SM Pride at Ten.

Report by Jessica Hughes. Photographs by Sir Guy Masterleigh.

Apparently it’s become something of a tradition now. An annual blind panic trying to get to the point at which the SM Pride march is due to start. The familiar muster point has been moved from Whitehall. A sigh of relief is emitted as we turn into Bedfordbury WC2. A fairly anonymous residential back street in the centre of London, as we spot Mistress Jessica and Snowball of de-Ferre who are tinkering with an extremely elaborate pony carriage  which wouldn’t look out of place in Toad Of Toad Hall. It seems on talking to a few of the more enthusiastic marchers who have turned up two hours early, that we are not the only ones to have got horribly lost on the way here. “It’s a sort of expression really.” Says Tony. One of the aforementioned. “Plus it’s liberation for the SM scene. Showing you what we are and what we dress like, and also what we might get up to!” With the weather overcast but humid, London is uncharacteristically sleepy for a Saturday morning, but little by little the marchers trickle in. Captain Zip is certainly looking forward to it, “It’s a chance to make an interesting film for me!” He chirps, brandishing an elderly looking super-8 camera. “So as well as taking part in the march, there’s also the dressing up and walking through London and being gawped at by bemused tourists!”

A camera crew from cable channel Bravo turn up. They seem a little awkward and admit that the bondage gear they are wearing is in fact borrowed. They ask me what the scenesters are generally like and I explain that in a nutshell the SM scene is small, friendly and remarkably close-knit. However they seem to relax a little as the hours pass. They are working on a late night show called World Of Pain and I catch up with their presenter “Mistress O” for a few words. She is a friendly, loud and vibrant personality. She woke me up anyway. “I think it’s absolutely delightful! Great fun. And it’s fun to see everybody dressed up like this so early in the morning. I can hardly believe it!” However others are not taking the march so lightly: Ishmael Skyes; President of SM Pride says, “The march is there to remind us that freedom has to be fought for. It also occupies a significant number of police officers for an hour on a Saturday lunchtime, and disrupts the traffic in Central London, so it reminds the police that we will fight for our freedom if they try to take it away from us.” Ishmael continues: “If you are an SMer, you should be marching. The only reason for not marching is that you are burning down the offices of News International and smashing their printing presses. Quite simply, if you won’t stand up for your sexual freedom you have no right to have sex.”

Whip wizard Alex Jacob also seems particularly passionate. “It’s our one chance to stand before the public.” He says, dressed in a barbarian style bearskin. “It’s a show of hands. It’s like ‘We are perverts. We are out here and we are having fun.’ It’s an advert for all those potential perverts out there. We are on-the-whole young good looking and smiling...” He continues “It’s also a statement that we’re not to be fucked about with - Taking away our kids because we’re perverts isn’t on. Sacking us or not promoting us etcetera isn’t on. We’re out there and we’re having a real damn good time!” Equally eager to make a point is journalist/author Zak Jane Kier. “(It’s) a combination of a show of strength, a celebration and an education. For new people. For what SM is really about. I know all the arguments say ‘No one cares what you do in the bedroom’ but the trouble is people who say that think that everyone is vanilla, heterosexual (and) monogamous. And anyone who isn’t is some kind of subhuman. So demonstrating that we are a bunch of happy, healthy people who happen to like wearing interesting clothes and doing unusual things is a good thing to do. It’s a positive statement.”

With the construction of the pony-carts almost complete, the ponies begin to don their harness. One can imagine that the sight of Tall Trixie struggling with her harness and politely asking a nearby companion to align it in a very matter-of-factly manner could prove to be a very surreal sight for the average American tourist hell-bent for the acquisition of photos of red buses or Beefeaters. Indeed a gaggle of what is presumed to be European exchange students giggle nervously as they file past on the adjacent side of the road. And we certainly seemed to have brightened up the day for a sizable number of construction workers working on a nearby block of flats.

By this time the majority of the UK’s most dedicated pervs have assembled along with the boys and girls of the Metropolitan Police who are providing the escort through the city. I attempt to interview their inspector, but she does not provide any great insight. Just a rather bland statement in official terms that they are treating this as being no different from any other demo, i.e. the right to free speech, the right to assemble in the name of socio-political causes etc... etc. It’s now 11.05am and it seems that we are nearly ready to set off and something resembling a marching formation is under construction.

Stony faced members of great British public standing on pavement look on, it’s Saturday. Why don’t they cheer up?

We set off at 11.29am and the march is to led by a group of four samba drummers along with Alex Jacob punctuating the rhythm with deafening cracks of a long and extremely deadly looking whip. We are seen off by the cheery construction workers mentioned earlier. We turn into William IV Street and a few tourists are dotted around snapping away with their instant cameras and although there are not many, the public’s reaction seems to be one of good natured curiosity as we stroll down the usual west-end array of bistros, delis, corporate chains and the National Portrait Gallery and turn into Charring Cross Road.

It must seem a rather colourful sight to the casual observer too. Every sexual orientation is represented: Gay, bi’s, transvestites, dykes, transsexuals, dominants, submissives, schoolies, leather lovers, as well as lycra and latex enthusiasts and a couple of really weird ones that are so cutting edge no-one has a name for them yet.

Pony-play is well represented, and despite illnesses and technical failures they pull it off seemingly effortlessly. Up at the front is the de-Ferre carriage pulled by Tall-Trixie, Snowball and Penfold; and driven by Mistress Jessica, accompanied by Sir Guy Masterleigh (The Other Pony Club) and  a lady called Erica who didn’t quite feel up to the walk. Smaller buggy sized carts are also strategically placed in the formation: Mistress Delta with “Sparky,” “Blossom” driven by Keith and assisted by Zak Jane Kier, and “Bluebelle” driven by Mistress Judy and Master John. Directly behind the de-Ferre carriage is myself and Heather-Louise both of us dressed in identical maid outfits except Heather-Louise is far better looking. But that’s showbiz.

SM Pride began in 1992 as a reaction to Operation Spanner in which 16 gay men were given lengthy prison sentences or fined for engaging in consensual SM activities in 1990. Consequently the men took their case to the European Court Of Human Rights, but were unsuccessful in their bid to get their sentences quashed. The judgement was essentially, 'It's OK for the UK parliament to make such laws if they want; but they are no obligation to do so, and neither is any other EC country."  Operation Spanner followed an extensive police operation, prompted by the chance finding of a home-made video of SM activities. Attitudes appear to have evolved in the twelve years since, and this seems to be appreciated.

“Well... there haven’t been any more Spanner Cases have there?” Opines Captain Zip. “ I think there have been some test-cases and they’ve been thrown out of court. So I think that’s probably a step forward.”

“Lycraman” a ghostly imposing figure dressed head to toe in a bright white lycra body suit, white wig, mirror shades and white face paint is a little more sceptical: he believes things have progressed “Slowly.... But there is still a restriction on freedom.” More optimistic is Alex. “It looks like the Spanner Case will be confined to it’s facts. Because although it was never overturned, there has been the Whiplash case since then, and the Doncaster Bum-Branding case subsequent to that.” He says, cracking a wry smile. “I don’t think a single club has been raided since that event. “The Magistrate or the Judge in that case was quite scathing of the police. There have never been any problems with SM Clubs and the authorities are leaving them well alone. Too many people are involved in the scene at all levels of society. So yes. Things have changed in terms of public acceptance, in terms of trendieness and it seems more obvious to people that hitherto we don’t actually eat babies!”

“I was astonished that the European Court of Human Rights upheld the original verdict.” Ishmael says. “But in the long run, attitudes towards SM and fetishism have become more positive. The Home Office have altered the priorities on which the police operate, in favour of supporting the community in general, rather than hounding queers and perverts. The guidelines around which assaults to prosecute have been altered very much in our favour. (And) certain restrictions have been imposed on the press regarding what is and what is not in the public interest.”

“I think things are better.” Says Zak. “Despite (the Spanner defendants) losing in the court of human rights, fetish fashion and imagery is quite mainstream now. Some people say that it dilutes BDSM but that’s a bit silly. If people see it as something that is pleasurable and fun that’s a good thing.”

As we turn in to Shaftesbury Avenue the whether has really woken up and the sun is beating down. Central London still seems sparse and sleepy and a few passers by are bellowing in to mobile phones and looking a little confused. But they probably would have done that anyway.

However things may have changed in the ten years since SM Pride’s genesis, there are still, if you would excuse the pun, rivers to cross. An emotive issue at the moment is the cancellation of The Firm’s annual Boat Party which was scheduled to take place last June. The scene still seems to be under fire from somebody somewhere.

Ishmael explains: “We have been prevented from doing it because a spy sent pictures to a Sunday paper, and they sent them on to London River Services. At present our lawyers are exploring the situation regarding LRS and the boat companies, (and) while we are investigating the identity of the spy; when found he or she will be punished.”

Speaking, albeit less cautiously on the matter is Zak: “I’d love to get my hand on whatever little fucker it was who sent those photos to London River Services. And I also think that they (LRS) are a bunch of fascist chicken-shit little bastards.”

Alex muses on the question for a few moments before responding. “ Now... I’m getting all this second and third hand, but as I understand it - The Boat has been on for some seven years on the trot, without a single complaint as far as I know and yet, for this year for some reason the authorities, the powers that be, I don’t know which ones they are, has declined and has put the frighteners on people and said that we can’t do it.” His voice rises: “Anybody who entertains us will have their licence revoked. Now that is corruption of the highest order.”

He continues: “The river Thames belongs to us: Britons. It does not belong to one poxy authority. and to lean on people to prevent them from entertaining us is gangster politics isn’t it?” He concludes. “It’s a gross abuse of power without being based on any sensible reason. No reason has been given, it’s just the whim it would seem of just one or two individuals, and that is totally unacceptable in a democratic society.”

The march concludes at Bloomsbury Square. The police are thanked with three cheers from the marchers and we make our way for a few hundred yards or so to Pervefest at Conway Hall in nearby Red Lion Square. It’s somehow quite easy to feel a little bit vulnerable walking through the streets en-femme whilst stripped of the dramatic whip cracks, drumming, and general pageantry and bombast of the march a few moments before.

So... SM pride is ten. The overall feeling is that the last decade has witnessed some pivotal changes and a certain degree of evolvement within the scene. But what of the future? “(SM will gain) Acceptance along the lines of homosexuality I think. That’s as much as we can hope for. It will still be anomalous, and it will still be a minority sport. It will always receive strange glances from people, because it is a little bit frightening! But to be honest I wouldn’t want it to lose that edge of apparent danger, it gives it a bit of a frisson which would be a shame to do without.”

 A recurring reaction from people is the growing profile of fetish inspired fashions and imagery on television. Not surprisingly this gets the thumbs up: Tony believes that “It’s getting more acceptable mainstream. You see it a lot more on TV. Especially on Channel 5 and things like that. I hope it becomes more ‘out’. The same as the gay scene. I hope it will be more open and not just in the bigger cities.”

Captain Zip agrees, but believes fetishism on television is nothing new. “It’s more and more common to see something fetishy on television. Although it was always there. If you look at very old Doctor Who episodes or The Avengers they can be very fetishy indeed! And they had enormous public acceptance, it’s just they didn’t have the word ‘fetish’ attached to it. people accepted it subconsciously I think.”

‘Mistress O’ breezes optimistically: “Well I think the future for SM is very exciting. It’s becoming more and more acceptable. I think that in ten years time, It’s going to be commonplace. You would introduce your Mistress or your slave, just as comfortably as say, a gay person today introduces their partner. Now, twenty years ago that wasn’t so comfortable. It may be that that is where SM is right now, just starting to come out - and I’m very excited about it. I think it’s delightful!”

Zak however believes the future will yield more diversity. “I think there may be more fragmentation.” She says. “At the moment the regional clubs are just generic clubs, whereas in London you’ve got a wider range of dress-up-and-dance clubs, heavy playerI’s clubs, and The Firm’s events that fall into no category whatsoever apart from their own! (laughs.)

“I’d like to see more diversity in the club scene.” She adds. “Because otherwise all the time you just end up with people whining at every event that’s put on. Some don’t like the music, some wish the music was louder, some say there’s not enough playing, some say there’s too much playing and it’s frightened them. You can’t keep everyone happy.” She concludes.

Ishmael however remains cautious on the future of the SM Scene. He has warnings rather than predictions. “The internet is bringing people onto The Scene faster than ever before, and as a society we do not have sufficient education to enable them to fulfil the responsibility that accompanies freedom. The internet also allows ideas to be communicated irrespective of the intelligence, experience or integrity of their exponent, and for cowards to blacken the characters of the righteous from the safety of their living rooms. In effect, giving free rein to every wannabe gobshite who has hitherto been afraid to spout his/her garbage in public for fear of getting a well deserved punch in the face.”

He also has a few words for younger generations of SMers: “There has been massive groundswell outside of London since 1994 - the year of the last major police raid - this is a whole generation of SMers who have never had to fight for anything, and seemingly as a consequence appear to be only too ready to do as they are told. London learned to cast down it’s tyrants ten years ago, and I hope that it does not take too long for the provinces to learn that most useful lesson.”

He finishes with the SM Pride manifesto in brief. “SM Pride needs people, because to mean something it has got to more than provide a march, some workshops, and a party once a year. The Scene needs education, health counselling, legal advice, and a sense of common identity. SM Pride can provide that, but it needs people to do it.”

He concludes: “Without a programme of good works to last all of the year, SM Pride is in danger of becoming a rotten borough. If you want to do some good for The Scene, I suggest you join SM Pride and tell them that you want to do some good for the community.”

SM Pride can be contacted through their website:-

Also noteworthy is pressure group The Spanner Trust:-