or two. Not only does it ignore the almost universal intersectionalities that folx have, it makes events and organizers feel like they only have resources to help THIS group but not THAT group. And while all of our resources are finite, I think if we were more deliberate, and discerning with how we allocate our resources we could make huge advances towards equity and inclusion.

I love my Leather community and I ask all of you to advocate and fight for your marginalised Leather siblings.  Let's make harder, faster, more a rallying cry for the evolution revolution we need to change this community.

Speech presented as part of the International Person of Leather Competition in March of 2024.