Opening Reception: 6:00-9:00pm, Saturday, February 1, 2020
From motorcycle clubs to the most intense BDSM, this story focuses on men creating bonds of brotherhood and engaging in transgressive erotic acts. This exhibition traces the history of these rebels and chronicles their victories and defeats including court cases, episodes of police brutality, and the formation of organizations for civil rights and sexual exploration. Freedoms have been won, but oppression still continues. How these "social deviates" learn to fight back is presented as a lesson to prepare for the current onslaught of censorship and theocratic repression.
This exhibition is guest curated by Thomas Trafelet. It is supported by the ONE Archives Foundation, Avatar Club Los Angeles, Gary Crews and the estate of Don Doyle, and the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries.
Image: (top) Val Martin wins Mr. Leather at Hawks Bar Halloween Leather Sabbat in 1975. Rocco (Pat) Photographs and Papers. ONE Archives at the USC Libraries.