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30 year old leather fetish organization - International Mr. Leather (IML) sent a letter this week revealing its plan to ban porn companies and other vendors who promote bareback sex from its popular leather market. According to thesword.com, the letter reads in part:

“Too many in our community believe HIV/AIDS is curable or manageable. Too few understand that HIV/AIDS infections dominate life. ... Several years ago when “Meth” was the scourge of our community, IML drew a line in the sand and raised awareness and used all our influence to try and stop this addictive madness. As is the case with HIV/AIDS, we believe it is our further obligation to do everything in our power to prevent future infections.”

This moved has raised the ire of some in the bareback porn industry. Folks are mad at what they describe as an effort by IML to censor bareback behaviors and control what consenting adults do in their own bedrooms. “PigMaster” from BareBackRT.com says:

“We see no difference between IML’s announcement and the U.S. Government saying gays must pay taxes but can’t marry or enjoy any of the rights associated with marriage.”

Former studio staple turned bareback porn star/producer Owen Hawk has taken to thesword.com to voice his objection to this move by IML. In his rant there and on the Dark Alley blog, Mr. Hawk says that IML is no position to “censor” companies that produce bareback media given the company’s history of hosting events where PNP and bareback sex are the norm. He also cites the absence of data that provides a direct correlation between bareback porn and rising rates of HIV infection among gay men. In making his last point, Mr. Hawk goes on to suggest that there is some kind of parallel between the growth in the bareback porn industry and the success of HIV prevention efforts aimed at gay men:

“In fact, in the time in which we have seen the largest increase in production of bareback porn, we have also seen “dramatic success” of HIV prevention programs. So the idea that there is some causative link between bareback porn and increasing infections is an emotional response that is not supported by actual surveillance data.”

Of all the opposing responses to IML’s decision, Mr. Hawk’s stand out the most. First, no one I’ve spoken to in HIV Prevention from Seattle to New York to San Francisco speaks of “dramatic success”. Rates of HIV infection among gay men have remained consistent or increased, particularly among young people and men of color. Second, the absence of data correlating bareback porn to HIV prevalence does not mean that there is no connection. I would argue that the increased demand for bareback porn is a pretty good indicator for what people are actually doing…or want to do. Are we to believe that individuals are demanding bareback porn more and more, but not engaging in these behaviors?

Money, Money, Money!

The use of words like “censorship” as well as comparisons of IML’s decision to the gay marriage fight is inaccurate and irresponsible. IML, as an independent organization, has the right to set limits on what folks are exposed to at events and during activities they sponsor. It’s that simple. They decided to take a stand. I can’t imagine that it was an easy decision as they will undoubtedly lose money. I suspect that the negative response is due in part to financial hardship this creates for porn companies and vendors that will no longer be able to attend IML events. The IML Leather Market provided an opportunity to promote products and make money and now they can’t do that. I would be upset too. For better or worse however, there is clearly a demand for bareback porn. What’s to stop bareback porn producers from creating their own events?

In a previous post, I wrote about our preoccupation with cum, the possible implications, and the responsibility of porn companies to address the possible impact their products may have on consumer behavior. As a standalone measure, IML’s decision will not change the direction of the epidemic among gay men, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.

Follow this link for the follow up interview with IML founder Chuck Renslow at TheSword.com.

Props to the Facebook friend who brought this to my attention and props to TheSword.com for their reporting.

Image Sources:
IML Logo,
Owen Hawk