In Memory of Tony DeBlase
1942-2000
And Still the Flag Flies
Now listen my Family, let all gather round
Let the call now go forth, to both city and town
As with tears in our eyes, both Masters and slaves
Bend their knees and give honor, at the side of a grave.
A Leader has left us, one who showed us the way
One who created an image for both the straight and the gay
For the Master, the slave, the top, bottom or switch
At the sight of this flag, each knew their nitch.
A Flag of a Nation, waving strong, proud and free.
A Nation of Honor, and of proud bended knee.
It flies in the Darkness to welcome those in the Life,
Offering safe haven and shelter in a world filled with strife.
But the creator of this Banner, he lies there so still
His journey now done, he has walked the last hill.
He is laid to his rest...to his final deep sleep...
With rest now his mission...and peace he shall reap.
But the Flag...the banner, it continues it's Task
Although on this day...it is flown at half mast.
To welcome and teach and encourage the new
Be they as tough as old boot leather, or as fresh as new dew.
Some say the black and the blue stand for Leather and Denim
Others say it's the bruises, and the pride with which they wear 'em
The white stripe...that's purity, the red heart...that's love
That some express with the scream of an eagle...
and others with the coo of a dove.
So fly the Flag proudly, be ye Gay, Straight or Bi...
As a symbol of a Love and of Family, that never can die.
For as we love ourselves and care, each for the other
He will look down and smile, for we are both a Nation...and brothers.
By SirWolfr1
Copyright 2000
All rights reserved
This poem is dedicated to the memory of Tony DeBlase...creator of the Leather Nation Flag.
Rest in peace my Brother...and know that the Flag shall fly on.
On May 28, 1989, at the International Mister Leather contest in Chicago, Tony DeBlase presented his design for a Leather Pride Flag. In an editorial in his Off The Top column in Drummer 131, written before DeBlase's trip to Chicago but not on the newsstands until afterwards, he explained something of how the idea and design for the flag came about.
"The rainbow flag has become the symbol of Gay and Lesbian pride, and I have been proud
to wear it on my clothing, march behind it in parades, and hang it from
my balcony. I was thrilled by the rainbow-colored balloons used in the
opening and closing ceremonies of Gay Games II and the spectacular rainbow
of balloons that arched over the main stage at the G&L pride rally
here in San Francisco a couple of years ago. For the 20th anniversary
of Stonewall, I felt that the time was right for Leather men and women,
who have been participating in these same parades and events more and more
visibly in recent years, to have a similar, simple, elegant banner that
would serve as a symbol of their own identity and interests. I decided
that calling a committee meeting to design it would be
counterproductive, so I just did it. I consulted with most of the staff here
at Drummer, and some of their suggestions were incorporated. I do not expect this design
to be the final form, but[rather] the basis from which a widely accepted
banner will evolve."
--Tony DeBlase
May 1989
--Tony DeBlase
May 1989
As we all know... the rest is history. "The flag was so popular and so welcomed by all
in this life style, that it has remained as it was presented that first
day in May 1989." Thank you Tony, for giving us all a flag to represent
a pansexual community. "Tony would never interpret what the colors
in the flag or the design stood for to him, but always left that up to
the individual to interpret it for themselves."
--cajunrose
July 2000
--cajunrose
July 2000
