Send us a text What happens when leather, kink, and queer mental health sit at the same table? In this powerful episode of The Mindfully Gay Podcast, John and Jerry welcome "Mr. X," the current Mr. Leather Salt Lake, for a candid conversation about leather culture, BDSM, and why these communities are about so much more than just sex. Together, they explore how leather spaces can become powerful hubs for community, healing, and radical self-expression--especially for queer folks who have never felt like they truly fit in. Mr. X shares the story of resurrecting Salt Lake City Leather Pride after COVID and how the event has quickly become both celebration and service, raising over $10,000 for UAF Legacy Health. He traces the roots of gay leather culture back to World War II veterans in cities like San Francisco and Chicago, explaining how discharged and outed soldiers found belonging in motorcycle clubs, leather bars, and brotherhoods that offered structure, intimacy, and unapologetic sexuality. The conversation then moves into the heart of kink: bondage, power exchange, fetish, and BDSM as forms of radical sexual self-expression. Mr. X and the hosts talk about how some people use kink to reclaim power from past trauma and reshape old stories in a way that is conscious, consensual, and embodied. They emphasize the importance of enthusiastic consent, negotiation, and clear communication through tools like safe words, the stoplight system (green/yellow/red), SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual), and RACK (Risk Aware Consensual Kink). John and Jerry contrast this with hookup app culture, where boundaries and consent are often assumed rather than discussed. Mr. X explains how leather and kink communities can model healthier sexual communication for the broader queer world by centering education, ethics, and community accountability. He talks about local classes on bondage, spanking, fisting, and impact play that are designed to prioritize safety, sober participation, and emotional wellbeing. The episode also highlights the role of leather and kink communities in public health and advocacy--from Monkeypox vaccination drives and HIV/PrEP education to connecting folks with queer-affirming care at places like UAF Legacy Health. Throughout, inclusion is a constant theme: John and Jerry reflect on Leather Pride as a space where skinny twinks, bears, trans masc folks, and everyone in between are welcomed, seen, and celebrated. As Mr. Leather, Mr. X views his title as a responsibility: to fundraise, to educate, to mentor younger kinksters, to show up at rallies, and to use his privilege in service of marginalized members of the community. The episode closes with an invitation to anyone listening who feels curious, ashamed, or alone in their desires--reminding them that kink and leather spaces can be a gateway to deeper connection, better sex, and a more honest relationship with yourself. If you've ever wondered what really happens in leather spaces, how to approach kink safely, or how consent can transform your sex life, this episode is for you. Contact Mr. X: Ig: Mr.x.bound Slcleatherpride.com Uaflegacyhealth.com SLC-pride.com @mindfully_gay (Instagram)
