Cuddling on the
Wild Side

Executive Committee of International Mr. Leather has decided that it will no longer allow participation in the IML Leather Market by any entity which promotes barebacking or distributes/sells any merchandise tending to promote or advocate barebacking. [Source: Vendor Memo via Will Clark World]

Read the full article.

Picture yourself at IML 2010. You’re walking through the Leather Market, and you’ll notice that there are a couple of booths not there. Looking through the IML pamphlets and cards, you won’t see anything advocating barebacking. Stop in a hotel room, and the barebacking will likely be at the same level it has been in past years.

First of all, what’s wrong with barebacking? It greatly increases your chance of getting any number of STD including HIV. You could always of course trust the guy you met 5 minutes ago in the lobby when he tells you he’s negative. I don’t take that risk though. Then there is always the chance of getting pregnant… wait, wrong audience, but pulling out still doesn’t work in this case. Between men that are aware of all the risks involved, I don’t really have a problem with barebacking. My generation hasn’t been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the same way older generations have. For a lot of us, it’s just like walking across a busy intersection – you are pretty sure you’ll make it across safe.

The effects of this decision on the Leather Community are likely going to be relatively small. The same number of people are going to participate in barebacking. Porn studios may, but probably won’t, change their videos to reduce the number of barebacking porn they produce.

What are the effects going to be? Is it going to be good, or make barebacking something people feel ashamed of and have to hide?