Over the weekend of Oct. 16-20, ONYX celebrated its 30th anniversary with its Blackout 30: Homecoming celebration.
The event, which was largely held at The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, 163 E. Walton St., welcomed members and guests from its 13 chapters for a gathering of kinksters and leather people of color and their allies—all with the aim of fostering a safe space for connection, education, unapologetic pride and no holds barred play.
This year, the event celebrated its creation in Chicago with all five founding fathers in attendance for the first time in decades. ONYX “Pearls” were awarded to long-term mothers of the organization as well.
The even also included a detailed display by Vi Johnson of vintage periodicals and articles from The Carter Johnson Library, an ONYX University with an array of classes on sexual and kink health (everything from flogging, electro-play, piercing, spanking, naked yoga, Kimbaku, genital torture and anal play) and a variety of discussion groups. Representatives from Gilead and ViiV led health-focused discussions as well.
ONYX was created in 1995 by Musafa Ali, Nate Green, Steve Bailous, Wes Gibson, and David McGee to address the specific lack of space in the larger leather/kink scene for men and women of color. The original five were assisted through the years by the ONYX Pearls (Mama Vi, Jill Carter, Goddess Lakshimi, Lady D, Maria, Queen Cougar, Lash and Lady Cocoa) as the organization grew to include 13 chapters while having an impact at larger events like International Mister Leather and MAL.
The annual Blackout event has been hosted by other chapters, including the Southeast (Atlanta, Augusta and New Orleans), Northeast (New York), Mid-Atlantic (Fort Lauderdale, Washington DC), Southwest (Los Angelos) and Deep South (Fort Lauderdale).
The “prep rally” on Oct. 17 was an explosive event, with the participation of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Chicago Spirit Brigade, a rowdy roll call of chapters and the ceremonial candle-lighting circle.
Oct. 18 events included the health pavilion, the annual general meeting and a house party in the hotel’s grand ballroom.
Blackout 30: Homecoming was sponsored by Howard Brown Health, Milner Worldwide, ViiV Healthcare and Gilead.
