The Master/slave and Dom/sub Flag
© 2005
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by Master Tallen
Exactly who decided it was time for the M/s community to have its own symbol of pride and unity?
I felt it time, based on the following; that the Master/slave community have a symbol by which we could recognize each other, and that we have a symbol that encompasses our community without excluding anyone. Not everyone wearing Leather Pride Flag pin or T-shirt is into this lifestyle. I have decided nothing. The community will decide if this Flag flies or not.
Isn’t the current symbol (The Leather Pride Flag) enough to show that the M/s community is part of the overall Leather community at large?
No, it is not. Not everyone in the M/s and D/s lifestyle identifies as Leather folk. The Leather Pride Flag was created as a gay based symbol. This new symbol is neither gay nor straight. Our community has its roots in the Leather Community, but today we are bigger and more diverse than the Leather Pride Flag represents.
Do we really need to have all these different symbols?
I will agree that lately it seems that every group and sub group has been coming up with their own symbol. But for our community, look around... MAsT chapters are springing up like weeds across the country, and regional educational conferences draw thousands of us together every year. We are growing! We are diverse. We are our own community. This symbol is an attempt to help us see the bonds we all share, and unite us further. By eliminating sexual orientation symbolism, gays and straights can come together and unite based on our similarities. By having a symbol that is non specific about another lifestyle such as Leather, again leather folk and non leather folk can unite based on our similarities. One does not have to be Leather, to be a Master or slave. One does not have to be gay to be a Master or slave. The Leather Pride Flag implies that we do.
Who decided this? How was it decided? Was there some type of questionnaire, poll, or something presented to the community at large about it before it came into being? If not, why?
No, there was not a questionnaire, poll, or committee. Was there one for the Leather Pride Flag? No! Tony Deblase unveiled his design proposal at IML in 1989, and basically said here it is, accept it if you want. Design by committee on something like this does not work. If there were design suggestions, who decides what to keep and what not to keep? If there was voting, who would get to vote? Who would count them? In every speech or interview I have given, I have stated that this is a design proposal, and it is up to the community to decide whether to embrace it or not. I have never demanded acceptance. Again, the community will decide.
Where do these symbols come from anyhow? Can you please explain their origin? Also, if the single vertical line represents the Dominant and the three horizontal lines represent the sub(s), then does that imply that each M/s relationship has one Dominant and three or more subs? If not, then why 3 horizontal lines, why not just one?
The symbols used for the design are ideograms. My research on ideograms took Me to several web sites and books. I did not invent the symbols, nor did I invent their definitions. The single vertical line means authority, power, or dominance. The three horizontal lines together is an established ideogram. In one system of psychological signs the three horizontal lines symbol is used to mean 'passive intellect', which is synonymous with submissive. Admittedly, just as with many other symbols, these symbols do have other meanings. More information on these symbols (numbers 10:1 and 10:11) and their meanings can be found at Symbols.com.
Is the Flag copyrighted, and if so, why?
Yes, the Flag is copyrighted. However, I have declared it is public domain. No licensing fees or further permission are needed for its reproduction, sale, or usage. I applied for the copyright so that no one else could control our community’s symbol. I have not, nor do I plan on making a profit by creating this symbol. It is for all of us.
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