A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Piercing History and Political History Intersection

Check out this interesting tidbit of piercing history crossing over with much larger world political history in this article by Yard[D]og, and then please come back here to comment or share your own stories. Click the picture to jump to the article.

Comments

146 responses to “Piercing History and Political History Intersection”

  1. Campbell Avatar
    Campbell

    Wow, that’s very interesting and unexpected. 🙂

  2. Campbell Avatar
    Campbell

    Wow, that’s very interesting and unexpected. 🙂

  3. xLAMBIEx Avatar
    xLAMBIEx

    That was a great story.

  4. xLAMBIEx Avatar
    xLAMBIEx

    That was a great story.

  5. instigator Avatar

    It’s hit Boingboing. Brace for it, we’ll have all kinds of loonies in here soon enough.

  6. instigator Avatar

    It’s hit Boingboing. Brace for it, we’ll have all kinds of loonies in here soon enough.

  7. TeaDream Avatar
    TeaDream

    That is the most fascinating thing I have read in a long time, was not expecting the connection at the end.
    By the way, the article has been boinged, so things should get even more interesting shortly.

  8. TeaDream Avatar
    TeaDream

    That is the most fascinating thing I have read in a long time, was not expecting the connection at the end.
    By the way, the article has been boinged, so things should get even more interesting shortly.

  9. Marshall Avatar

    Can someone with more PFIQ issues than I list any issues that Louie might have appeared in?

  10. Marshall Avatar

    Can someone with more PFIQ issues than I list any issues that Louie might have appeared in?

  11. Sylvia Avatar

    wow. that’s crazy…

  12. Sylvia Avatar

    wow. that’s crazy…

  13. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    I can’t find my copy of that issue of PFIQ where he’s on the cover — if anyone has it, please post a scan and some excerpts if you have the time? It’s funny because Louie’s picture was one of the most commonly submitted fake “this is me” pictures in the early days of BME because it was so popular…

    As another point of trivia, a few years back I interviewed a (Republican) US state Governor about his heavy genital mods and interest in CBT… Seriously, there are no class borders when it comes to this particular interest.

  14. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    I can’t find my copy of that issue of PFIQ where he’s on the cover — if anyone has it, please post a scan and some excerpts if you have the time? It’s funny because Louie’s picture was one of the most commonly submitted fake “this is me” pictures in the early days of BME because it was so popular…

    As another point of trivia, a few years back I interviewed a (Republican) US state Governor about his heavy genital mods and interest in CBT… Seriously, there are no class borders when it comes to this particular interest.

  15. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    What a great story, thankyou for sharing it with us. It warmed my heart to hear that you still have his gold ring, its a pity about his son’s attitude. This little piece of history was a wonderful read, thankyou very much.

  16. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    What a great story, thankyou for sharing it with us. It warmed my heart to hear that you still have his gold ring, its a pity about his son’s attitude. This little piece of history was a wonderful read, thankyou very much.

  17. Bean Avatar
    Bean

    This is a fantastic story. I’m definitely linking this in my diary.

  18. Bean Avatar
    Bean

    This is a fantastic story. I’m definitely linking this in my diary.

  19. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Dick Cheney is a brilliant piercing name.

  20. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Dick Cheney is a brilliant piercing name.

  21. Tattooed Princess Avatar

    What a great story. Too bad Karl Rove had to ruin it by being an evil douche bag.

    As soon as I heard Karl Rove was retiring my first thought was “uh-oh, I bet the shit is about to hit the fan and he’s getting out before it does”. I was expecting something more catastrophic though.

  22. Tattooed Princess Avatar

    What a great story. Too bad Karl Rove had to ruin it by being an evil douche bag.

    As soon as I heard Karl Rove was retiring my first thought was “uh-oh, I bet the shit is about to hit the fan and he’s getting out before it does”. I was expecting something more catastrophic though.

  23. NelC Avatar
    NelC

    Tattooed Princess, something indictment-worthy would be lovely, but this is funny, which is even better.

  24. NelC Avatar
    NelC

    Tattooed Princess, something indictment-worthy would be lovely, but this is funny, which is even better.

  25. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    I don’t think this has anything to do with why he stepped down.

  26. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    I don’t think this has anything to do with why he stepped down.

  27. Fiat Knox Avatar

    I hope this encourages others who want to wear body modifications to go with their convictions. Thank you for this article. I believe the message needs to be shared.

  28. Fiat Knox Avatar

    I hope this encourages others who want to wear body modifications to go with their convictions. Thank you for this article. I believe the message needs to be shared.

  29. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    *shrugs* this is hardly news. Everyone’s known about Rove’s openly gay father for some time now.

  30. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    *shrugs* this is hardly news. Everyone’s known about Rove’s openly gay father for some time now.

  31. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Erica – You knew that Karl Rove’s father was an influential architect of the modern body piercing movement? I don’t think that was common knowledge…

  32. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Erica – You knew that Karl Rove’s father was an influential architect of the modern body piercing movement? I don’t think that was common knowledge…

  33. RosesAreRed Avatar

    Things like this reaffirm my “You Never Know” tattoo. I always wonder where the degrees of separation are in my relationships and what I am not aware of.

  34. RosesAreRed Avatar

    Things like this reaffirm my “You Never Know” tattoo. I always wonder where the degrees of separation are in my relationships and what I am not aware of.

  35. SaharanSnowfall Avatar
    SaharanSnowfall

    Wow, this is wonderful…sad, but wonderful.

  36. SaharanSnowfall Avatar
    SaharanSnowfall

    Wow, this is wonderful…sad, but wonderful.

  37. Kevitivity Avatar

    Umm ya well… I’m actually a huge fan of Rove – he’s a brilliant strategist.

  38. Kevitivity Avatar

    Umm ya well… I’m actually a huge fan of Rove – he’s a brilliant strategist.

  39. Marshall Avatar

    Shannon – most people have no idea that there even is any history of the contemporary body piercing movement. I think the fact that the movement grew out of the gay BDSM subculture has a quite a bit to do with the lack of public interest in it as a historical subject.

  40. Marshall Avatar

    Shannon – most people have no idea that there even is any history of the contemporary body piercing movement. I think the fact that the movement grew out of the gay BDSM subculture has a quite a bit to do with the lack of public interest in it as a historical subject.

  41. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    This is an interesting article but it forces me to reflect on the relationship of a public vs a private life. As much of an asshole as Karl Rove is I still think he deserves the same rights as anybody else in any case let alone his private relationship amongst family members. What is the point of this article anyways…What is it really trying to dig at? Furthermore who gives a fuck ifhis Dad was a gay piercing enthusiast? What does it matter? If you feel some need to get a Freudian about it and try and explain why Karl Rove is a giant dickhead I’ll save you some time. Karl Rove is a giant dickhead because he made a choice to be a giant dickhead…not because of his father’s homosexuality or any other bullshit Freudian nonsense. He made a choice to become what he is in terms of his political life.

  42. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    This is an interesting article but it forces me to reflect on the relationship of a public vs a private life. As much of an asshole as Karl Rove is I still think he deserves the same rights as anybody else in any case let alone his private relationship amongst family members. What is the point of this article anyways…What is it really trying to dig at? Furthermore who gives a fuck ifhis Dad was a gay piercing enthusiast? What does it matter? If you feel some need to get a Freudian about it and try and explain why Karl Rove is a giant dickhead I’ll save you some time. Karl Rove is a giant dickhead because he made a choice to be a giant dickhead…not because of his father’s homosexuality or any other bullshit Freudian nonsense. He made a choice to become what he is in terms of his political life.

  43. Marshall Avatar

    I don’t think that anyone is trying to make a case that Karl Rove is a dickhead or that there’s any kind of negative impact of having had a gay father with (or without) an interest in genital piercing. If anything the article is further evidence as to how common and normal genital modification is, and that there’s nothing abnormal about it. It’s just an interesting story related to the life of a notable public figure – not an elaborate and constructed argument regarding the origin of Karl Rove’s career path.

  44. Marshall Avatar

    I don’t think that anyone is trying to make a case that Karl Rove is a dickhead or that there’s any kind of negative impact of having had a gay father with (or without) an interest in genital piercing. If anything the article is further evidence as to how common and normal genital modification is, and that there’s nothing abnormal about it. It’s just an interesting story related to the life of a notable public figure – not an elaborate and constructed argument regarding the origin of Karl Rove’s career path.

  45. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    It would have been nice to invite his father’s friends to the service (if there was one). That would’ve taken a big man.

  46. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    It would have been nice to invite his father’s friends to the service (if there was one). That would’ve taken a big man.

  47. Fliss Avatar
    Fliss

    socialcoma, I don’t think the point of this article was to give a reason for why Rove is how he is. I think it was just to share an interesting and warm story and to show how the background you come from will never predict the kind of person you will become.

  48. Fliss Avatar
    Fliss

    socialcoma, I don’t think the point of this article was to give a reason for why Rove is how he is. I think it was just to share an interesting and warm story and to show how the background you come from will never predict the kind of person you will become.

  49. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    Hey, if you really want this on Wiki and have it stay up, just make a page for Louie. Then when Louie is referenced in Karl’s page, then you can link to Louie’s site. They can’t delete his dad’s info.

  50. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    Hey, if you really want this on Wiki and have it stay up, just make a page for Louie. Then when Louie is referenced in Karl’s page, then you can link to Louie’s site. They can’t delete his dad’s info.

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