I have been in and out of the kink community since I was 18, and here at 32 I am finally getting back fully into it, and in a rather big way, with a live performance on stage at a local kink event. I will admit that I was pretty nervous at first, getting myself prepped in the dressing room behind the stage. I didn't really know what to do with myself, stressing a bit over the smallest things, fussing over what little I was wearing, but also the adrenaline of anticipation coursing through my veins, and the thought of backing out never crossed my mind.

PROUD & Kinky is hosting leather title holders in 2025. There are four Las Vegas Leather titles that we are seeking nominations for: Mr. Las Vegas Leather, Las Vegas Person of Leather, Las Vegas Pup of Leather, and Las Vegas Bootblack. The Las Vegas Person of Leather will receive a more specific title characteristic of the individual, such as Mx. / Mrs. / Miss / Trans person of leather / Leatherboy / or whatever they feel fits them best.

The history of the leather community is as varied and, in some ways, as complicated as the LGBTQ+ community itself, even as a subset of the BDSM world. I spoke a bit about this last fall at The Las Vegas PRIDE Festival on the PROUD & Kinky stage when I gave a brief history (I called it a “Leather TED Talk”) and found that many of our community are unaware of where we came from.

As we step into 2025, we find ourselves navigating a political climate that feels more volatile and divided than ever before. History has shown that when conservative leadership takes the reins, the effects inevitably trickle down to marginalized communities, including our local kink circles. These challenges remind us of the critical importance of solidarity—working together, showing up for one another, and fostering spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated.