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 presence who has earned his stripes as a figurehead for several organisations. To to everyone’s surprise the former Mr Leather Europe was chosen as an ambassador. “It’s so important to give something back.”
Together with Youth Ambassador Justin, 45-year-old Raymond shares that he also comes from a strict Christian background. Youth Ambassador Justin grew up in Rhenen, while Raymond grew up in Barneveld — both towns on the edge of the Bible Belt. Neither of them is religious, however.
Flying
He had a wonderful childhood. “I was raised freely in a loving family. In my teenage years I noticed I was ‘different’ and began experimenting sexually.”
After secondary school, young Raymond pursues his dream. From he wanted to be a pilot from an early age. He began his training at the Academy for Air Traffic Pilots. It was a demanding time: the course was intensive. But Raymond enjoyed it.
After graduating he moved to the United States, where he lived in California, Florida and eventually Arizona. The sprawling city of Phoenix felt like a warm blanket. In a short time Timmer discovered the lively gay scene, which quickly became familiar to him. He was especially interested in the number of leather bars. As a boy he had seen the film Police Academy.He became fascinated by leather and uniforms. It was a revelation for him. Especially the exciting bodies of the actors dressed in tight clothing stayed on his mind. And when he saw the provocative art of Tom of Finland, he was sold. Leather awakened something in him.
“I lived intensely there. I made beautiful friendships and visited many Prides on weekends. It was a fantastic time for me. I was able to develop in every way.”
Box
“Speaking of our Pride: it’s so unique in the world. In America Pride festivals are often held in parks with strict control. You’re contained within a fenced area. Here in Amsterdam you are 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 are behind when it comes to the gay scene. Here you can be fully free.”
When he returned to the Netherlands in 2008 he accidentally ended up at the Amsterdam café De Engel on the Zeedijk, just a stone’s throw from many leather bars. Before long he was working behind the bar.
Fear
Cautiously he took his first steps in the leather scene. “I really had to get over a threshold,” he admits. “People do sometimes look at you a bit strangely.” He emphasises that despite tolerance, the fetish scene is pushed into a corner. “Many people don’t understand what it’s about. There are so many differences within the LGBT scene. I notice that fear often prevails.” He’s determined to tackle that ignorance.
HIV
Last year Raymond appeared in a poster campaign for Hello Gorgeous magazine. It’s not surprising he took part personally. “A few years ago I was diagnosed with HIV.”
It was a shock. He became seriously ill and suffered several complications. For a year and a half he went through a deep low. “To to my great sadness I lost my pilot’s licence and my job as a pilot.” After the HIV diagnosis his partner left him immediately. His world collapsed.
Figurehead
That he is now one of the ambassadors and can serve as a figurehead fills him with pride. He never imagined he would inspire so many people. His calendar is already filling up at lightning speed. He assures that he will make time for his work as a Pride ambassador. “I can put the leather and fetish scene on the map. I’d like to build a bridge between two worlds. I notice we’re sometimes looked at strangely within the gay scene. But there’s nothing wrong with us as leather enthusiasts.” The tough guy in super-tight leather grins. As Mr Leather Europe he worked passionately for the project Rainbow Railroad. “They help gay people in places such as Chechnya and Brunei to escape persecution.” It raised a lot of money. “It moves me that gay people are still persecuted and that homosexuality is still illegal in many countries.”
Visibility
That leather fetishism remains taboo bothers him. “If we as a leather community keep pushing ourselves into corners and dark rooms, we won’t be visible.” And that becomes a vicious circle: prejudices persist and discrimination becomes easier. He believes that if you start the conversation, understanding will follow. He laughs as he recalls the first time he wore leather on the street. “I was quite nervous. I went to a leather party and rode the tram in full leather. I sat next to a Surinamese woman who, without batting an eye, had a friendly chat with me. I loved that.” For him, it should always be like that.
Leather feels good
Previously, as Mr Leather Europe, he was the face of the leather scene. In that role he visited many countries and events. He’s most proud of the reactions from men and women who previously didn’t dare wear leather openly and now do. It means a great deal to him that his openness about his fetish has touched people. Leather just feels good, he says. “There’s nothing wrong with it.” That there are fewer young people active in ‘his’ scene does concern Raymond.
“We need to breathe new life into it. The scene is ageing, partly because fetish gear is expensive.
For young people that can be a real barrier. The leather scene is for all shapes and sizes. It’s often misunderstood that you belong to the scene only if you’re muscular. That’s completely wrong.”
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
