I’ve done a lot of thinking tonight. And while that could be caused by any number of things including fumes from the hair dye …. I think the thoughts are still worth mention.
Bootblack Bella is International Ms. Bootblack 2013. She enjoys serving as a mentor and educator. She lives in Louisville, Ky., and her column runs monthly.
I had an absolutely surreal experience at IMsL this past weekend. I met nearly all of the Leather people I had hoped to meet at a single event. I saw intense fantasies that definitely had me wiggling in my chair. I spent time with an eclectic group of Leather men and women who reminded me that no matter how different I may be, I do belong. And yet, each time that people were called on stage or introduced, I noticed the same thing …. labels.
Labels can be handy little things when you’re trying to study for a test and need to mark the location of that tricky little fact that always eludes you. Or when you’ve piled 8 years worth of mementos in your garage only to find out that you packed your cell in box 5 of 9. They can even be useful when introducing people, to a point. But when we begin to split hairs by identifying as heterosexual Leather vs gay Leather, labels become a handicap.
The problem with labels is that they become like boxes. When you use labels to identify yourself, it’s a terribly short journey to using those same labels to define yourself. And suddenly, you’re not evolving anymore and you become stagnant. Remember, folks, stagnant water stinks and is a breeding ground for any number of pests, including quite a few that are deadly. If we stop evolving, changing, and accepting people within our Leather families …. we’ll soon find that people begin to feel the same about us.
My goal this year is to live a life without labels and to truly discover who I am. It’s a long journey, but I certainly have time.
<3
bella
#IMsBB2013
