Leather Pride Flag

There is a range of fetish flags but the Leather Pride Flag is the best known. As such, it’s not just leather fetish lovers who have embraced it. People into denim, sado-masochism, bondage and domination, uniform, cowboys, rubber, and other fetishes all adopt it.

Creator Tony DeBlase presented the flag at the International Mr. Leather Competition in Chicago in 1989.

In part, DeBlase wanted to mark the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. But he also wanted to inspire others to design a permanent flag for the leather community – this was intended as a placeholder. However, the flag’s popularity spread rapidly and it’s still in use three decades later.

DeBlase was also clear that people should interpret the flag as they wished. And, indeed, they have.

Some have suggested black stands for leather and S&M lovers, blue for denim, white for newcomers to the fetish world and the red heart for S&M.

However, others have suggested a more ethereal interpretation. Black for permanence; blue for devotion, loyalty and community; white for purity and innocence; and the red heart for your lovers and community.

Tris Reid-Smith/GSN

What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Leather Community?

The leather community is a subculture within the LGBTI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) spectrum, as well as in the broader kink and BDSM world, centered around leather as a symbol of identity, aesthetics, and shared values. Members often embrace leather clothing and accessories as part of their self-expression and as a way to signal their connection to the community.

The leather community values principles like consent, mutual respect, and personal empowerment. It also has a rich history, emerging from biker culture and gaining visibility in the LGBTI+ rights movement. For many, being part of the leather community is about exploring identity, relationships, and sexuality in a supportive and affirming environment.