Leather Harness, Jockstraps, and Fetish Wear for Gay Men
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Fetish wear - such as leather harnesses or jockstraps - is a huge part of gay culture. It's safe to say that it goes beyond roleplaying games, BDSM adventures, or sexual acts. It can also mean freedom of expression and a protest against gender norms in society. Gay men have chosen to embrace clothes and accessories that were once classified as exclusively heterosexual and made them their own.
In this guide, you'll learn about the history of the leather harness and the jockstraps in gay culture. But also find a few special products for you to experiment with or renew your wardrobe!
Leather Harness in Gay Culture
Harnesses are a popular item among gay men at kinky parties, pride festivals, and, of course, Halloween! This "trend" dates back to the 1970s, when the accessory started to be seen with more frequency in gay bars around the world.
The leather became part of the gay community after the World War II, when servicemen who were interested in same-sex encounters found a safe space in motorcycle clubs. As you can imagine, leather clothing was always a huge part of motorcycle clubs and one thing led to another.
After the war, a lot of servicemen came back to the United States with a mind more open to sexual activities. It's said that many of them had been introduced to Japanese rope bondage, a kind of BDSM involving ropes that reminds the contemporary harness.
The image of a strong guy wearing leather was popularized by Touko Valio Laaksonen, better known as Tom of Finland. The artist created a series of drawings portraying hyper-masculine guys as a way of creating homoerotic art during a time when drawing men having sex wasn't allowed. Tom, who died in 1991, produced over 3,500 illustrations and inspired generations of queer artists. Scott Erickson, the founder of The Leather Journal, believes that “when someone wears a harness, they are wearing a symbol of censorship.”
Jockstraps in Gay Culture
The first Jockstrap was invented in 1874 by C.F. Bennett of Sharp & Smith, a sporting goods company in Chicago, when it was called “bicycle jockey”. It was created to give extra support when pedaling over cobblestoned streets. Over the years, the underwear became popular among players of rugby and American football, and now it's a must-have item for every gay man.
Jockstraps are comfortable and sexy and it makes your behind parts look great. In the Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality, and the Meaning of Sex, the writer Brian Pronger describes jockstraps as a “metaphor and reality” of American masculinity, that is now being contested and transformed by gay culture.
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