Membership

WE ARE ONYX MID-ATLANTIC

Educate | Explore | Empower

The application process for ONYXMA will open August 1, 2026.  Details and link to the application below.

Want more information now?  Email our pledge masters at join@onyxma.com





Advice Before Submitting An Application for Full Brotherhood
Before you apply for membership in this, or any organization, we suggest you learn and explore the organization and what it does. Here are a few ideas describing how you might do that with ONYX Mid-Atlantic:

1. Build a relationship with the members of ONYXMA.  Reach out to ONYX Mid-Atlantic members with a proper introduction of your interest in the organization and chapter via social media and / or during a local, regional or national events.  Ask questions.  If you are truly interested in joining the organization you should want to get to know as many of us as possible before submitting an application.  We highly encourage you to build ties with a wide range of our members before you submit an application.
   
   
2. Research ONYX at the national website (www.onyxmen.com), this website (www.onyxma.com), in social media and by asking others.  Likewise, actively pursue the expansion of your leather and kink knowledge using resources listed on the ONYX Mid-Atlantic website as well as those that are publicly available.
   
   
3. Ensure you understand and are aligned to the ONYX Mission, Vision, Values and Beliefs of the organization.
   
   
4. Openly and honestly convey your interest in the chapter, the organization and interests in the leather and kink culture to our members.
   
   
5. Openly and honestly convey your personal interest and experience in fetish, kink and BDSM play.  Ask questions.
   
   
6. Review The ONYX Code (Code of Conduct) and Pledge Code of Conduct to ensure you can adhere to our principles and values.
   
   
7. Attend local, regional and national events, when possible, including those where ONYX Mid-Atlantic members are attending or hosting.  Attending and participating in our events is an excellent way to get to know our members – and it allows members to get to know you!
   
   
8. Have appropriate conversation regarding any questions, concerns or comments regarding the organization, the chapter and/or the culture with its members until you are completely satisfied with the answers.
   
   
9. Volunteer to help with the setup and breakdown at events and/or volunteer to help with chapter initiatives where applicable.
   
   
10. Ensure you understand and can fully embrace the requirements of the organization and pledge process, including your ability to meet time commitments, financial commitments and demonstrate on-going service to the organization and overall leather / kink community.
    
    
11. Review the draft Pledge Process schedule (dates / times) that is made available when the application process is open.  It is important that you can fulfill the attendance and participation schedule.  While we understand everyone has busy professional and personal lives, the ability to meet the requirements of this schedule is required.

Here’s an article from 2020 that discusses the importance of the space ONYX provides in the leather and kink community:

Opinion: Men of Color deserve space in the leather community.  ONYX provides it
bearworldmag.com, Kyle Jackson (Golden Eagle ONYX), 9-28-2020

Full Brotherhood Membership and Process Obligations

Full Brother Application Process Opens:  August 1, 2026 through September 20, 2026.

Brothers have voting rights and other privileges of membership and participation within the chapter, as well as the honor of wearing an ONYX back patch. Brothers are expected to participate in all club functions and be active in the community.

The purpose of the Pledge Process is:

1. To provide the pledge with a knowledge base to be a resource to all people, particularly people of color, who seek to know more about the leather / fetish / kink community.
   
   
2. To facilitate the pledge’s personal journey by providing him with Brotherhood and bonding opportunities, and broadening his leather / fetish / kink horizons through experiential and academic learning opportunities.
   
   
3. To provide the pledge with tools to advocate for the leather / fetish / kink community and people of color in the community.

Collectively, the Pledges will be required to:

1. Participate in 6-7 months of education classes by our Pledge Masters, starting in November and running through May.
   
   
2. Attendance in-person at the November and December meetings in DC is REQUIRED.  Attendance at all other in-person and virtual classes held on Saturdays is required.  Likewise, you will be required to attend many of our monthly business meetings (typically held the 2nd Saturday of each month), as well as key ONYXMA events (such as our bar nights and major events).  Attendance and Participation is key to making it through the pledge process.
   
   
3. Host and manage a Bar Night on behalf of the chapter.
   
   
4. Complete a group Community Service Project.
   
   
5. Conduct an educational seminar (called a TEACH) on leather / fetish / kink topics of their own choosing, approved the pledge masters.
   
   
6. Participate in a club social for with our membership (typically held early December).
   
   
7. Participate the weekend of Mid-Atlantic Leather (typically MLK Weekend each year) You must stay in the host hotel sharing rooms with your pledge line (ONYXMA will cover your room costs). Your participation at MAL will run from Friday 3pm until Monday noon.
   
   

Associate Membership and Process Obligations

Associate Application Process Opens:  The Associate Application process for 2026-2027 in ONYX Mid-Atlantic is currently under evaluation. We plan to post more information regarding the application dates and process schedule in Summer 2026.

Associates have the privilege of wearing a membership patch that is identical to the ONYX back patch, but smaller. ONYX Mid-Atlantic does not confer patches based on friendship or familiarity. Associates are expected to conduct themselves with the honor and integrity expected of anyone wearing our patch. Associates are expected to participate fully in the life of ONYX Mid-Atlantic. The patch is a symbol of your commitment to help us achieve our goals summarized in our motto: Educate | Explore | Empower

Associate members of ONYX Mid-Atlantic may be men, women, or gender non-conforming individuals of any race/color/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identification. A prospective Associate is required to complete a 6-month Associate Process. This requirement may be waived by exception for prospective Associates who are established members of the leather / kink / fetish community. The purpose of the Associate Process is:

1. To provide the Associate with a knowledge base to be a resource to anyone who seeks to know more about the leather / fetish / kink community.
   
   
2. To introduce the Associates to the ONYXMA brotherhood and prepare those eligible to become future brothers of the chapter.
   
   
3. To facilitate the Associate’s personal journey by providing them with Brotherhood and bonding opportunities, and broadening their leather / fetish / kink horizons through experiential and academic learning opportunities.
   
   

During the Process, the prospective Associates must participate in a series of educational sessions, support ONYX activities, and otherwise actively contribute to the Chapter. Collectively, the prospective Associates will be required to:

1. Host and manage a Munch.
   
   
2. Complete a Community Service Project.
   
   
3. Conduct an educational seminar on leather/fetish/kink topics of their own choosing.
   
   
4. Host a social for the Brothers.

Upon satisfactory completion of the Associate Process, an Associate’s patch will be granted.

Full Brother Application and Interview Process
All parties interested in pledging for Full Brother membership must complete the application, available via the link at the end of this page between August 1st and September 20th. There is no fee for the application, but you must be 21 years of age or older to complete the application, and must upload a face photo (no nudes) as part of your application.

All applicants will be evaluated on the quality of the responses provided on their application, as well as their responses to a set of standard questions asked during the interview.

Take the time to consider your answers before submitting your application. You may edit your responses to your application until the deadline.  A link to your individual application will be provided to you automatically via email with your initial submission.

Direct any questions about the application process to join@onyxma.com

All applicants must note ONYXMA reserves the right to:

1. Decline an application entirely.
   
   
2. Reject an application if the applicant is not from the DC/MD/VA/WVA/PA/DE area.
   
   
3. Limit the number of slots available for each pledge class.
   
   
4. Limit the number of new memberships available.
   
   
5. Offer an applicant a class of membership other than that for which they applied.
   
   
6. Remove a pledge from the process at any point during the process without reimbursement of any previously paid obligations.

We will announce our new Pledges in October (within 2-3 days of interview process completion), with Pledging Activities to begin in November.  The minimum requirements for Pledges will include attendance / participation at scheduled pledge meetings, completion of pledge assignments, active participation in ONYX events during the pledge period and compliance with chapter Bylaws, The ONYX Code and the Pledge Code of Conduct.  Any pledge who voluntarily chooses not to complete the process or who is dismissed from the pledge process may re-apply in a future year with the understanding there is no guarantee of being accepted to  pledge line.

Presentation from the July 26, 2025 Pledge Information Session

 

ONYX Mid-Atlantic Application for Full Brother (link active 8/1/2026 through 9/20/2026)

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