Photography: Prisma Compositional
Video: Paradox Productions
Interview: Paul Hofman
The ambassadors of Pride Amsterdam form a diverse group this year. Raymond Timmer is a striking figure who has earned his stripes as a representative for various foundations. To to everyone’s surprise the former Mr Leather Europe was chosen as an ambassador. “It’s so important to give something back.”
Like Youth Ambassador Justin, 45-year-old Raymond shares the experience of growing up in a strict Christian environment. Youth Ambassador Justin grew up in Rhenen, while Raymond grew up in Barneveld — both towns happen to lie on the edge of the Bible Belt. Neither of them is religious, though.
Flying
He had a wonderful childhood. “I was raised freely in a loving family. In my teenage years I realised I was ‘different’ and started experimenting sexually.”
After secondary school the young Raymond pursues his dream. From from an early age he wanted to become a pilot. He began his training at the Academy for Traffic Pilots. It was a gruelling period: the training was intensive. But Raymond enjoyed it.
After graduating he moved to the United States, landing successively in California, Florida and finally Arizona. The sprawling city of Phoenix became a warm blanket for him. In a short time Timmer discovered the vibrant gay scene, which quickly became familiar territory. The number of leather bars particularly caught his interest. As a boy he had watched the film Police Academy. He became fascinated by leather and uniforms. It was a revelation to him. Especially the exciting bodies of the actors wearing tight clothing — he couldn’t get them out of his head. And when he saw the erotic drawings of Tom of Finland, he was hooked. Leather stirred something deep in him.
“I lived intensely there. I formed great friendships and visited many Prides on the weekends. It was a fantastic time for me. I was able to develop in every way.”
A box
“Speaking of our Pride: it’s so unique in the world. In America Pride festivals are often held in parks where control is high. You’re contained in a fenced area. Here in Amsterdam you’re part of the city and can walk hand in hand. In the United States it’s different — you’re sort of put in a box. They’re a bit behind when it comes to the gay scene. Here you can be completely free.”
When he returned to the Netherlands in 2008 he by chance ended up at the Amsterdam café De Engel on the Zeedijk, just a stone’s throw from many leather bars. Within a short time he was behind the bar.
Fear
Cautiously he took his first steps into the leather scene. “I really had to overcome a threshold,” he admits. “No matter how you put it, people sometimes look at you a bit strangely.” He emphasises that despite tolerance, the fetish scene is pushed into a corner. “Many people don’t know what it’s about. In the LGBT scene there are so many differences across the spectrum. I notice there is often fear.” He therefore decided to work hard to combat that ignorance.
HIV
Last year Raymond featured in a poster campaign for the magazine Hello Gorgeous. It is no surprise he personally committed to that. “A few years ago I was diagnosed with HIV.”
It was a shock for him. He became seriously ill and suffered various complications. For a year and a half he went through a deep low. “To to my great sorrow I lost my pilot’s licence and my job as a pilot.” After the HIV diagnosis his partner immediately left him. His world collapsed.
Figurehead
That he is now serving as one of the ambassadors and can be a figurehead fills him with pride. He could never have imagined inspiring so many people. His schedule is already filling up rapidly. He makes time for his work as a Pride ambassador, he assures. “I can put the leather and fetish scene on the map. I’d like to build a bridge between two worlds. I notice we sometimes get strange looks within the gay scene. But there is nothing wrong with us as leather enthusiasts.” The tough guy in super-tight leather grins. As Mr Leather Europe he worked with heart and soul for the Rainbow Railroad project. “They help gay people in places like Chechnya and Brunei to escape persecution for being gay.” It raised a lot of funds. “It touches me that gay people are still being persecuted and that homosexuality is still illegal in many countries.”
Visibility
That the leather fetish is still taboo bothers him. “If we as a leather community keep pushing ourselves into corners and dark rooms, we won’t be visible.” And so you end up in a vicious circle: prejudices persist, making discrimination easier.” He is convinced that if you start the conversation, understanding will follow. He laughs loudly when he tells about the first time he went out in leather. “I was quite nervous. I went to a leather party and took the tram fully dressed in leather. I sat down next to a Surinamese woman who, without batting an eye, struck up a pleasant conversation with me. I thought that was wonderful.” For him, it should always be like that.
Leather feels good
Earlier, as Mr Leather Europe, he was the face of the leather scene. In that role he visited many countries and events. He is most proud of the reactions from men and women who previously did not dare to wear leather publicly and now do. It means a lot to him that his openness about his fetish has touched people. Leather simply feels good, he wants to say. “There is nothing wrong with it.” That there are fewer young people active in ‘his’ scene does worry Raymond.
“We need to breathe new life into it. The scene is ageing, partly because it’s an expensive fetish.
For young people that can be a barrier. The leather scene is for all shapes and sizes. Often there’s a misconception that you only belong in the scene if you’re muscular. An absolute misunderstanding.”
My message? “I want to show that everyone belongs. Everyone should be free to express their leather fetish in their own way. Live and let live.”
“VOLUNTEERING IS NOT OPTIONAL”
Pride ambassador since 2019
