eBar.com – by Heather Cassell
As thousands of leathermen head to Chicago for this weekend’s International Mr. Leather contest, one group won’t be welcome at a Windy City gay SM club ? those who are transgender.
Leather transmen and their advocates are putting pressure on the Chicago Hellfire Club, one of the oldest leather and SM clubs in the country, to repeal its 10-year-old policy against female-to-male individuals.
According to David Igasaki, the immediate past president of the Hellfire Club and a member for 15 years, “The general rule of thumb is that there has to be a penal attachment.” This means that for transgender men to be invited to or considered for membership to attend the private play parties and events they need to complete convertive surgery.