• Log in
    PoliticsBusinessA&ETransgenderBisexualityReligionFamiliesVoicesVideo
    OUTPrideOut TravelerPLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    SubscribeSubscriber ServicesEmail Newsletter Signup
    CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    Advocate.comAdvocate.com
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    24 Photos of Leatherwomen by Carmelle La Sirena

    Christopher Harrity
    | 04/06/18

    24 Photos of Leatherwomen by Carmelle La Sirena

    What started as a hobby became a fetish and a passion for this queer artist.

    Spike, Karen

    Carmelle La Sirena is a conceptual artist, painter and photographer whose wandering heart has her living in both New York and Los Angeles. She began photographing "Leatherwomen" over 20 years ago as a way to explore and understand her own sexuality. What started out as a hobby turned into a fetish, and that somehow turned into an actual documentary affectionately known as We are Leather Women.

    La Sirena started out photographing gay men in Leather Bars at a young age. "I was drawn to the level of sexual charge, the tension and passion that gay men could display. It took me a long time to understand my own sexuality, because we as humans, we are so limited on conversations about what real sexuality and sex is. I understood the sexual drive the gay men had, and admired that. I wanted so badly to connect in that way and be part of that level of desire, so I would hang out at leather gay bars. Having so many gay men in my life, this gave me a safe place to explore that. I have been honored to photograph people of all genders, body sizes, and nationalities. I find beauty in everyone that I meet."

    Find out more about Carmelle's work and life on Facebook and Instagram.

    See the rest of the series: [1] [2][3][4]

    Yolanda

    "Humans around the world have been so conditioned to look at ourselves, our bodies and our sexuality through the dominant male heterosexual perspective which is suffocating and restrictive. I didn't realize how much I wanted to change that ideal until a few years ago. Really in the beginning, I wanted to capture how amazing I felt with my own lovers, with my play partners, and friends. In 1988, when I read Patrick Califia's book, Macho Sluts, and began having more access to alternative lifestyles, I knew that there were other women that felt the same way as I did. I began to ask various people in my life if I could photograph them, often while we were playing. I was deep into living a lifestyle that allowed me the ability to explore sexual power and desires, and I wanted to capture that on film for myself."

    Janet Ryan

    "Although much of my photography training and background was in fashion, I didn't want to always photograph the perfect model that fits in a tiny little corset. I was attracted to masculine women on motorcycles, but I didn't see many images of them out there, so instead I started turning the camera on my own life. I had a small photography show in the '90s and a woman at the show said to me, 'I now realize I am not alone. These are my people and I feel like I can connect with others.' That statement literally changed my life. I had never thought of my photography as life changing for anyone. My focus was to capture moments where people connect in their desire to empower each other through sex, but from a female perspective, my perspective. In the long run, you can not stop yourself from doing things because you're scared or because others are not going to like you. If you don't do what your heart desires, you won't like yourself. If you don't see the art you want to, create it."

    Issa
    Lamalani
    Melissa

    “Fire”

    \u201cFire\u201d
    Beau

    “Bootblacking”

    \u201cBootblacking\u201d

    “Boots”

    \u201cBoots\u201d
    Boi
    Justin

    “Play”

    \u201cPlay\u201d
    Naria
    Gwen CK
    Tiger
    Carrie
    Red
    Mistress Mir

    “Branding”

    \u201cBranding\u201d

    “Rope”

    \u201cRope\u201d
    Play, Amy
    Yolanda

    “LeatherDyke”

    \u201cLeatherDyke\u201d

    Carmelle La Sirena, © Wendi Kali

    Carmelle La Sirena, \u00a9 Wendi Kali

    Latest Stories

    Tan and Rob France
    People
    Badge
    gallery

    Queer Eye’s Tan France Welcomes Baby Number 2 With Husband Rob

    12h
    60 Photos of Your Favorite Celebs Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth at GLSEN Respect Awards
    Activism
    Badge
    gallery

    60 Photos of Your Favorite Celebs Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth at GLSEN Respect Awards

    16h
    Girls Like Girls, Stars Collide, and Leg book covers
    Books
    Badge
    gallery

    13 LGBTQ+ Books to Read and Enjoy Before Spring Is Over

    May 30 2023 11:00 AM
    Joe Locke and Kit Connor from Heartstopper
    television
    Badge
    gallery

    5 First Look Photos from 'Heartstopper' Season 2

    May 30 2023 8:00 AM
    Nico Tortorella, Janelle Monáe, and Brandon Urie
    Pansexual
    Badge
    gallery

    12 Pan Icons to Celebrate Pansexual Visibility Day

    May 24 2023 7:17 PM
    'Red, White, and Royal Blue,' the Gay R-Rated Rom-Com, Debuts Key Art
    film
    Badge
    gallery

    'Red, White, and Royal Blue,' the Gay R-Rated Rom-Com, Debuts Key Art

    May 24 2023 11:06 AM
    Jake Daniels
    People
    Badge
    gallery

    Gay Soccer Star Jake Daniels, 18, Shares About His Partner, 46

    May 22 2023 1:35 PM
    5 Victims of Club Q Shooting Remembered
    Crime
    Badge
    gallery

    5 Victims of Club Q Shooting Remembered

    May 19 2023 10:03 PM
    30+ Images Celebrating Out Magazine's Kim Petras Pride Cover Drop
    Slideshow
    Badge
    gallery

    30+ Images Celebrating Out Magazine's Kim Petras Pride Cover Drop

    May 19 2023 4:45 PM
    Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
    Activism
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the L.A. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

    May 19 2023 4:30 PM
    Honorees at the GLAAD Media Awards in NYC
    Media
    Badge
    gallery

    69 Photos Celebrating the Star-Studded GLAAD Media Awards in NYC

    May 18 2023 11:19 AM
    Selfies at the Little Gay Pub in DC and the bar’s owners Dusty Martinez, Benjamin Gander and Dito Sevilla
    Business
    Badge
    gallery

    51 Steamy Selfies from The Little Gay Pub, D.C.'s Hottest New LGBTQ+ Spot

    May 16 2023 5:00 PM
    Gio Benitez and the hosts of GMA weekends
    People
    Badge
    gallery

    23 Pics to Help You Get to Know Gio Benitez, the New Gay Co-Anchor of ‘GMA’ Weekends

    May 16 2023 4:01 PM
    Colton Underwood and Jordan C. Brown
    People
    Badge
    gallery

    Gay 'Bachelor' Star Colton Underwood Marries Jordan C. Brown

    May 15 2023 12:55 PM
    mothers
    Families
    Badge
    gallery

    More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms

    May 14 2023 10:27 AM
    15 Sensual and Intimate Paintings of Male Relationships by Dani Torrent
    Art
    Badge
    gallery

    15 Sensual and Intimate Paintings of Male Relationships by Dani Torrent

    May 11 2023 4:16 PM
    Stranger Things and Yellowjackets
    television
    Badge
    gallery

    Here Are 9 LGBTQ+ Shows Shut Down By the Writers Strike

    May 10 2023 6:00 PM
    Images from the WeHo Drag March
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    ​19 Spectacular Photos of the Inaugural L.A. Drag March

    May 10 2023 4:11 PM
    Drag isn’t dangerous participant queens
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    41 Photos of Drag Isn’t Dangerous Fundraiser That Raised the Big Bucks for LGBTQ+ Rights

    May 09 2023 10:00 AM
    Cast of Drag Me to Dinner
    television
    Badge
    gallery

    Neil Patrick Harris and David Burka Serve Up New Series 'Drag Me to Dinner'

    May 08 2023 7:00 PM