Text: Paul Hofman
Photo: Remon van den Kommer
Video: Paradox Productions
Leather fetish advocate Suzanne van de Laar: ‘Take leather out of the taboo zone.’
When she was asked to be one of the 2022 ambassadors, she reacted in disbelief. ‘Amazing,’ she says with a laugh. It filled her with pride. The pansexual leatherwoman and formerMiss Leatherwill proudly take on the role, says Suzanne van de Laar (45). ‘Leather must be removed from the taboo sphere.’
With a cup of black coffee within reach, she launches into conversation enthusiastically. In daily life she is a photographer. She sees her work as a great challenge. Her portfolio includes portraits and funeral and wedding ceremonies. The purity and imagination of the craft appeal to Suzanne. ‘My passion has become my work.’ But Suzanne is much more than that: she is a mother, partner, council member, activist and above all an advocate for the interests of the leather scene within the LGBTQ+ community.
Woman, safe and sexy
She was seventeen when her fascination with leather began, she says. ‘I bought a pair of leather trousers.’ It felt so pure, tough and sexy. Safe too, it was like a second skin.’ She was hooked and the leather fetish slowly developed. Carefully she took her first steps into the leather world. Now no leather event goes by without her being there. The scene holds no more secrets for her. Recently she presented Darklands, a large multi-day European leather festival.
She likes to work behind the scenes. So she was greatly surprised when in 2019 she was chosen asMiss Leather Netherlands. ‘How happy I was to receive this title as the first woman.’ It was a crown on her work. ‘And that I can now add the ambassadorship for Pride Amsterdam makes me very happy.’
Leather isa lifestyle
‘It’s so important for her to be and remain herself.’ It forms the common thread in her life. That a taboo still lurks, she finds odd. ‘People think that the fetish world is mainly about sex, but that is certainly not the case.’ It’s mainly about being able to be yourself, Suzanne emphasizes. She finds the Village People songYMCAreally cliché. She has nothing to do with it.
She sighs that even within the LGBTQ scene she encounters prejudice. ‘I hate being put in a box. Having a label stamped on you, that I find so awful.’ She stresses that it’s important to eradicate those prejudices. They are so destructive, she continues indignantly. ‘As ambassador of the Pride I will work to give lectures about leather at schools.’ Activism runs in her blood. She was among the founders of the first Transpath in Europe, located in Almere. Suzanne is now an active council member for D66 in her hometown Almere.
Second skin
Suzanne explains: ‘From leather traditionally protects. At the same time that layer of leather can be a bit of a fetish; it has an aura, it smells nice, gives you confidence and is exciting. It radiates strength. Leather is simply so much more.’ She illustrates it like this: leather forms a second skin. I feel good in it. It gives people space to be themselves. Leather is sturdy and protects you from unpleasant remarks. It’s also about making connections; you connect more easily. It gives a good boost.’ She emphasizes that people in the leather community are involved with each other. ‘Leather is in my heart and bones. We form a community that is deeply connected to one another.’ She compares it to a family. ‘A lifestyle, really.’
Visibility
‘Leather women and fetish women still lag behind a bit. Precisely because the outside world has an opinion about it. That’s why visibility of women is so important. People quickly step aside for a ‘leather man’. A ‘leather woman’ often provokes disgust.’ But behind that toughness there is so much softness,’ Suzanne emphasizes. Being put in a box bothers her. She lost a number of photo assignments because she also does fetish photography. ‘
‘I always compare myself to a crystal. It has sharp points, but each time a different side is illuminated by the light. She eagerly looks forward to the Pride and her ambassadorship. ‘There is still a long road to go but we can and must do it together. ‘It can’t happen fast enough for me,’ she continues firmly: ‘Always be yourself. And be visible where possible. But you have to do it yourself. As a person I go for it. Period.’
Pride ambassador since 2022
Read the article about Suzanne van de Laar in Gaykrant
