Pittsburgh has a vibrant leather community with thriving social communities that will help you explore your leather-clad self and/or your kinkier side. Three Rivers Leather Club (TRLC), Barons of Steel, Arrow Events, Sadomasochist & Leather Assembly of Pittsburgh (SLAP), Steel City Pups, and other organizations offer a variety of events and camaraderie. The Pittsburgh leather community is also nationally recognized for its contributions to the scene. Several national titleholders hail from Southwestern Pennsylvania.
In January 2026, Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish Gage Ryder won the title of Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2026 at the Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend, held annually in Washington, D.C.
Ryder became involved with the Leather Community in 2018 after attending his first event, “Bears, Bikers and Mayhem,” in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ryder said, “My husband and I had a friend who was going to the event, and we decided to go with him.”
At the “Bears, Bikers and Mayhem,” Ryder bought his first harness. He said, “It was a braided leather harness. I wanted something unique, and I’d never seen a braided harness quite like the one I bought. It was an investment, but I decided to bite the bullet.”
After watching his friend Dan Bear win the title of Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather in 2023, Ryder said, “I want this!” He began pursuing his quest to win the title.
Ryder said, “The Leather Community is a lot like the Drag Community. One is masculine and about masculine ideals, and the other is about feminine ideals.”
Ryder found inclusivity in the Leather Community when he joined the Barons of Steel. Ryder, who grew up as a mixed-race child in Utah, in a community that was mostly Mormon. He said, “The Leather Community sees me for me.”
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Ryder isn’t the only newcomer making a big splash in the community.
At Steel City Fetish Con, Brad Dunlap garnered the title of Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Bear 2026. Dunlap dipped his toes – inside his pink leather boots – into the leather community in 2024 after a divorce. He was curious about the leather community. He said, “I was attracted to the masculinity, the sex-positive attitudes, the kink-positive nature of the community.”
He not only joined the community, but he also helped build it by organizing events. Dunlap’s title supports his efforts to shed light on the events he’s created, such as Bear Happy Hour, BARBI Bowling, and the Big Gay River Float.
Dunlap said, “I like to create safe spaces and build community.”
Michael Tikili, 2024 Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish, moved to Pittsburgh in 2019. Tikili, who moved with his partner originally from the region, joined the leather community to find his tribe.
Tikili is helping to make inclusive spaces for the next generation of the leather and kink communities. Tikili has been running Kink & Draw at True T Pittsburgh, where artists and people curious about the kink community come together in a playful, welcoming atmosphere to draw a model. Tikili said, “It’s important that our models are representative of the whole community, gay, lesbian, and trans.”
Tikili is an activist who focused his year as Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish on sexual health and wellness, bringing AIDS Free Pittsburgh into many of the events he hosted. During his year, Tikili organized a Gear Swap, a place for people to exchange their leather. He said, “Leather is expensive. If you don’t have a Leather Daddy to supply pieces, costs can add up. The Gear Swap was a night where you could trade clothes and get new pieces. We even had a policy that allowed you to exchange up to 2 items for others, regardless of their value or size. You could walk in with a leather arm band but walk out with a leather jacket.”
He hasn’t won a national or international title yet. Tikili finished in third place at IML (International Mr. Leather) in 2025. The ranking is quite high given the number of international participants.
Tikili offers sound advice for anyone new to the Leather Community or looking to explore it. He said, “You don’t need a title to be part of the community. Reach out and talk to other folks. Ask questions. Join an organization.”
Princess Lavender (also a stage name), who won the 2026 Iron City Pet title, creates inclusive events. Princess Lavender began her journey at a young age, but after several bad experiences, they were seeking safe places to explore their kinky side.
Princess Lavender enjoys pet-play and considers her SLAP community her leather family. They said, “I am a pet. I feel like a dog. [By exploring this aspect] I connected with myself.”
Princess Lavender said, “In my first competition, the Parade of Pets, I won Best in Show.” As Iron City Pet, Princess Lavender is planning a gear swap and collaborating on additional events.
They want to help educate themselves and others on ways to find a safe community space. They said, “I used to jump in headfirst. I have had to learn discernment.” They advise that newcomers should do their research, find a community, and discuss consent before diving in.
On April 18, Princess Lavender will facilitate an event at True T PGH called the Gauntlet, which will help newcomers bridge the gap into the leather and kink scenes.
Some newer spaces and organizations are open to all colors of the LGBTQ+ rainbow.
Camilla Queen, who once performed drag as Costa Lottabuckz, left drag, for the most part, when she transitioned. Then, she won Miss Pittsburgh Leather Fetish 2026. However, the former drag performer did not initially consider entering the competition. She said, “My friends thought I should enter it because I have some great leather pieces.” Queen added, “When I’m wearing leather, I feel confident, powerful, untouchable.”
Queen is only the second person to win Miss Pittsburgh Leather Fetish in recent years, after Brianna Serenity won the title when it was resurrected last year after an extended hiatus.
One of Queen’s first forays into leather was a pair of tall boots she had purchased for her drag act. Queen said, “Leather is its own kind of drag. It’s all high performance. It was so fun.”
Camilla will host Miss Club Pittsburgh on March 13, 2026.
All the titleholders stressed the importance of inclusivity, diversity, and the protection of safe spaces. Queen said, “The community is accepting, especially for people who are authentic and there for the right reasons.”