Leatherfolk: Radical Sex, People, Politics, and Practice

Since its publication, this Lambda Literary Award-nominated book has become a classic must-read on the shelf of books addressing human sexuality and identity. Widely cited as among the most useful books of its kind, Leatherfolk is both historical witness and provocative treatise regarding a distinct subculture that has withstood decades of political harassment and other challenges to its survival.

Spanning the decades from the 1940s onward, this collection of vibrant writing documents the many eras and shifts of attitude that have affected the gay and lesbian leather underground, and its influence on the society beyond.

This book is a collection of writings by men and women who share little in common other than the desire to explore taboo realms and intense erotic experience. In fact, this is the first co-gender, nonfiction anthology to address the complex and sometimes unspeakable topic of sadomasochistic sexuality and the subculture that has formed around it. As a result, Leatherfolk is about many things, including the formation of a rapidly growing community within today's gay world and the meanings of seemingly incomprehensible sexual acts. The style of writing covers a spectrum as well: historical memoir, social commentary, and personal testimony. - Mark Thompson, Author

A classic text exploring the history, culture, and practice of the queer male leather scene. Like many of the classics, this book is a product of its time, and may not reflect current language or explore all modern cultural practices. Nonetheless, we can explore our history while looking towards the future!