Leather and kink have always been part of queer culture, but they are often pushed to the edges of mainstream Pride narratives or treated as something queer communities should hide.

For this Radiothon episode, Jon, Joenas and Craig are joined by Johnny from Melbourne Leather and Liam Clark, Mr Australian Leather 2025 and the first Melbourne Rubberman, to explore why leather communities need queer media platforms—and why independent queer media needs community support.

Johnny takes us inside the work of building leather community locally, from welcoming newcomers and creating events to education, mentoring, fundraising and maintaining safer community norms. The conversation looks beyond the jackets, harnesses and boots to the values of service, respect, care, tradition and chosen family that hold leather communities together.

Liam reflects on representing Australia at International Mr Leather, returning to titleholding after his time as Melbourne Rubberman, and what it means to carry a community title as a form of service, visibility and advocacy. He also discusses the personal impact of representing his identities and community on an international stage.

Together, the guests challenge “No Kink at Pride” arguments, unpack the difference between thoughtful conversations about public context and attempts to sanitise queer life, and consider what is lost when leather, kink and sexual liberation are edited out of queer history.

This episode is also a celebration of what JOY makes possible: nuanced, funny and community-led conversations in which queer people can speak for themselves. This Radiothon, support independent queer media and help keep the full breadth of queer life on air—including the proud, complicated, adult and unapologetically kinky parts.

However you get your rocks off—get off with JOY.

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au