2020 changed us all.
Now it's time we drive...
deliberate, effective CHANGE.
Indigenous Voices
November 13th at 8 p.m ET
Join the Leather Solidarity Collective as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month. We will be hosting an Indigenous Panel - “Reclaiming our Narrative” featuring Karri Joe Plowman, Dominick, Bootblack Allen, and Hope Lythi as they share their histories and truth with us.
RSVP ➡️ TBA
Karri Joe Plowman (he/they 2Spirit): After retiring as non-profit leader and professional lobbyist… he was the creative talent behind Twin Cities Leather and the Leather and Latte café. They are now one of the last Native leather contest owner/producers running the TCL contest successfully for over 12 years. He has been active in the leather/kink world for over 15 years in the Twin Cities, Minnesota- belonging to several local and regional clubs including Chicago Hell Fire Club and the first Honorary Minneapolis T-Rexx member. He was the first person sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Ladies of the Lakes in recognition of his community work. He has also been recognized by the International Court of the Americans- Marcus Hernandez Leather Leadership Award. As a part of the Leather and Latte Team he helped them gain recognition as Lavender Magazine’s Small Business Community Award winner and Pantheon Small Business Award winner. Karri was recognized for his individual contributions with Lavender Magazine Individual Community Award winner in 2019. And has now written several columns for Lavender on leather community. Be it teaching classes, running pop up shops, or making really nice leather wear for our community, Karri is constantly contributing to the leather world. “I’m lucky everyday…I get to discuss, read, and think about leather and sex…how to make it fun, where we came from and where we are going. How we open and become a more inviting of a community while maintaining our rebellious nature.”
Bootblack Allen is a seasoned bootblack, educator, and advocate in the leather and kink communities. He serves as the Bootblack Coordinator and House Bootblack for Voodoo Leatherworks, President of the Council of Indigenous Leather, and is a member of the Doll House. As the devoted slave to his Master Kilot, Allen brings both skill and service to his workshops, emphasizing the intimate connections fostered through bootblacking.
Allen is also deeply committed to teaching about consent within bootblacking, highlighting the importance of communication and boundaries in the practice. A passionate advocate for Indigenous people, the trans community, neurodivergent individuals, and BIPOC representation in kink, he is dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive spaces. He works to amplify marginalized voices and ensure that BIPOC individuals have safe, affirming places within the kink world.
Allen co-hosts the Pups Podcast with his best friend Pup Locrian, where they discuss kink, identity, and advocacy, furthering important conversations around inclusivity and social change.
Dominick is a proud 2-Spirit Title holder residing in Montréal, Québec. He has been deeply involved community, dedicating over two decades to fostering connection, understanding, and support among the people.
He currently holds the title of Madame Cuir Montréal, a role he was honored to take on in 2019. This position allows him to advocate for inclusivity and representation within the leather and kink communities while celebrating the unique contributions of 2-Spirit individuals. His journey has also led him to become a bootblack, where he takes pride in the art and care of leather, as well as a Fire Keeper in Training, connecting him with the sacred traditions of ancestors.
In his professional life, he works within the urban Indigenous community as an Executive Assistant. In this role, he supports initiatives that empower the community and help elevate Indigenous voices in various spaces. Additionally, he serves as the Secretary for the Executive Board of the Montréal RÉSEAU Network and the Council of Indigenous Leather. These positions enable him to play an active role in shaping policies and programs that address the needs and concerns of the community.
He also serves as a caretaker for the Grandfather Drums, ensuring they are properly hibernated and cared for, a role that deepens his connection to cultural practices. His passion for history drives him to explore and share the rich narratives of the community as an amateur historian.
Dominick wears many hats within the community: as an Elder assistant, helper, community liaison, and workshop presenter, he strives to uplift others and create spaces for learning and growth. He teaches the Blanket Exercise, an experiential workshop that educates participants on Indigenous history and its impact today, as well as medicine bag making, where he guides individuals in crafting their own personal healing tools.
People can connect with him as domravyn on FetLife, where he continues to engage with the community and share insights about their shared experiences.
Hope Lythi (she/they) Is the founder of Kink School. She has a dream of spreading good education to others, especially in rural locations. She believes kink education should be available to everyone. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope joined Tiktok and promptly found the kinky side of things. Kinktok was missing much-needed education. She started making Kink Education clips for TikTok and started teaching classes over Zoom. Kinkschool was born! Before the pandemic, Hope took her experience from learning in Toronto (through Deviant Toronto, Second Circle, and Subspace Toronto) to start and host her local munch bringing kinksters from all walks of life, and levels of experience together in a safe environment.
She also taught the occasional in-person class at Deviant Unconference with a focus on mental health, intersectionality, and Fire Bottoming. These days she tends to work with other event hosts and teach them how to make their events safer and more inclusive. She recently worked to become a founding member of CoIL (council of Indigenous Leather) and advocates for indigenous representation in kink and leather spaces.
Meet The Leather Solidarity Collective
Amid the groundswell of the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests that rang loudly across the nation and the globe in 2020, a group of passionate folks in Leather, BDSM, and Kink Communities banded together to bring antiracist activism to our own Leather/Kink Lifestyle Community through a series of several virtual town halls—"Navigating Racism During Two Pandemics." Our 2021 efforts include a full 3-Day conference to celebrate People of Color and BIPOC Allies in Leather and Kink!