History of WTNB

WTNB (Women, Trans, & Nonbinary Leather / Kink Social) produces Leather / Kink Bar Nights

Now independent, WTNB was originally founded in 2016 when David Boyer recruited a few local leather women to help promote a monthly women's night at Touche. During the first few years or so Angie, Butch, and Viper served as volunteer hosts. Boi was the bootblack, and N was the bartender. After a time, the original hosts stepped away or moved out of state. N began scheduling local presenters to give short kink demonstrations. Sarah Sloane regularly stepped in to host or present. Boi built a new bootblack chair and managed the bootblack schedule. The leather shop next door, Leather 6410, regularly donated raffle prizes. Lee worked with N to make the event more inclusive. The more inclusive name WTNB was selected. The promotional materials were updated. Thanks to Lee and the other attendees, mistakes relating to pronouns, gender identity, honorifics, and legal dead names were communicated to the staff and improvements were made. Merry came on board to assist with promotion. Attendance increased and by 2019 the event had become popular.

The first time that WTNB operated completely independently of Touché was in April 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic. When the bars closed down, Lee and N decided to hold WTNB online. During the Pandemic, WTNB provided valuable community support and education via Zoom from April 2020 - May 2021. Lee moderated the meetings and N scheduled a variety of remote presenters. After Covid, WTNB became a hybrid event, some returning to Touché and others attending remotely via Zoom.

In 2023 WTNB found new venues and independently produced 12 Bar Nights (with 12 Demos) and 2 Dinners at Baton and Big Chicks. That year WTNB also partnered with the Chicago Leather Dyke Picnic to jointly produce approximately 11 full length kink Classes at Gerber Hart Library and several PLAY events at a local dungeon. All told, 2023 was a busy year in Chicago. WTNB's volunteer hosts made everything work. From working the door, selling raffle tickets, setting up the venue, promoting the events, and more...our regular volunteers made it happen. Thank you to Merry, Lola, Vim, Kobina, C, Rae, Shoshanna, Butch, N, and more...thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

WTNB's main focus in 2024 was on the WTNB Bar Nights & Demos at Baton. In 2024, WTNB began increased support for individuals who needed guidance on their Leather / Kink journey. This guidance includes opportunities for individuals to engage in accountability, access to resources such as kink-friendly mental health providers and social workers, and to request recommendations for further education. In keeping with these goals, WTNB functions independently, while continuing to cross-promote leather / kink events for WTNB people. The Chicago Leatherdyke Picnic (CLDP) continues to produce their picnic, full length educational classes and PLAY events. In 2024 and 2025, in addition to WTNB Bar Nights at Baton, WTNB also produced and/or co-hosted events with the Gerber Hart Library, the Leather Archives and Museum, and Big Chicks. Events included monthly barnights at Baton, a Kinky curated collection and archive tour at GH, Chicago Leather Pride Weekend Brunches at LA&M, film nights at LA&M, Clothing Swaps at GH, and WTNB Bar Night at Big Chicks.