Sir Kenzo Onyx talks with us about leather, kink, and self expression!

5th June 2026 Bryce Quartz

Sir Kenzo chats with us about the importance of queer self expression and his journey into becoming a leader in the leather, kink, and fetish communities!

Queer people have always been the outsiders to a mainstream society that we were forced to inherent without choice. For centuries, the LGBTQ+ community found so many different ways to come together, build community, and support one another through mutual aid.

In the last several decades, the leather, kink, and fetish communities became more prevalent by building off of what came before within the umbrella of the queer community. In the AIDS epidemic, these subcultures were hit the hardest as some of the most sexually active members of the collective queer community, but they also became essential by pioneering early safe-sex education and becoming caregivers for those in need.

Nowadays, these subculture communities are flourishing. They have evolved and grown so much over the years. As the human race evolves, so does the culture. New members of the leather, kink, and fetish communities have learned the history from the old guard and became the new guard, paving the way for the ones who join the scene with them and after them.

Sir Kenzo knows our history well, and has spent most of his time on the scene over the years pushing the boundaries within the walls of every subculture and community he’s been a part of. He has no fear expressing his femininity in the leather scene, and shows the members of the pet play and ABDL communities that being true to themselves is the best power we have as queer people.

Sir Kenzo has quite a story worth sharing, but instead of me telling you in my own words, I want you to here it from the cover star himself.

I had the privilege of chatting with Sir Kenzo about all of the amazing things he’s done as a leader in the leather, fetish, and kink communities as well as so much more! Check it out below.

Bryce Quartz: Hey there, SIR Kenzo! I’m so excited to get to know you better and share your story and experiences as a leader in the leather and kink community. How have you been doing lately?

Sir Kenzo: I’ve been doing good honestly, just really busy preparing for the summer. Summer season in the kink and leather world is always nonstop. I’ve been prepping for events all across the country, making sure communities are supported, classes are ready, contestants are cared for, and spaces feel welcoming for everybody walking through those doors. It’s exhausting at times, but it’s the kind of work that fills my heart.

Bryce: To get some background, can you tell us where you’re from and how long you’ve been in the leather and kink scenes?

Sir Kenzo: I’m originally from New York City, born and raised. I’ve been involved in the leather and kink scene for well over a decade now. What started as curiosity eventually became community, family, purpose, and honestly one of the biggest reasons I became the person I am today.

Bryce: You won Mr. Eagle NYC in 2022, a coveted title with an extensive history that dates back several decades. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience and what got you interested to compete in the first place?

Sir Kenzo: Winning Mr. Eagle NYC was honestly one of the most emotional and life-changing moments of my life. The Eagle itself has such deep history within the leather community. For decades it has been a place where queer leather folks could gather, celebrate sexuality, masculinity, kink, and freedom unapologetically. To even stand on that stage felt powerful.

What pushed me to compete was representation. I wanted Black and Brown folks, queer folks, pups, ABDLs, bigger bodies, feminine folks, all the people who never believed they could represent leather spaces, to see someone like me standing there proudly.

I didn’t walk onto that stage trying to be perfect. I walked onto that stage trying to be visible. A lot of people grow up believing leather only looks one way, sounds one way, or belongs to one type of person. I wanted to challenge that.

I competed because I knew there were people hiding parts of themselves just trying to survive. If me putting myself out there helped even one person feel less alone, then it was worth it.

Bryce: You’ve had an incredible journey with International Mr. Leather and International Mr. Bootblack. Can you tell us about your history with IMLBB and why it means so much to you?

Sir Kenzo: International Mr. Leather and International Mr. Bootblack have honestly been some of the biggest sources of growth in my life. My journey started in 2022 when I competed on the IML stage in a leather diaper cover, something people still talk to me about today. It was bold, vulnerable, scary, and empowering all at once. I walked onto that stage fully myself.

After competing, I became Contestant Handler, and that role meant everything to me. My job was to make sure my babies, the contestants, were okay physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually throughout the entire weekend.

People only see the glamour on stage, but behind the scenes there are nerves, tears, exhaustion, fear, excitement, and pressure. I wanted contestants to know somebody was there for them no matter what.

Now being the Judges Coordinator for IMLBB feels surreal. The amount of trust people have placed in me over the years honestly humbles me deeply. Little ol’ me from New York somehow grew into somebody trusted with helping organize such an important part of leather history. I could never do any of this alone though. The board, my team, and the people constantly supporting me behind the scenes are the reason I’m able to do what I do.

It’s been a journey of growth, accountability, learning, and love for this community.

Bryce: You’re a member of The Men of ONYX, an organization founded in 1995 that centers around the needs and desires of gay and bisexual Men of Color. How did you get introduced to ONYX, what kind of support have you received from them, and can you also share information for others who are interested in joining?

Sir Kenzo: Being a member of The Men of ONYX is honestly one of the greatest honors of my life. Before ONYX, I had never seen an organization so centered around Black and Brown leather folks while also holding so much love, care, mentorship, and accountability for one another. It truly is family.

I was introduced to ONYX through community spaces and events in New York, and over time I found myself surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to see me grow, not just as a kinkster, but as a person. They supported me during some of the hardest moments of my life and celebrated me during some of my greatest victories.

ONYX provides mentorship, education, brotherhood, visibility, and opportunities for people who often feel unseen in larger leather spaces. For folks interested in joining, my biggest advice is to start by attending events, introducing yourself, learning the history, and building genuine relationships. Community starts with showing up.

Bryce: As the founder of Gotham Kennel Club, you’ve helped create an inclusive safe space for everyone within the pet play community in New York City. Can you tell us a little bit more about your journey into pet play, Gotham Kennel Club, and what inspired you to help create it?

Sir Kenzo: Gotham Kennel Club was created because we saw a need for safer, more welcoming, and more inclusive pet play spaces in New York City. Sir Jaime, Bandit, Seamus, Sparky, and myself came together because we believed pet play deserved community spaces where people could learn, explore, and exist comfortably without judgment.

Pet play for me started as something playful and freeing, but eventually became something deeper. It allowed me to reconnect with joy, vulnerability, confidence, and expression in ways I didn’t realize I needed. A lot of people think pet play is just barking or gear, but for many of us it’s community, trust, headspace, and freedom from everyday pressures.

What I love most about Gotham Kennel Club is seeing people walk into the room nervous and leave feeling accepted. That means everything to me.

Bryce: You are also the founder of another local kink community organization for Adult Baby/Diaper Lovers called NYC ABDL. What got you into ABDL play, what inspired you to start this organization, and can you also debunk some of the misconceptions around the kink for our readers?

Sir Kenzo: NYC ABDL was started after the pandemic as a way for people to show up in the space and actually feel welcomed. When Max, Noah, Soarin, and I started the group, our goal was simple: bring the community together and help people find themselves within the magic of ABDL spaces.

I’ve been involved in ABDL spaces and throwing parties for over 8+ years now, and one thing this community taught me is that opening your arms to people can truly change lives. So many folks enter ABDL spaces carrying shame, fear, trauma, or loneliness. Community can help heal some of that.

There are so many misconceptions around ABDL. The biggest one is people automatically assuming it’s about children or pedophilia, and that is simply not true. ABDL is an adult consensual kink and comfort-based community.

For some people it’s regression, stress relief, nostalgia, comfort, caregiving dynamics, sensory experiences, or headspace. For others it can be sexual, and for some it isn’t sexual at all. Like many kinks, it exists on a spectrum.

At the end of the day, we are adults creating consensual spaces where people can safely express themselves.

Bryce: We’ve spoken about this briefly before: you’ve received lots of hate and criticism online for what you do. What are some of the experiences you’ve had with receiving hate and criticism, and how do you personally deal with it emotionally and publicly?

Sir Kenzo: If people saw my Instagram private messages they would probably be shocked. Almost every day I’ve been called names like freak, pedo, disgusting, and worse. I’ve been told to kill myself. I’ve even been doxxed by people within the community itself.

I had to learn very early in my kink journey that somebody like me is not always going to receive positive reactions, especially because I choose to be extremely visible. I’m Black, queer, kinky, feminine at times, ABDL, loud, emotional, fat, and unapologetic. That combination makes some people uncomfortable.

But honestly? That hate fuels me. It reminds me why visibility matters. Because there are more people like me hiding than what this white-centric world is willing to acknowledge. Every hateful message reminds me there’s probably somebody silently watching who finally feels seen because I refused to disappear.

So yes, the hate hurts sometimes. I’m human. But I stand taller than Mount Kilimanjaro because I know my existence matters.

Bryce: Through all of the work that you do within all of these communities, you focus heavily on educating people about important topics that everyone should know within these spaces. What are some of the things you teach in your classes that you can share with us here?

Sir Kenzo: Education is one of the most important things to me because kink without education can become dangerous very quickly.

Some of the topics I teach include fire play, impact play, pervertables, power exchange dynamics, negotiation, consent, ABDL headspace, pet play etiquette, aftercare, and community accountability.

I also spend a lot of time talking about emotional safety. People always focus on physical safety, which matters deeply, but emotional and mental safety matter too.

Understanding why we do what we do is just as important as learning how to do it safely.

I’m also a huge believer that no matter how long you’ve been in the scene, it is never too late to learn. I still learn every single day.

Bryce: Do you have any advice for those reading now who are interested in the leather and kink communities you’re a part of but feel scared, shy, or hesitant to join?

Sir Kenzo: Take your time. Seriously.

You do not have to rush yourself into anything just because other people seem experienced or confident.

Educate yourself, ask questions, observe, and move at your own pace. Kink is supposed to be something that adds to your life, not something that pressures you.

I think one of the most healing things a person can do is allow themselves to explore all parts of who they are without shame.

Sometimes that exploration is public, and sometimes it’s private. Both are okay. Some kinks you may want to share openly, and some you may choose to keep personal. That choice belongs to you.

And remember: no matter your age, position, body type, race, experience level, or how long you’ve been in the scene, you are never “too late” to learn who you are.

Bryce: You’ve also been heavily involved with Folsom Street East over the years. What does that organization and event mean to you?

Sir Kenzo: Folsom Street East means so much to me because it represents community effort at its finest.

What I love most about FSE is that we are a small but mighty group of incredibly powerful individuals. Every single member of that team brings a force of nature unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Being involved over the years has inspired me deeply because it showed me what grassroots queer organizing really looks like. People volunteering countless hours simply because they love this community and want it to thrive.

There’s something beautiful about seeing leather folks, pups, drag performers, vendors, educators, and kinky weirdos all coming together in one space celebrating authenticity.

It makes me proud to be part of that family.

Bryce: First, I’m a huge foodie like many of us are. What are some of your favorite foods, dishes, and restaurants? Give us some recommendations!

Sir Kenzo: I am a certified fat bitch, so eating is truly my specialty. I love pizza, especially from Bleecker Street Pizza. I love tacos, tortas, burritos, empanadas, sushi, spaghetti and meatballs, Jamaican food, dino nuggies, and honestly so much more.

The only things I absolutely refuse to eat are sour cream, mayo, crab, and shrimp. Everything else? Put it in front of me and let’s talk.

Bryce: Outside of being an outstanding leader in so many different communities, what are some of your hobbies and frequent hangout spots?

Sir Kenzo: I love sewing. I love sightseeing and traveling. I’m the type of person who will randomly hop on a bus and go somewhere just because I can. I love hanging out with my best friend, getting drunk and high, dancing, singing karaoke terribly, supporting local drag queens, and lip syncing like I’m headlining a world tour.

I also genuinely love being in little headspace sometimes, coloring with crayons, playing with blocks, cuddling my stuffies, and just allowing myself to feel soft and safe for a moment.

Bryce: As a musician and lover of music, I’m curious: what songs, artists, or music genres are on SIR Kenzo’s playlists?

Sir Kenzo: If you know me, you know I LOVE music. My playlists are all over the place. R&B, house music, pop, hip-hop, ballroom beats, Latin music, old school classics, everything.

But the artist of my soul will forever be Beyoncé. That woman is excellence, artistry, power, vulnerability, beauty, and hard work all wrapped into one person. She inspires me constantly. The way she carries herself, reinvents herself, and pushes through criticism while remaining iconic? That’s the energy I aspire to bring into my own life.

Bryce: It has truly been my pleasure getting to know you better through this, Kenzo. You’re one of the kindest people I know with a thick skin, and I really admire so much about you. Thank you for chatting with me. Is there anything you’d like to leave our readers with today?

Sir Kenzo: I just want people to remember that community is built by people willing to show up authentically. You do not have to shrink yourself to fit into somebody else’s version of queer, kinky, leather, masculine, feminine, or acceptable.

There is space for you.

Whether you’re Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous, disabled, neurodivergent, fat, femme, trans, shy, loud, kinky, curious, scared, experienced, or just beginning your journey, THERE IS A SPACE FOR YOU.

And if the space doesn’t exist yet? Build it. That’s what so many of us have had to do.

At the end of the day, I’m just a kid from New York who wanted people like me to feel seen. If my work helps even one person feel less alone in this world, then every bruise, every hateful comment, every sleepless night, and every ounce of hard work was worth it.