BDSM represents a number of patterns in consensual human behavior, including such practices as bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism.
These activities can be engaged in by partners of different sexual orientation and preferences. Thus we can speak of gay bdsm in the context of bdsm subculture.
Gay bdsm is actually the manifestation of homosexual relationship and just like bdsm between straight-oriented partners, it is characterized by role division into submissive and dominating as well as top and bottom players. However, the latter terms are sometimes considered to have negative connotation, so in gay bdsm they will be substituted by words pitcher and catcher or simply active and passive. Similarly to straight bdsm, gay bdsm allows switching of both physical and psychological roles depending on a particular situation. Yet here a word should be said about the origins of gay bdsm.
As in 1972 the Leatherman's Handbook by Larry Townsend was published defining etiquette in gay bdsm relationship, it was prescribed for the Old Guard members to follow strictest formality and observe hierarchy based on military ranks or levels, etc.; and to switch roles was prohibited. However, the New Guard generation which emerged in 1990-s slackened this discipline and became open for people with wider views. Gay bdsm cafes were established and there appeared separate gay bdsm communities on the web that made it possible for homosexuals to meet, communicate and enter into new relationship freely.
Gay bdsm is often associated with leather subculture. Indeed, it was after the World War Two that some servicemen on bikes wearing leather jackets began to unite into groups, and only decades later gay bdsm clubs gradually evolved to be pansexual. On the whole, military uniform has always been associated with power, masculinity and domination and that is why it is so popular in the bdsm fashion. Some gay bdsm practitioners still use bandanas of different color to indicate what kind of sex they prefer.
The variety of specialized shops offer miscellaneous gay bdsm toys, including those intended for anal and C&B torture, such as vibrating anal bdsm toys, special dildos for gay play, male love dolls, and the like. Apart from these gay bdsm toys, traditional bdsm devices like harnesses, cuffs, whips and gags are used. |