Leather, Liberation, and Living Out Loud with Race Bannon

What does it mean to live authentically when society tells you that parts of who you are should be hidden? On this episode of Power Beyond Pride, Shane Lukas and Hunter sit down with longtime activist, educator, and author Race Bannon to explore his journey through queer identity, leather and kink communities, and decades of HIV and STI prevention advocacy. Race reflects on how finding community helped him challenge shame, embrace his sexuality, and turn personal experiences into meaningful activism, including the loss of his first partner to AIDS. From challenging cultural judgments about consensual kink to navigating corporate life while living openly, he shares lessons about self-acceptance, compassion, and the importance of finding your people. It’s a candid, funny, and empowering conversation about making room for pleasure, authenticity, and a life lived on your own terms.