From the ONYX website:
"ONYX is an organization formed and operated by Men of Color who enjoy the leather lifestyle. ONYX sets as its goal, to provide an informational and social organization to address issues specific to people of color who chose to project the positive aspects of the leather lifestyle and support our community and economic initiatives.
"Support, spirituality, safety and saneness are keys to attaining our goals. Toward this end, it is the principle aim of ONYX to develop in its members the highest standards of loyalty to the laws and established code of ONYX and to treat all in society with honor, unselfishness and tolerance."
Growing in size and reputation nationally and internationally since its founding in 1995, ONYX is admired as a club for its warmth, dignity, and purpose (not to mention its great parties). Its public stands on issues are classy and balanced, and in an era when many clubs are losing membership and struggling for survival, ONYX only gets stronger. We'll talk to its founder and its national council's treasurer about the history, struggles, mission, membership and policies of a club that seems to do everything right.
MUFASA ALI, the inaugural Mr. World Leather 2006, is the founder of ONYX, an international club supporting Leathermen of Color and the recipient of the 2013 Pantheon of Leather Large Club of the Year Award. He currently serves as the Chair of the ONYX National Council. As a member of the leather community for over 20 years, Mufasa is a requested presenter on such topics as People of Color in Leather, Leather Family Relationships, Leather and Spirituality, Old-Guard vs New-Guard Leather Protocol, and various fetish demos such as flagellation, spanking and percussion. He is the founder and primary facilitator of the People of Color Leather Caucus seminars at IML and Black Beat Inc. Mufasa is an activist and has served on Illinois Unites for Marriage, the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, the AIDS Legal Counsel of Chicago and the Chicago Advisory Council on LGBT Issues. He has been honored with various leather community awards including the prestigious Vi Johnson Award and the Black Beat Inc. Community Service Award. Mufasa is a change management consultant and spiritual life coach, ordained minister, husband, father, Daddy and Sir.
Daddy Rod is a leather/BDSM educator and HIV activist based out of the Atlanta area, where he is currently Road Captain of ONYX Southeast Chapter. He is also Treasurer of the ONYX National Council. As a member of the leather community for over 15 years, Daddy Rod is a requested presenter on such topics as People of Color in Leather, Leather Family Relationships, and various fetish demos such as spanking, ass play, and sensory play. He has also served as Tally Master at Mr. and Ms. Atlanta Eagle competitions and as a judge for Southeast Leather Sir/Boy and Bootblack at the Southeast Black and Blue weekend in 2013. Daddy Rod is also a LGBT youth activist working with Lost-N-Found which helps raise awareness of homeless LGBT youth in the Metro Atlanta area. This spring, he will be honored at Blatino Oasis as Man of the Year in the Leather Community for his education workshops and activism. Daddy Rod is a freelance photographer, DJ, and soon-to-be erotic/fetish model. ☺
Note: Mufasa and Daddy Rod will also host an organizational meeting for the new Northern California/Northwest Chapter of ONYX on FRIDAY, MARCH 28TH, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Mr S studio, 385A Eighth Street, followed by a social at the S.F. Eagle, 398 12th Street at Harrison.