ONYX Mid-Atlantic serves the Mid-Atlantic Region area, including D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter was ratified by vote at Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL) 2010, although the chapter recognizes October 7, 2007 as the founding date.
Vision ONYX is the world’s leading resource for the empowerment of gay and bi-sexual Men of Color in the Leather Lifestyle.
Mission The mission of ONYX is to educate and empower gay and bi-sexual Men of Color who explore the Leather Lifestyle.
ONYX is a resource that centers the needs and desires of gay and bisexual Men of Color while welcoming everyone. We are a safe space to EDUCATE yourself about the Leather Lifestyle and Leather/Kink/Fetish Play. We provide a welcoming place to EXPLORE your Kinks and Fetishes in an affirming judgment-free environment, which EMPOWERS all people and ESPECIALLY Men of Color to live their lives more freely, safely, and happily as Leathermen and Kinksters.
Specific Purpose
The goal of ONYX is to provide an informational and social organization to address the issues specific to gay/bisexual men of color who choose to discuss and/or participate in the Leather/SM/Fetish lifestyle. Support, spirituality, safety and consent are key to achieving our goal.
Within the scope of the foregoing general purpose, the ONC has been formed for, and may engage as provided hereinafter, in the following specific purpose:
- Charity/Education. To engage in various charitable and educational endeavors where there is chapter representation with a Chapters’ respective territory;
- Social. As a social/leather/levi club for the membership of the ONC. The ONC provides guidance and support for all ONYX chapters;
- Brotherhood. To develop friendships and promote brotherhood between all members of the ONYX family and with similar organizations in the United States and abroad;
- Assets. To collect, invest, transfer, transact, spend, donate, receive and maintain a fund or funds, including personal and real property, by subscription, donation or otherwise, and apply the principal and/or income therefrom to the promotion and purposes of this Organization, which will include, if necessary, the payment of all necessary expenses in furtherance of such purposes;
- Charitable Assistance. To distribute money or other property, or direct assistance to other organizations whose aims and purposes are in furtherance of the purposes of the ONC or who would qualify for charitable assistance as provided herein. The assistance provided for herein shall be given by the ONC to an individual or organization without charge and without discrimination on the basis of social, political, religious, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnic heritage or origin, race, color, creed, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or medical conditions or any other characteristic;
- Domicile. To establish and maintain offices and promote and carry on its objects and purposes within the States or Territories of the United States.
Values
Our ONYX values are formed from our principles or standards of behavior. They are our collective judgment of what is important in life, in our community, and in our personal journeys. We hold true to our values regardless of the situation or our regard for an individual, organization, or situation.
- Brotherhood. We value the bonds of Chosen Family and the obligations of Loyalty, Dedication, Discipline, Sacrifice, and Achievement to which we have freely bound ourselves;
- Trust. We value the need and desire for one’s words and actions to be reliable and based in truth, to the best of one’s ability and knowledge;
- Loyalty. We value the faithfulness owed by one’s duty or obligation, or by one’s pledge or promise;
- Dedication. We value the willingness to freely give of one’s time and talent toward one’s duty, obligation, pledge, or promise;
- Discipline. We value control of one’s self (evidenced through words and actions) towards personal and/or collective goals;
- Sacrifice. We value the giving of one’s time and talent toward or for the sake of a greater good;
- Achievement. We value the accomplishments of our Brotherhood through their efforts, skills, and courage;
- Integrity. We value principle-centered actions, honesty, and being true to one’s word; and
- Accountability. We value the taking of responsibility for one’s own words and actions, and we value the process of course-correcting to bring oneself back in line with personal and/or shared core principles.
Beliefs
Our ONYX beliefs are key facts, statements, and truths that we collectively hold as self-evident or as goals toward which we continually strive.
- Consent. We believe in the inalienable right to one’s own personal agency and ability to agree (or not) to some proposal or activity;
- Safety. We believe in the right to safety and comfort, whether as an individual or as part of a group;
- Diversity. We believe in, celebrate, and respect the dignity of all ethnicities, body types, levels of ability, ages, sexual identities, gender expressions and medical conditions. We believe in and celebrate all gender expressions and identifications;
- Inclusion. We believe in the inclusion, celebration, and integration of all People of Color, including Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and People of the African Diaspora into all aspects of ONYX; and
- Education. We believe in the importance of education to provide informed consent, for personal or collective safety, or for personal growth.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
ONYX Mid-Atlantic, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with an effective date of November 10, 2020. Contributions to ONYX Mid-Atlantic are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Founding Fathers
The nine (9) Founding Fathers of ONYX Mid-Atlantic are:
- Sir Charles B.
- Jalan B.
- Mark C.
- Reggie H.
- DaNareo H.
- Rod M. (President)
- Kanili S. (Vice President)
- Brian S. (Treasurer)
- Justin T
Our motto, since adopted nationally, is: Educate | Explore | Empower
Education and Community Service are of tantamount importance to being a member in ONYX Mid-Atlantic. Members are expected to be in service to the ONYX organization, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and to the greater LGBTQIA+ community, particularly with respect to initiatives related to People of Color. ONYX Mid-Atlantic is proud of our rich history providing education and service to our membership and the LGBTQIA+ community.
For many Men of Color in our region, ONYX Mid-Atlantic is an introduction to Leather, Kink and BDSM through our social media, education materials / sessions, events, bar nights, parties, kink demonstrations and community service initiatives.
Our formal lecture and demonstration program, called T.E.A.C.H. (To Educate and Cultivate Hotness) provides education on wide array of Leather, BDSM and Kink / Fetish topics. Our in-house education programs help others expand their fetish skills with demonstrations on Bondage, Electro Play, Flogging, Impact Play, Insertion / Ass Play, Fire Play / Cupping, Sensory Play, Sounding and much more. Likewise, we lead education sessions to improve understanding of other often marginalized groups (transgender community, polyamorous relationships, etc.), while also covering such important areas sexual health, mental health and financial management.
As a part of the T.E.A.C.H. program, we partner with multiple educational human rights organizations and institutions, including:
- Widener University
- Bowie State University
- Muhlenberg College
- DC Black Pride
Our long-term partnership with Widener University’s PhD Human Sexuality Program exposes future clinicians and educators to the Leather community through a variety of education and panel discussions. We also actively work with Muhlenberg College and Bowie State University to provide in-person kink, leather, BDSM and sexual health related education. In addition, we partner each year with DC Black Pride to provide ONYX University as a half day, interactive educational pride event open to the general public.
In 2020-2021 we made a concerted effort to include all members of the deaf and hard of hearing community in our initiatives by funding ASL Interpreter Services for our events and education sessions. We’ve also planned and funded formal education sessions with educators from the Transgender, African American, Asian American / Pacific Islander and Lesbian communities in an effort to promote increased awareness and understanding across the LGBTQIA+ and public spectrums.
ONYX Mid-Atlantic is committed to community service and charitable services in support of a wide range of LGBTQ+ organizations. Throughout our history ONYX Mid-Atlantic has raised nearly $70,000 for the Ali Forney Center; Baltimore Safe Haven, Black, Gifted & Whole; Brother Help Thyself; Casa Ruby; Eagle Wings; Hearts & Ears, Inc.; HIPS; Joseph’s House; Leather History Preservation Foundation; Mama’s Family; MANDATE; MAST; Mazzoni Center, Scarlett’s Foundation and SMYAL.
ONYX Mid-Atlantic Overview Video
An overview video about ONYX Mid-Atlantic, presented during the ONYX 25th Anniversary Celebration (held December, 6, 2020), is shown below:
