Its Origins, Traditions, Mystique & Rules

by Guy Baldwin M.S.
Author of "TIES THAT BIND

Part 2

Most importantly, these features of the military mind-set joined with kinky interests and became erotic in and of themselves became fetishes. These men then were the original "0ld Guard," and so it will come as no surprise that their quasi-military rules of inclusion and exclusion still influence kinky society today.

So what exactly were the (unspoken) "Old Guard" rules? Here are a few of the more important ones that had prevailed by 1970:

About Attire

• Always wear boots, butch ones, and preferably black
• Always wear a wide black leather belt plain, not fancy
• Never mix brown leather with black leather
• Never mix chrome or silver trim with gold or brass trim
• Long pants only, Levi's or leather, and no shorts
• Chaps indicate more commitment than Levi's, and leather pants more commitment than chaps, especially when worn consistently
• Leather Jackets must have epaulets (bike riders excepted)
• Head gear is reserved for Tops or experienced or heavy bottoms only
• Bottoms may not own collars unless a particular Top has allowed that bottom to be the custodian of the Top's collar. A bottom wearing a collar is a slave, and belongs to the owner of the collar who, presumably, has the keys.
• Other Tops are not to engage a collared bottom in conversation, but other bottoms may do so. Should such a relationship end, the collar must be returned to the Top
• Never touch the bill of a bike cap, including your own
• Never touch another man's cap (or head gear) unless you are very intimate friends or lovers
• Keep studs and other decorations to a tasteful minimum unless they happen to be club insignia
• Never wear another man's leather unless he puts it on you
• Leather, other than boots and belt, must be 'earned' through the achievement of successively challenging 'scenes'
• Wearing gloves is reserved for heavy players, glove fetishists or bike riders
• Always indicate SM preference, only with keys left or right
• If you are cruising seriously, wear the keys out; if not seriously, tuck them in a back pocket
• Always indicate strictly leather sex or 'rough sex' interest by wearing no keys at all
• Those who 'switch' are second class players and not to be taken as seriously because they haven't made their minds up. If you must switch, do so in another town
• 'Full' leather is reserved for after 10:00 P.M. only and only with 'our own kind'
• Respect the public by wearing less of it during the day--don't frighten old ladies (l did once by accident), or anyone else for that matter

About Socializing and Cruising:

• Experience in the Scene determines social seniority (Top or bottom), not age, not size, not amount of leather worn, and not offices held in organizations, awards received or titles won
• Tops and experienced bottoms should be accorded higher respect and deference unless and until they behave rudely--all are expected to observe rules of social courtesy-bad manners are inexcusable and can lower one's status in the Scene (thereby reducing access to the Knowledgeable People for information or play)
• Real Leathermen keep their word: they do not borrow or lend money; they conduct their affairs with honor and integrity-they don't lie Preliminary social contact should be on the formal side 'Senior Persons' (Top or bottom) are not to be interrupted when in conversation
• Experience being equal, Tops lead the conversation Junior Tops defer to Senior Tops and Senior bottoms in social situations Junior bottoms defer to all others in the Scene but not to outsiders When walking together, bottoms walk half-a-step behind and to the left of Tops with whom they are involved or playing
• It is up to the Top or the experienced bottom to extend a hand to invite a handshake. (All touching is highly restricted during initial contact between strangers.) NEVER over-indulge in drugs or alcohol in public, or otherwise attract scornful attention to one's self--to do so brings dishonor on the men in the Scene
• Tops should always have the first two opportunities to make verbal or physical contact
• The more submissive one is, the less direct eye contact one makes-glance frequently at or stare at His boots only when cruising; less so in non-sexual conversation. The more dominant one is, the more direct the eye contact is unless there is no erotic interest (cruising only)
• Men in the Scene do not discuss (or write about the Scene with outsiders. All men in the Scene must be able to spot outsiders with the 'right stuff' and be ready to facilitate them into the Scene after they indicate sincere interest. None of these rules are taught or explained to anyone except by innuendo, inference, or example Erotic technical information is only shared among peers maintain formal and non-committal relationships with those outside the scene; avoid contact with feminine men. Women are not allowed although Senior People may occasionally have intellectual or brief social relationships with the occasional qualified kinky woman, but only in private

Very few men maintained full compliance with all these rules all the time, and some, flatly refused to follow rules they personally objected to. But, to be included one was expected to follow at least most of these rules most of the time. Also, confusingly, there was some variation in some of the rules depending on what city you happened to be in at the time. The list above is not complete although it conveys the sense of the style.

Understandably, a certain stiffness surrounded the men who followed these rules, just as a certain stiffness surrounded the military men of the era. Those who sought inclusion had the challenge of finding a relaxed and easygoing way to follow rules. However, this required considerable social skill and many kinky people lacking those skills (or patience) simply gave up and accepted a frustrated role on the fringe.

As time passed, there were more and more guys in their twenties whose early sexual development had not been influenced strongly by contact with the military. Therefore, they lacked the early raw material with which to fetishize the military features of the '0ld Guard' leather/SM scene. Still, they needed information and experiences to help shape the urges of insistent kinky longings.

These people were essentially without resources until the establishment of kinky organizations brought about new educational opportunities that were not bound by '0ld Guard' rules. Consequently, there is a lot more support now for new people coming into the leather/ SM scene who have other ideas (non-military) about what is hot. Long hair, rockers with wild designs on their jackets, road racing bikers with brightly colored leathers, leather faeries, skinheads, women and others now are found on turf once dominated by the '0ld Guard' system'.

So, 'Old Early Guard' or perhaps thought of as 'Early Guard" or perhaps 'First Guard' because that style makes sense given the erotic influences that shaped the inner lives of the men who were coming of age sexually at that time. The Old Guard made some real contributions and made some real mistakes, and still does both.

It is more useful to understand than to criticize. And, perhaps most importantly, what the Old Guard did for the development and expansion of kinky life and butch gay male sexuality can best be appreciated against the backdrop of what had existed earlier--not much of anything!

But remember this, as long as we have a military, and a paramilitary police system, and as long as that military has traditions of initiation, ritual, inclusion/exclusion, honor and service, there will always be an '0ld Guard.' Its size and influence in the leather/SM scene will probably always be proportional to the role played by the military and other paramilitary organizations in society-larger following wartime and smaller during peace. I thought maybe you'd like to know.

Guy Baldwin M.S.