Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The History of BDSM

@historyofbdsm.bsky.social

330 followers 36 following 75 posts

Documenting my research into the history of consensual sadomasochism. www.historyofbdsm.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/PCcI

eepurl.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · Nov 29

My book A Lover's Pinch: A Cultural History of Sadomasochism (2018), winner of the NLA Geoff Mains non-fiction award.

aloverspinch.com

2 8

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · 5d

The Celluloid Dungeon asks if there's such a thing as a "mistake orgasm" in Dying for Sex S01E03: historyofbdsm.com/2025/10/dyin...

1 1

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · 9d

I return to the @masocast for another interview. www.masocast.com/2025/10/05/m...

More History of BDSM - Masocast

Peter Tupper is back to talk about the history of BDSM, his observations of our political moment and depictions of kink in recent years in media.

www.masocast.com

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 13d

John Siracusa was a member of Trusted Servants and titled International Drummer Boy 1990-1991. He met his partner Clive Platman at the contest. Siracusa worked for Desmodus, Inc. for several years.

Two white man, one standing and wearing spiked forearm cuffs, a leather harness and jockstrap, holding open a hinged metal helmet on the head of another man kneeling in front of him.

1 2 25

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Dennis A. @dharmadog.bsky.social · 20d

#Pillion #A24
The “kinky” film stars the True Blood actor as the leather-clad biker daddy Ray, who entices the meek traffic warden and barbershop-quartet fan Colin (Harry Potter‘s Harry Melling) into a dom/sub relationship.

Alexander Skarsgård’s “Pillion” Ignites Excitement with Bold BDSM Queer Romance | EDGE United States

The new British film “Pillion,” starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, is making waves across the LGBTQ+ community and film world for its unapologetic portrayal of a gay BDSM relationship.

www.edgemedianetwork.com

1 3 6

Reposted by The History of BDSM

PinkNews @pinknews.bsky.social · 15d

#Pillion: Alexander Skarsgård shot ‘way more graphic’ sex scenes than in final cut of kinky romance
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/02/pillion-alexander-skarsgard-sex-scene-full-frontal/?utm_content=1759726800&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

Pillion: Alexander Skarsgård shot 'way more graphic' sex scenes than final cut

Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling shot 'way more graphic' sex scenes than in the final cut of the dom/ sub gay biker romance.

www.thepinknews.com

1 12

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · 14d

The Celluloid Dungeon examines Pillion (2025) and the problem of the fantasy of the perfect dominant. #pillion #film #bdsm historyofbdsm.com/2025/10/pill...

Two men walk side by side on a dark street. The man on the right wears a black and white leather riding suit.

1 3

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 18d

Panel from Sweeter Gwen & The Return of Gwendoline by Eric Stanton (1976). Stanton's comics were originally sold by mail order as 5x8 photographic reproductions in the early 1960s. #EricStanton

A woman wearing a flat top hat and a lace veil carries another woman who is gagged and wearing stockings and garters and high heels through a dungeon to a wooden board with straps for all parts of the body. Quote text: struggle all you want sweeter Gwen I don’t mind. And: Golly, is that a new fangled wash machine they’re going to put me in?

5 15

Reposted by The History of BDSM

A. K. Andrews @akandrews.bsky.social · 21d

Madonna "Erotica" (Kink In Pop Culture - music, music videos, 1992)

33rd Anniversary

Released on September 29, 1992.

Continue reading-
www.tumblr.com/theakandrews...

#KinkInPopCulture #kink #bdsm #fetish #Dominatrix #malesub #PonyPlay #Leather #Madonna #Erotica #Music #Musicvideos #1992ce #1990s

Promotional photo, Madonna "Erotica" song/music video (1992)

1 1 3

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 21d

The Virginia council member pushing for a new "obscenity" ordinance in Lynchburg cites "sadomasochistic" abuse and clearly political speech from the Warped tour as the type of performances he thinks should be criminalized.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kIW...

17 33

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 20d

Today, cartoonist and fetish artist Eric Stanton was born in 1926 in New York. #EricStanton

A white man with a receding hair line is hog tied on his back on the floor in front of a couch. One woman in a purple silk shirt and black skirt, straddles his waist and hold a strap and another sits behind her, and tickles his foot.

3 18

Reposted by The History of BDSM

A. K. Andrews @akandrews.bsky.social · 20d

`
Venture Bros. season 3, episode 1- "Betty Rage" (Kink In Pop Culture cartoons, television, 2008)

Continue reading-
www.tumblr.com/theakandrews...

#KinkInPopCulture #kink #bdsm #fetish #BettyRage #BettiePage #pinup #RidingCrop #whip #VentureBros #Animation #Television #2008ce #2000s

Screenshot, Venture Bros. season 3 episode 1, the 27th episode of the series, titled "Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny", aired June 1, 2008.

About 6:45 into the episode, Lady Au-Pair (an early alias of Dr. Girlfriend) is introduced to the "Pin-up murderess, Betty Rage"

Character design sheet, Venture Bros. season 3 episode 1, the 27th episode of the series, titled "Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny", aired June 1, 2008.

About 6:45 into the episode, Lady Au-Pair (an early alias of Dr. Girlfriend) is introduced to the "Pin-up murderess, Betty Rage"

1 2

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · 23d

1976 promo for The Rolling Stones' album Black and Blue. The billboard was even more notorious. #bdsm youtu.be/3t9Ma8QszKU

Rolling Stones: Original 1976 Black and Blue album video promo

YouTube video by Greg Debonne

youtu.be

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 24d

ICE is partnering with Amtrak to stalk cruising spots in Penn Station to arrest and deport gay immigrants using “public lewdness” laws.

Cruising crackdown in Penn Station bathroom puts at least 20 men in ICE custody

State and city laws prohibit local police departments from turning people over to ICE. That restriction does not apply to the federally run Amtrak Police Department.

gothamist.com

17 120 180

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 24d

Michael Rardin was the president of the Centurions, a leather club in Columbus, from 1988 to 1990.

[Michael Rardin, 42, President (1988-1990) Centurions, Columbus, Ohio pasted away September 26 from complications due to AIDS.]

1 3 12

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 24d

The Oberons had their "coming out party" at Club 219/Shaft on October 31, 1987. The Oberons fundraised for local HIV/AIDS charities. They also sponsored the Wisconsin Mr. Leather contest and other events. Photo of the Oberons from Peter Thomas's collection at the LA&M. #LeatherClubs

Seven men wearing T-shirts and jeans, standing in front of a table with alcohol bottles and in front of a wood panel wall with a small hexagonal Oberons leather banner behind them. For are wearing leather vests. One is black and six appear to be white.

3 30

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 25d

Do you have the first issue of Outrageous Women? The LA&M doesnt...

When you donate magazines to the LA&M they become part of a community library used by scholars, artists, and other visitors from around the world.
#LGBTLibrary #CommunityArchives #LesbianHistory

Cover of outrageous woman, with a woman wearing a spike, studded, leather belts, and a T-shirt with the text politically incorrect.

4 14

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · 29d

Ad from In Step Vol 4 No 9 (1994), published out of Walnut, California. #PersonalAds

Foot of a white person in wooden stocks, finger of a white person reaching out to touch the arch. Text: [Chicago Area Tickler. WM, 33, looking for women who enjoy being tickled. Are there any women out there who enjoy having their pretty feet tickled? Come on ladies, let's get together and have some laughs. Age, race unimportant. The love of being tickled is the only requirement. Code M-459. (4-10).]

1 10

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · 28d

The Celluloid Dungeon reviews Red Shoe Diaries' exploration of femdom-malesub, "How I met my husband" S01E13. historyofbdsm.com/2025/09/red-... #tv #bdsmِ

Two women look through a window. One wears a skin-tight latex outfit, while the other wears a blue and white print dress.

1 5

Reposted by The History of BDSM

A. K. Andrews @akandrews.bsky.social · Sep 16

Cosey Mueller "I am soft" (Kink In Pop Culture- music videos, 2024)

youtu.be/x32SqJDulxI?...

Continue reading-
www.tumblr.com/theakandrews...

#KinkInPopCulture #kink #bdsm #D/s #fetish #fetishwear #petplay #ponygirl #cage #caged #crop #whip #collar #CoseyMueller #Music #MusicVideos #2024ce #2020s

Cosey Mueller - I am soft (official music video)

YouTube video by Cosey Mueller

youtu.be

1 1

The History of BDSM @historyofbdsm.bsky.social · Sep 16

The Celluloid Dungeon explores the lost world of 1990s direct-to-cable softcore in Red Shoe Diaries S01E03 "You Have the Right to Remain Silent" historyofbdsm.com/2025/09/red-...

White woman stands with her open blouse revealing a black bra. She has a wrapped condom in one hand, and rests her hand on the shoulder of a man facing away.

Reposted by The History of BDSM

PupAmp @pupamp.bsky.social · Sep 16

HEY YOU! KINKY PERSON
If you have 2 minutes I have a few kink questions about when and how you got involved in the kink community that I'd love to know!

Fill it out and share if you want to help us collect some fun data: forms.gle/2uRuNhwJBn96...

a woman in a blue shirt is smiling with the words who designed this survey on the bottom

ALT: a woman in a blue shirt is smiling with the words who designed this survey on the bottom

media.tenor.com

20 31 150

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · Sep 15

Cover of Tales from the Crib from the LA&M magazine collections.

Do you have other issues of Tales from the Crib, or similar magazines? Donate them to our community library! #ABDL

Woman sucking her thumb and wearing an oversized pacifier necklace and bloomers.

2 7

Reposted by The History of BDSM

A. K. Andrews @akandrews.bsky.social · Sep 15

Lost in Space Annual #1 (Kink In Pop Culture- comic books, 1992)

Today is Lost in Space's 60th Anniversary

This comic was released 24 years after the TV show ended

Continue reading
www.tumblr.com/theakandrews...

#KinkInPopCulture #kink #bdsm #fetish #LostinSpace #television #1992ce #1990s

Cover, Lost in Space Annual #1 comic book (1992)

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · Sep 11

Osada Eikichi was an influential Japanese rope bondage performer. He started performing kinbaku in the mid 1960s and was credited with popularizing erotic SM shows at strip theaters.

Osada is Japanese and has a receding hairline and large glasses. He is kneeling next to a woman with her arms bound touching her leg. He is wearing a collared shirt.

1 1 18

Reposted by The History of BDSM

Leather Archives & Museum @leatherarchives.bsky.social · Sep 11

Bill Schmeling, aka The Hun, was an erotic artist and former Lutheran minister who made his home in Portland with his partner Roland Bynum. He was a full time artist from the 1960s until his retirement in 2008.

Bill is white and has a white beard. He is wearing a button up shirt with a leather vest covered in pins with a large aids ribbon. He is holding a file of papers and a pen and sitting beside a desk.

2 3 34