Leather and Hyde: AFTAH Effects

Leather and Hyde

Odysseys and Observations
AFTAH Effects
by Debra Hyde

Disturbing Notices

When I compile entries for my Weblog, Pursed Lips, I encounter sexuality news from all over the world. Some of it, I marvel at. Some I find amusing. But one on-going news effort really has me concerned. An anti-gay group, the Americans for the Truth About Homosexuality, has singled out the gay S/M community in an attempt to destabilize and economically isolate the GBLT community from the rest of American society.

Chances are, if you're well informed about S/M community concerns, you've heard about the AFTAH's efforts. If not, let me clue you in. In the last year, the AFTAH has launched a letter and press release campaign, aimed at the gay S/M community.

The AFTAH completely rejects the concept of consensual radical sex.

In March 1999, the AFTAH contacted the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and urged them to divest themselves of all connections to the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) in the "interest of protecting homosexuals (and others) from harm." The AFTAH completely rejects the concept of consensual radical sex, preferring instead to point out that if the NGLTF didn't break connections with the NCSF that they must "stop calling organizations such as mine 'extreme' or 'radical.' As they say you can't have it both ways."

As best I can tell, the Task Force ignored the AFTAH's request.

[In July, AFTAH released damning public statements about the NYPD's recruitment efforts at Folsom Street East. -- James]

Then, in November of last year, the AFTAH staged a media event at which they presented video footage from Folsom Street Fair. In a press release announcing the event, they ranted against event sponsor Anheuser-Busch, saying, "Anheuser-Busch executives are hypocrites for putting forth an all-American image through their TV ad campaigns while ignoring calls by pro-family groups to stop promoting homosexuality and now sadomasochism."

Hmm. So alcohol consumption is an all-American activity? I think not. It's an adult activity, just like sex.

Soon after, in January, the AFTAH renewed their efforts by singling out Leather Weekend 2000 and calling on the media "to expose" the event. The group used the Washington D.C. gathering to point out "the prevalence of deviance in the homosexual subculture." Peter LaBarbera, head of the AFTAH, spouted in the press release, "If homosexuality truly were normal, you would not see supposedly 'mainstream' gay institutions like the Washington Blade and Lambda Rising bookstore celebrating violent and degrading sadistic sex."

Hmm. Notice how the AFTAH conveniently overlooks the fact that "deviance" exists among heterosexuals as well?

Reason for Concern

So why am I concerned about the AFTAH's efforts to single out gay leather? I have several reasons, actually.

First and foremost, their stance is patently wrong. It's intolerant, prejudiced, and mean-spirited. It's also grossly inaccurate. Sadomasochism isn't solely the domain of homosexual men and women -- hets do it too.

Their stance is patently wrong. It's intolerant, prejudiced, and mean-spirited. It's also grossly inaccurate.

But you'd never know that, reading the AFTAH's press releases. Het S/Mers are conveniently nonexistent and that just makes the group's scapegoating look all the more blatant.

Beyond the inaccuracies, I'm concerned that if the AFTAH convinces corporations to drop leather event sponsorships, the greater GBLT community will be next. It's possible that the AFTAH's real goal is the economic marginalization of the entire GBLT community. Gay S/M is simply the easiest starting point.

If the GBLT community is pressured to divest itself of S/M (which is tenuously accepted in many circles) in order to save itself, then the AFTAH will be further along its path to destroy GBLT economic strength and collective activism. It's an age-old divide and conquer strategy.

However, I'll be the first to admit that I question just how powerful the AFTAH is. Outside of their own press releases, you rarely see its presence anywhere.

Dr. Laura catching flak over her portrayal of gays and lesbians could give the AFTAH the leverage they need to become a nationally recognized presence. At that point, their S/M misinformation would go national as well.

The Gay and Lesbian Task Force has apparently been able to shirk off the group's attempt without any effort or affect. And, for the most part, the AFTAH hasn't garnered any significant media coverage.

That could change, though, and swiftly. Most recently, the AFTAH secured the media's attention by advising Dr. Laura Schlessinger not to cave into Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) demands as she moves into television. Let's face it: Dr. Laura catching flak (some of it from presidential candidate Bill Bradley) over her portrayal of gays and lesbians could give the AFTAH the leverage they need to become a nationally recognized presence. At that point, their S/M misinformation would go national as well.

But what's a straight person to do? That was, actually, the first question I asked myself. I've given it some thought and here's what I decided.

How to Act Out

First, all of my suggestions are S/M-based. They don't cover the current Dr.Laura/Paramount/GLAAD flap. So from that standpoint, let me say that the het S/M community needs to speak out and make their presence known - not because our GBLT brothers and sisters need us, but because we must tell the AFTAH that S/M sexuality knows no orientation. We can't let the AFTAH scapegoat gay S/M without a challenge.

And here's how you can do it:

First, stay informed. Get on every BDSM activist mailing list you can find. Bookmark web sites like Pursed Lips and Leatheropolis. Both sites list news stories as fast as we can find them and I promise to run AFTAH press releases and coverage at every encounter.

Join the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. Remember, the AFTAH already tried to drive a wedge between the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the NCSF and now they're going after GLAAD. The next time the group tries that tactic, the NCSF will not only have more dollars to fight for our freedoms, but our presence as members gives the NCSF ammunition to dispel the myth that sadomasochism is a gay-only passion.

I've heard people mention mounting and aiming a letter-writing campaign at the AFTAH. Don't bother. You're not going to convince them of the error of their ways. Rather, write to the mainstream sponsors of leather events and thank them for their support, especially if they've taken grief from the likes of AFTAH. Tell Anheuser-Busch (or any other leather event sponsor) that you're het, support sexual equality for all people, and are thankful open-minded corporations like theirs exist. Better yet, organize your friends and have them send letters. When masses of letters favoring corporate sponsorship arrive at a corporation -- believe me -- the public relations people notice.

If the AFTAH makes headlines in your local paper, write and comment on the matter. Tell them that S/M isn't for gay men only -- that hets do it too. Don't let any coverage that misrepresents S/M and marginalizes the GBLT community go unchallenged.

Attend leather events as often as possible. If the event is open to heterosexuals, go. Be a presence. If you see media cameras taping, get before their camera lens -- and do something completely normal. Kiss. Do a "Hi mom." Give them a silly mug shot. Believe me, you'll stand out because your normality is the last thing the media expects to see. And if you can get on camera for an interview, use that sound bite: S/M is for everybody.

When it comes to leather events, I will admit that I'm really sensitive to orientation-based spaces and I'm not

To stay silent in the face of intolerance is simply wrong and only adds to the injustice of intolerance. Don't let their views go unchallenged.

at all convinced the GBLT community "needs" our help. But to stay silent in the face of intolerance is simply wrong and only adds to the injustice of intolerance. So, if you know an event is gay or lesbian only, don't gate crash. Instead, be a man on the street. Be ready with that sound bite. Or have a picket sign handy if you know the AFTAH has established an outside presence there. Once again, don't let their views go unchallenged.

Personal Actions

Up until now, I've talked about what you can do to counter the AFTAH's actions. But it's easy to tell others what to do; what matters more is what I'm going to do. First, I'll continue to track the AFTAH and post their activities in Pursed Lips. My Weblog is perhaps the best way I can simply disseminate the news and activities of this group.

Second, I plan to dedicate the time and money to travel to one or two leather events this year. Sounds simple enough, but for me, it isn't. You see, I have a handicapped son and, as primary caretaker, travel is difficult for me. Either his illness demands my presence at home, or it forces us to periodically funnel what discretionary income we have into paying medical bills. Getting to even one event outside of my local scene would be a major accomplishment.

Last, I'm considering forming a mail list that would allow concerned S/Mers to respond to specific AFTAH actions. For example, if they single out a corporate sponsor, I'll provide contact information and prewritten letters that you can send to those sponsors as a way of encouraging them not to cave into the AFTAH pressure. Fortunately, I can do this kind of responsive action without compromising my family's needs here at home.

Interested? Watch this space for further developments.

All Together Now

While I'm not certain that the AFTAH is destined to become a great counteraction to gay and lesbian activism, I do not want to give them an edge by simply being inactive. And I can't let their S/M scapegoating go unchallenged. Further, I hope that heterosexual S/Mers care enough about personal freedoms to stand up and be a presence. After all, how effective can the AFTAH be if we dispel their basic messages of "S/M is a gay deviance" by making ourselves known?

And what might happen if we don't? In one of my angrier moments, I questioned that, thinking, "Kristallnacht in Castro?"

Only if we stay silent and complacent.

About the Author

Debra Hyde is a mostly submissive switch who lives in New England with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She says she is "well-owned and well-loved" by a very special Master, and shares a unique triangle with him and her somewhat submissive husband.

"When England Calls," one of Debra's short stories, graces the pages of the recently published Mammoth Book of Historical Erotica. She is currently working on a number of others, as well as the Great American Leather Novel. Her BDSM work has been previously published on the Internet by Leather Online and Section 12, but Leather and Hyde was her first regular column, originally hosted by About.com's BDSM site and relocated here with her kind permission.

Debra also maintains a personal Weblog called Pursed Lips and can be reached at 75222.2150@compuserve.com... but no junk mail or "Wannas," please.