Melbourne’s leather and fetish community has raised $20,500 for Switchboard Victoria during the title year of Laird Leatherman 2026 — Bhanuka, known to many as “BB.” What began as a series of grassroots get-togethers grew into a sustained fundraising rhythm: monthly nights, raffles, barbecues, brunches and lively auctions all chipped in to reach the total.
How it came together
At the heart of the campaign was Tom’s Hide Out, the monthly leather night run by Brothers in Hide, which became the single largest source of recurring income through door takings and bar sales. Volunteers organised extra events — breakfast fundraisers, spot auctions and raffles — and venues pledged continued support, ensuring the effort didn’t end when the title year did. Sponsors, mentors and regulars kept turning up, turning many small contributions into a substantial collective gift.
Who stepped up
Organisers singled out a broad coalition of helpers: mentors who volunteered time, venue operators who donated space and takings, and community members who gave both one-off and repeating donations. Rod Sharpe was recognised as the campaign’s largest individual donor, but organisers emphasised that the steady drip of smaller gifts mattered just as much for long-term resilience.
What the funds will do
Switchboard Victoria’s CEO, Jenna Tuke, said the donations will strengthen core services across the state — staffing helplines, offering short-term crisis support and keeping response capacity flexible. Recent gifts already helped the organisation respond to a spate of online homophobic and transphobic incidents, highlighting how quickly flexible funds can be deployed when crises emerge.
Governance and sustainability
Those running the campaign emphasised transparent record-keeping and basic due diligence for larger gifts, with an eye to keeping Switchboard’s funding base diversified. The strategy was simple: predictable, recurring income lowers operational risk and lets front-line services plan beyond the immediate term. Organisers hope the combination of regular events and targeted appeals will maintain momentum rather than producing a one-off windfall.
Beyond fundraising: visibility and storytelling
BB used his platform to broaden representation. He is the first person of colour to hold the Laird Leatherman title and launched Platform F — a new video and podcast series exploring belonging within fetish and kink communities. Platform F stands for fetish and kink, family of choice, and finding community, and it aims to amplify stories that encourage people to seek support and safe spaces.
Legacy and next steps
Organisers and Switchboard alike are treating this as the start of an ongoing partnership. Tom’s Hide Out has pledged to continue donating door proceeds, Platform F will expand media and outreach projects, and BB plans to carry the community’s voice overseas at the International Mr. Leather competition in the United States. The campaign wrapped with BB’s traditional Sri Lankan send-off, “Ayubowan,” a wish for long life — a fitting signal that this work should outlast a single year in office.
Why this matters
What this campaign shows is how local energy can translate into real-world impact: modest events, when repeated and supported by committed